Bill Harrigan
Bill Harrigan is an Australian former rugby league football Rugby [league match officials#Referee|referee], and former head of refereeing for the National 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. A policeman off-field before he resigned to concentrate on rugby league, he is widely recognised as one of Australia's greatest sports umpires. He retired with the record for most State of Origin matches officiated.
Early life
William James "Bill" Harrigan was born in 1960 in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. He resided in the south-west and greater western suburbs 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 attended Fairvale High School before graduating in 1977. Harrigan joined the New [South Wales Police Force|NSW Police Force] in 1979. He served extensively in numerous units, including the Tactical Response Group.Rugby League career
Harrigan refereed his first game in 1977. In 1985 he refereed his first New South [Wales Rugby League premiership] match, between Cronulla and Western Suburbs.Harrigan holds the following Australian rugby league refereeing records
- 393 first grade games,
- 21 State of Origin games,
- 25 Test matches, and
- 10 Grand finals