Experienced referee Kasey Badger has been barred from overseeing South Sydney games because of her partner’s affiliation with the club.
The NRL has since prohibited Badger from officiating Souths games in any capacity, including as the main referee or touch judge, after he was present in the Bunker during the Rabbitohs’ Round 22 loss to the Sharks.
The ban stems from the fact that Gavin, Badger’s spouse, has served as South Sydney’s refereeing consultant for the previous two seasons. In this capacity, he spends one day a week at training and goes to the coaches box with Ben Hornby on game days.
Speaking on Monday night’s NRL 360, Phil Rothfield of The Daily Telegraph called it “a remarkable story.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a referee banned from working with an NRL club in the history of the game,” he stated.
According to Rothfield, the NRL “caught the NRL by surprise,” and Graham Annesley, the head of football, said it “won’t happen again.”
“We do not doubt Kasey’s objectivity or professionalism, but we admit it’s not a good look,” Annesley said.
Rothfield went on to say that although Badger’s integrity is beyond dispute, the NRL “don’t want a perception issue or something as awkward as what might happen if Souths get a 50/50 call.”
Braith Anasta, host of NRL 360, supported the NRL’s choice.
Although there’s no indication that anything will go wrong, he believes that the decision was the right one.
“You don’t require the surrounding noise.”
