Badger grew up in Redfern, New South Wales and is the only NRL full-time referee with an indigenous background.[3]
He made his NRL debut as a referee during a Brisbane vs South Sydney game at Suncorp Stadium in round 17 of 2004. In 2006 he controlled his first international match, a World Cup qualification match between Fiji and Tonga. Badger has also controlled City vs Country Origin matches in 2009 and 2014 and the 2010 and 2011 All Stars matches.[1]
His wife, Kasey Badger, is also a rugby league referee.[4] On 21 October 2012, the day of their second wedding anniversary, they jointly refereed an international match between Thailand and the Philippines.[5][6]
On 6 August 2017, Badger became the fifth referee to control 300 first grade matches in Australia, following Bill Harrigan, Col Pearce, Shayne Hayne and Steve Clark.[7][8]