Face of Nation : The trailblazing Sharpe has been named as one of the referees for Thursday night’s NRL fixture between the Broncos and Bulldogs at Lang Park.
“It’s been my dream to get to this point,” Sharpe said.
“I am really thrilled and proud. When you start refereeing you hope one day to be out in the middle of an NRL game. I am so excited about the game and my future.” Sharpe said she hoped her appointment would pave the way for more women to take up refereeing.
She said young girls approach her most weekends to say they would also like to become referees. “There are so many female referees across the country, particularly at grassroots,” Sharpe said.
Sharpe, who grew up in the rugby league-mad central Queensland city of Rockhampton, fell in love with the game at a young age. She wanted to be a part of the sport and refereeing was her chance.
“I understand the significance of it (being the first female referee) but for me it’s about always wanting to get to this point and wanting to do my job,” she said. Success has not come overnight for the 31-year-old.
Sharpe has been an NRL touch judge since 2014 and served in the same role at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, in addition to refereeing women’s State of Origin and men’s Queensland Cup. She was awarded a full-time refereeing contract in May alongside another female referee, Kasey Badger.
Sharpe said she felt her gender had never been a barrier, nor had she been treated any differently to her male colleagues. “I’ve been on the same pathway as every other official to get to this point,” she said.
“I’ve had the same setbacks and triumphs and worked just as hard as everybody else.” Sharpe admitted she had to develop a thick skin when it came to criticism aimed at match officials.
“I’ve experienced a number of different players and personalities,” she said. “Each game brings its own challenges, but that’s part and parcel of being a referee.”
