LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Kasey Badger, NRL referee extraordinaire, has been slapped with a hefty ban by the league due to a 'conflict of interest' involving her husband Gavin Badger, who happens to work for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
The decision was made after the awkward scenario at the Sharks v Rabbitohs clash, where Kasey was manning the bunker while her hubby was spotted assisting Bunnies' interim coach Ben Hornby from the sidelines.
Gavin has been donning the hat of Rabbitohs' referees consultant for a good couple of years now, putting in a shift at the club once a week and aiding the coach on game days.
The NRL, however, insists they were completely oblivious to his affiliation with the club, claiming they would have never allowed Kasey to take the reins at the Sharks game if they had known.
In a move to dodge any further mishaps, the NRL has declared that Kasey will be kept far away from any Souths games in the future, ruling her out of bunker duty, refereeing, or touch judging assignments.
"It won't happen again," barked NRL head of football Graham Annesley.
"We do not doubt Kasey's professionalism or impartiality, but we admit it doesn't look good."
Luckily for the NRL, the Sharks managed to trounce the opposition with a comfortable 20-6 victory at Shark Park, sparing them any major controversies.
Nonetheless, the league remains wary of the public's perception of Kasey overseeing Bunnies games and the potential minefield of issues that could arise given the duo's intertwined roles in the sporting realm.