Career
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 is currently an NRL "video referee".
He retired with the record for most State of Origin matches officiated.
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.
After living briefly at a residence on Parramatta Road in Granville, he moved with his family at the age of four to Canley Heights. While not particularly interested in academic studies as school student, he nevertheless represented his schools with distinction in every sport that he could.
Harrigan joined the NSW Police Force in 1979.
He served extensively in numerous units, including the Tactical Response Group. Harrigan refereed his first game in 1977. In 1986 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
392 first grade games,
21 State of Origin games,
25 Test matches, and
10 Grand finals (1989–1991,1997–2003)
Defamation action
In July 2001 Harrigan successfully sued Australian radio broadcaster Alan Jones for defamatory remarks made by Jones during a 1998 interview, resulting in an award of $90,000.
Post-retirement
After retiring from rugby league refereeing, Harrigan was a referee in Gladiators.
