'Not a gender issue': NRL launches defence of referee

Kasey Badger has receiving backing from NRL head office after a contentious match with the whistle. (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)

Kasey Badger's inexperience and not her gender is leading to NRL players pushing the boundaries, the competition's head of football Graham Annesley says.

Badger's performance has come under the microscope following an ill-tempered match between Canterbury and Wests Tigers that led to the referee sin-binning two players and the NRL dishing out $11,800 in fines.