'It's great to see them make it': Cummins bowing out as Sharpe, Badger step up

As Ben Cummins prepares to blow time on the game’s longest on-field career, he has nominated his involvement in Belinda Sharpe’s rise to become the first woman to referee an NRL match as a career highlight.

Cummins, who will retire at the end of the season, worked alongside Sharpe as they controlled the 2019 Broncos-Bulldogs clash at Suncorp Stadium under the dual referee system – the first time a female match official had been in charge of an NRL game.

Sharpe will create further history when she referees the Sea Eagles-Wests Tigers match at 4Pines Park in the same round that Kasey Badger also makes her solo refereeing debut at Cbus Stadium in the game between the Titans and Bulldogs.

“Belinda Sharpe is controlling her first game on Friday and one of the highlights for me was to share that moment with her in 2019,” Cummins said.

“She had worked so hard to get to a position where she could do that so for her to make her debut in 2019 was special.

“Belinda and Kasey are creating history again and I heard Kasey say how she was told 10 years ago that a woman would never referee an NRL match.

“Since then, the speed of the game has gotten quicker and I’m sure there were a lot of people who probably thought that, so it is great to see them finally make it and get that opportunity.”

The history making weekend for Sharpe and Badger coincides with Cummins controlling his last regular season match after deciding to hang up his whistle at the end of the season.

The Dragons-Knights clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium will be the 443rd NRL game that Cummins has controlled since making his debut in the 2006 match between North Queensland and Penrith in Townsville.

During those 18 seasons Cummins has shared the field with some of the game’s greatest players, including Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith, who played 430 matches for Melbourne Storm and is the only other person to have taken the field on more than 400 occasions.

“When you are out there refereeing you can still take in the players and the things they do, and I was lucky enough to referee Andrew Johns. He was a bloke that could just do things that amazed you,” Cummins said.

There are so many different players and different moments but Cameron Smith was probably the best player I refereed, just for the way he controlled a game.

“Everyone gives it to him saying he is another referee and he controlled us. I don’t agree with that, but he was very smart in how he approached things and I think there is a lot to learn from how he did it.

“He knew the game, he knew the intricacies and the rules and the plays. One thing that people probably don’t say is that he understands people and he understood referees.

“When you make a decision and you are not confident, he could see that from your body language and little cues that he picked up on. I think a lot of other captains can probably learn from him.

“He knew to pick his moments. He didn’t question every decision because you lose value in your approach.”

During a career that began as a 16-year-old in Canberra, Cummins has had many decisions called into question and none more famously than his controversial six-again call in the 2019 grand final between the Roosters and Raiders.

The fallout was massive and Cummins’ wife and children were also subjected to horrific abuse but he refused to let the incident define him and said he would encourage any aspiring referees to consider officiating as a career.

“I would highly recommend it. I’ve made a good living out of it for the past 15 years and there is a pathway there now,” Cummins said.

“A lot of kids get turned away because of the insults or the abuse that gets hurled around but I also see kids who just love rugby league and they love their craft of refereeing so I would encourage people if they have a love for it to follow through with it.

“When I first started refereeing if someone had offered me one NRL game I would have taken it. Origins, grand finals and international matches have all been highlights.

“When you referee games where you can see the enjoyment of the fans and the people were highlights for me and I’ve been fortunate to go to Papua New Guinea and referee in front of such a passionate crowd. The Tonga-Samoa World Cup matches were on another level.”

As for the future, Cummins is planning a road trip to fishing spots on the East Coast and a holiday in Europe during the 2024 NRL season, while he is considering a return to primary school teaching.

“I just want to thank everyone that has been supportive, from previous mentors in Canberra, the NSWRL and NRL, colleagues, friends and especially family for their support throughout my whole career,” he said.

“That means more to me than any number of games or any other achievements.”  

Ben Cummins: By the numbers

NRL Matches (total): 443
Grand finals: 5
Finals: 37
Origins: 14
Tests: 13