Badger driven to unearth the next Indigenous NRL ref
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After a career spent as the only Indigenous person in the NRL elite refereeing ranks, Gavin Badger is on a mission to ensure things change in the near future.
A proud Gadigal man with Dhungutti bloodlines, Badger officiated over 400 NRL games as both a referee and touch judge across 18 seasons, before finishing up in 2020.
Much like the disparity which exists in the coaching space, the number of Indigenous match officials doesn't come close to aligning with representation in the player pool, and as it stands Badger is the only Indigenous person to officiate at NRL or NRLW level.
But a new program headed up by the Badger and named after Indigenous rugby league stalwart Steve 'Bear' Hall, aims to attract more Indigenous match officials at the elite levels, and ultimately bring them into the NRL system within the next five years.
"Right now we are targeting the 18-22 age group and we want the program to run for five years," Badger said.
"That should then have them ready to be in the NRL system by the time they are around 23.
The goal is to transition two to three match officials from the program into the NRL High Performance Program.
Gavin Badger
Already the NSWRL Steve 'Bear' Hall Indigenous Referees Academy has match officials controlling games in the Harold Matthews Cup, SG Ball Cup and Harvey Norman Women's Premiership competitions.
Earlier this year Badger invited eight emerging Indigenous match officials – four males and four females – to be part of the NSWRL's Talented Aboriginal Athlete (TAAP) program, in which they took part in cultural sessions and on-field training.
"We want show these young Indigenous referees what it's like to be in a system and to try and keep them involved," Badger said.
"Eventually we are hoping to bring kids in to train a week with the NRL [match officials] squad. I'd like them to find out what's it like to be a full-time athlete as a referee, and is it for them? Hopefully they can then see that opportunity for a full-time career.
"I did it for 18 years at the NRL and 15 years full time, and not many players can say they had that career span; it's a great way to make a living."
Academy member Balunn Simon has his sights set on a career with the whistle.
A lifelong league watcher, with dad Craig Simon and uncle John Simon having both played first-grade footy, the 18-year-old said he's pinching himself that he gets to learn from Badger along the way.
"I knew a bit about him and that he was a highly respected NRL match official, and the first Indigenous match official. I knew I’d like to be like Badge," Simon said.
I am so grateful to have an opportunity to work with one of the best in the game. He is very supportive and is so reliable.
Balunn Simon
"I definitely want to make a career out of it and see how far it takes me. Right now I am just grateful for any opportunity."
For Badger meanwhile the opportunity is part of his own journey of cultural discovery, which for the last three years has included working on staff for the Indigenous All Stars as part of their annual clash against the Māori.
"They [the All Stars camps] are some of the best weeks of my life to be honest," Badger said.
The top 10 plays from the Harvey Norman All Stars
"I've really made a conscious effort whenever I got an opportunity to talk about my Indigenous culture when refereeing, [because] you can't be what you can't see.
"Hopefully the academy also gets their minds ticking and they think 'OK, I want to learn more about the culture.'
"I have no doubt the more connected you are to culture, the better you are in the rest of your life."
Referee photographs in the main article image are courtesy of Bryden Sharp via NSWRL.
