On Saturday afternoon, Gavin Badger will walk out on to ANZ Stadium in Sydney for his 411th game in the National Rugby League. When the fulltime siren sounds, it will mark the end of an 18-year career that saw Badger become one of the most capped and most respected officials in the history of Australian sport.
This week the NRL confirmed Badger would not be offered a contract for the 2021 season, despite remaining one of the fittest and most respected referees in the game. Following the announcement, family, friends and rugby league fans from around the world took to social media to express their disappointment and congratulate Badger on an outstanding career.
Badger made his first-grade debut in Round 17 of the 2004 season when the Brisbane Broncos played the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium. He would go on to referee 354 games, with over 100 of those in the one-referee model. He was a touch judge for 57 games.
When the game emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in May of this year, the NRL announced the officials would revert to a one-referee model for the remainder of the season. Despite his significant experience in that model, Badger was relegated to the touch line where he remained for the season, until he was ultimately advised his services were no longer required.
“It’s been a dream come true to do what I do,” Badger said
“As a rugby league fan, I have the best seat in the house every week.
“Now that I have had some more time to think about it, the sadness has gone and I am focused on being positive and reflecting on what I have been able to achieve and the amazing people I have been able to meet along the way.”
Badger will leave the NRL as the third most capped referee of all time behind only Bill Harrigan (393) and Ben Cummins (382). But even this does not adequately reflect the mark he has left.
A proud Gadigal man with Dhungutti bloodlines, Badger has been a source of inspiration for indigenous men and women everywhere.
In recent years, Badger has been an ambassador for the not-for-profit child protection organisations ChildSafe Australia and Bravehearts. Badger went public with his own story as a survivor of child sexual abuse in the hope that it would help others speak out and overcome their own trauma. He has also spent considerable time working with the New South Wales Rugby League and various district associations to coach and develop younger referees, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as his indisputable passion for the game.
From humble beginnings, Gavin Badger has forged a remarkable career on the premise of hard work and respect. His commitment to the game and his own drive to constantly improve and perform at his peak has seen him remain at the top through multiple head coaches and administrations, earning him the respect and admiration of the wider rugby league community.
As one of the sport’s biggest fans, there is no doubt Badger will not be lost to rugby league and will play a pivotal role in developing and mentoring the next generation of match officials, as well as continuing to promote inclusion and diversity across the game.
The Professional Rugby League Match Officials thank Gavin Badger for his service to the Game and to officiating and wish him all the very best for the next chapter.
Want to hear more about Gavin’s incredible journey to the NRL? He recently sat down with Tristan K’Nell for an episode of the Talking with TK Podcast. You can stream it now by CLICKING HERE
