First female NRL ref hailed

Belinda Sharpe can’t wait for her next NRL assignment after becoming the first woman to referee a first grade game.

The Queenslander earned wide praise for her officiating in the Brisbane Broncos’ game against the Cowboys last Thursday night, with former Queensland and Australia great Johnathan Thurston describing her as inspirational.

Sharpe, 31, said she understood the significance of her appointment as the first female referee in the 111-year history of first grade play in Australia.

The former journalist said, however, she would ‘‘love to see the day when it’s just a normal thing, and we won’t have to talk about a female being unusual to be out there’’.

A NRL.com video showed Sharpe’s father presenting her with her jersey before the game in a dressing room where the walls were lined with inspirational messages collated by her refereeing colleagues.

Sharpe was straight into the deep end out on the Suncorp Stadium pitch.

‘‘It was probably unusual in your first game to have to refer a decision to the bunker as an assistant referee,’’ she said.

‘‘But it was great to get that first try awarded and get on with the game.’’

Sharpe praised the players for their response.

‘‘I guess they knew it was a special moment for me and they were certainly very respectful . . . We had a few moments where we had a bit of a laugh.

‘‘The players coming in and congratulating me later was very nice.’’

Sharpe has been on the NRL’s touch judge list since 2014 and was promoted to the fulltime refereeing squad in April.

She said her appointment was ‘‘something that will sink in later in my career’’ and was ‘‘evidence that as long as you work hard’’ opportunities would follow.’’

‘‘It’s been a long journey, but it’s something I hoped I would get to one day, and I’ve finally got here.’’