Belinda Sharpe becomes Australia's first female NRL referee

For the first time in 111 years of professional Rugby League in Australia, a female will referee a top flight men's fixture.

NRL Match Official Belinda Sharpe poses for a photo in Sydney, Wednesday, July 16, 2018 Source: AAP

Belinda Sharpe will go down in history as the NRL's first female referee and the 246th overall.

Sharpe has been an NRL sideline official since 2014 and was in charge of the women's state of origin match last month.

On Thursday night, she steps up to the top grade and hopes to the first of many female NRL referees.

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