Bill Harrigan

Bill Harrigan
Personal information
Full name	William James Harrigan
Born	24 May 1960(age 64)[citation needed]; Sydney, Australia
Refereeing information
	Source:Rugby League Tables

Bill Harrigan(born 24 May 1960 in Sydney,New South Wales) is an Australian formerrugby leaguefootballreferee,and former head of refereeing for theNational Rugby League.Unusually for a sports official, in his long career he was accorded the same profile as some of the top players he refereed.^[1]^[2]A policeman off-field before he resigned to concentrate on rugby league,^[3]he is widely recognised as one of Australia's greatest sports umpires.^[3]^[4]He retired with the record for mostState of Originmatches officiated.^[5]

Early life

William James "Bill" Harrigan was born in 1960 in the Western Suburbs of Sydney,New South Wales.^[4]He resided in thesouth-westandgreater westernsuburbs of Sydney for all of his childhood. While not particularly interested in academic studies as school student, he nevertheless represented his schools with distinction in every sport that he could. He attendedFairvale High Schoolbefore graduating in 1977.^[3]Harrigan joined theNSW Police Forcein 1979.^[3]He served extensively in numerous units, including theTactical Response Group.^[6]

Rugby League career

Harrigan refereed his first game in 1977. In 1985 he refereed his firstNew South Wales Rugby League premiershipmatch, betweenCronullaandWestern Suburbs.^[3]

Harrigan holds the following Australian rugby league refereeing records^[4]

393first gradegames,
21State of Origingames,
25Test matches,and
10Grand finals(1989–1991,1997–2003)

Defamation action

In July 2001 Harrigan successfully sued Australian radio broadcasterAlan Jonesfor defamatory remarks made by Jones during a 1998 interview, resulting in an award of $90,000.^[7]

Post-retirement

After retiring from rugby league refereeing, Harrigan was a referee inGladiators.

References

^"Controversy corner".National Museum of Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 21 May 2019.Retrieved21 October2009.
^"Bill Harrigan (NRL)".The NSW Sports Federation. Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2008.Retrieved15 July2008.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e"RefereeBillHarrigan".Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2012.Retrieved14 July2008.
^^a ^b ^c"Mediaman – Harrigan".Mediaman.au.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2008.Retrieved14 July2008.
^David Middleton."Records".NSWRL.Australia. Archived fromthe originalon 24 February 2011.Retrieved5 March2011.
^Ian Heads; David Middleton (2008).A Centenary of Rugby League (1908–2008).Sydney:Pan Macmillan.p. 606.ISBN 978-1-4050-3830-0.
^Alan Jones Chronology Archived4 October 2012 at theWayback MachineAustralian Broadcasting Corporation,Four Corners.Retrieved 9 August 2011.

External links

[NationalMuseumofAustralia_Exhibitions_LeagueofLegends100yearsofRugbyLeagueinAustralia_ControversyCorner_Keepingcontrol_BillHarrigan-1] "Controversy corner".National Museum of Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 21 May 2019.Retrieved21 October2009.

[SportsNSWMentorsInterviews-2] "Bill Harrigan (NRL)".The NSW Sports Federation. Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2008.Retrieved15 July2008.

[HarriganABCQueensland-3] "RefereeBillHarrigan".Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Archived fromthe originalon 7 November 2012.Retrieved14 July2008.

[MediaManBio2-4] "Mediaman – Harrigan".Mediaman.au.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2008.Retrieved14 July2008.

[5] David Middleton."Records".NSWRL.Australia. Archived fromthe originalon 24 February 2011.Retrieved5 March2011.

[PanMacMillan_2008_HeadsMiddleton_ACentenaryofRugby_League1908-2008_page423_BillHarrigan-6] Ian Heads; David Middleton (2008).A Centenary of Rugby League (1908–2008).Sydney:Pan Macmillan.p. 606.ISBN 978-1-4050-3830-0.

[7] Alan Jones Chronology Archived4 October 2012 at theWayback MachineAustralian Broadcasting Corporation,Four Corners.Retrieved 9 August 2011.

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