NSWRL Congratulates Australia Day Honours Recipients
Two members of the NSW Rugby League community - True Blue Mark Hughes and the Honourable Geoff Bellew AM SC – have been recognised in the 2026 Australia Day Honours List announced today.
NSWRL would like to congratulate all who were recognised and celebrated among the 949 Australians, including awards in the Order of Australia (General and Military Divisions), meritorious awards and recognition for distinguished and conspicuous service
Bellew SC was one of 160 Australians to be awarded the honour of Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division; while Hughes was among 472 to receive the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Bellew, who has served as Chair of the NSWRL Match Review Committee, was recognised for significant service to the judiciary and the law, to the legal profession, and to Rugby League, reflecting a distinguished career spanning more than four decades.
A former Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (2012–2023) and Senior Counsel, he currently serves as Chair of the NSW State Parole Authority and the NSW Racing Appeals Tribunal, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame Australia (Sydney). He is the current Head of Judiciary for International Rugby League.
Hughes, who played three games for NSW in 2001 and was part of the Newcastle Knights’ NRL premiership-winning team that year, was recognised for service to the community through charitable initiatives.
Diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013, Hughes has devoted himself to raising awareness, funding research and supporting those affected by the disease.
As co‑founding director of the Mark Hughes Foundation, he has been a tireless advocate for brain cancer research and education, and in 2022 helped establish the Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research in partnership with the University of Newcastle.
