I’ve always found it odd that the general quality of sports talk shows in Australia is so poor. This very website is proof enough that many of us are thinking about sports and articulating our thoughts in a public forum.
Yet for the vast majority all we get on TV is boofheads telling us what a great bloke such and such is and how players today should ‘harden up’. Or any other of a thousand brands of nonsense.
However, the addition this year of NRL Tactics to the Fox Sports stable of programs has been wonderful one for rugby league fans. This is a show that does not get bogged down with stories about salary caps, video referees and hotel hallways.
Rather, it tries to analyze the strategies and tactics that are being used on the field to win actual games of rugby league.
The show is hosted by Andy Raymond, who has, despite his propensity to attach borderline silly nicknames to players – ‘Old School’ Josh Miller being a great example – become an excellent play by play commentator over the last few years.
He is joined every week by one of two once and future NRL coaches in the form of Stuart Raper, Michael Hagan and Brett Kimmorley, an articulate and engaging rugby league analyst.
Perhaps the only concerning thing about NRL Tactics (and this goes for the entire array of Fox Sports shows at the moment) is the change of sets from classy timber desks and finishings to bright white sets with what looks like the inside of a spaceship from a bad 1970s science fiction show.
Aside from my reservations about the interior decorating, I encourage anyone with access to check out NRL Tactics on Tuesday evenings, and perhaps we can start to weed out the boofhead elements of sports coverage.
Dave
Guest
The Back Page just became about the latest off field scandal in sport and nothing about what happened on the field. Also it Fitzsimons trying to make it cool to know very little about a subject. If you watch “Around the horn” and “Pardon the interruption” on ESPN, Americans show that you can know a lot about a subject and that helps you be funny. It doesn’t have to be dumbed down.
Andrew
Guest
The Thursday footy show is not a lost cause. Just needs to firstly get rid of fatty. He has no idea. Talk more about footy, and make it about the players. Cut out the silly games and skits, because they are just not funny. A professional presenter like Cameron Williams would make the show run so much better.
Derryn
Guest
I did have Fox once but the service was appalling so I cut it off and will not likely get it put on again. The show content was okay. The Back Page was always an entertaining watch, but I agree with onside. If you are paying the extremely high rate that is asked for by Foxtel, you should not have to sit through any ads. The Sunday Footy show is a much better watch then the Thursday dross. The Thursday show won't be back next year I am guessing.
Dave
Guest
It’s been interesting watching SBS’s cricket coverage. Bothe the studio presenters and the sky commentators seem to go more into the technicalities of the game than you see on channel 9 and definitely more than you get on the radio.
Cracker
Guest
Tammy - I think we are on a similar wavelength re Gus Gould. I often read his column in the Sunday paper to see what he will say that pisses me off. The thing is he is very knowledgeable on the game but has some warped ideas and goes over the top regularly.
Andrew
Guest
Sunday Roast is the winner for me, don't have Foxtel, but did watch NRL tactics once and thought it was a pretty good show. Well one I would watch if I had Foxtel (and the wife let me!)
TammyS
Roar Rookie
My favourite show is the Sunday Roast on Channel nine but I generally like any show Phil Gould is on. I dont agree with everything he says and I find him annoying at times when he commentates games but I do think he's probably the most interesting and opinionated football tv personalities going around
Steffy
Guest
It would be nice to have in depth tactical discussion for the rugby on Sky Sports in the UK unfortunately the magazine programme, Boots 'n' All, is generally rather poor although Tony Rae did used to do some good, if rather brief, tactical analysis from time to time.
OldManEmu
Guest
I do not watch any TV sport shows or TV generally and get my fix of sportsinfo and commentary from newspapers, live attendance, sites like the Roar and radio shows. Radio sports shows are where it is at IMHO. 2KY Big Sports Breakfast, Talkin Sports on 2SM, Grandstand on ABC the AFL and NRL commentary on ABC and presently the cricket on ABC. There is something quite magical about listeningto the game - a good commentary team can bring the game right into your back shed - where I do most of my listening away from the Fun Prevention Officer
Redb
Roar Guru
My fave shows include Before the Bounce, On the Couch, etc on Fox, sometimes the Rugby Club. Redb
Al
Guest
bf live and sweaty, with elle mcfeast?
beaver fever
Roar Pro
Before the game, Mick Malloy and Dave Hughes, love anyone that takes the mickey out of serious sportsmen, used to love that sports show years ago with Andrew Denton in it. Can't remember the name.
onside
Guest
mrs ports what ALSO irks me about pay tv sports shows is the ads. Its a double whammy.Buy the show,and get the ads. I have been told (but dont know for sure ) that there are no ads on pay tv in the UK. Despite that there are any amount of great sports shows on pay tv.One favourite is the EPL highlights.There are plenty of good sports shows I do not watch that include sailing,mountaineering,all types of cycling,athletics, horse riding, car racing darts ,snooker,martial arts, boxing,the list is endless. I dont mind The Back Page.Too much sport is not enough.
The Link
Guest
since when was the NRL footy show not about toilet humour?
alan nicolea
Guest
Mr Sports I don't have Fox Sports. One show that i have always enjoyed is the Sunday footy show. You get highlights, good features, injury reports, team changes and the lot. I reckon that's the best NRL show at the moment on free to air.
Michael C
Guest
Best football program I reckon is Before the Game. Brilliant I reckon. Doesn't take itself too seriously. It slots into the Ch.10 Saturday stable quite nicely as a light hearted lead in - the kids love it, they see the start of the game and then off to bed to fall asleep with the radio commentary on in the background..... The problem for the Footy show is it has probably done it's time. It becomes stale and formulaic. However, bring back World Of Sports - with the Wood chop!!!, and Coaches Corner.
Forgetmenot
Guest
For all the football fans out there, there are a variety of different programs. These range from pre-game analysis to post game. Then are programs discussing the major issues of the week. And then even more, there are ones just glossing over then news and chatting to players etc. The Footy Show has gone downhill in most regards. I totally agree that there needs to be more technical analysis of the sports shown on the tv rather than the shows being watched because of their comedy value.
Tom Alexander.
Guest
Totally agree the best NRL show on pay or free to air tv with no embarrassing boofhead antics in sight. People like Phil Gould Roy Masters and even Ricky Stewart who surprisingly recieved a good reception the other night on the footy show are probably in secret crying out for shows like this to be a true representation of our game which appeal more to the intellect instead of the all brawn no brains entertainment slop liberally served up each week.
True Tah
Guest
El Capitan the Footy Show was once a half decent show about 15 years ago, it has descended into toilet bowl humour since then.
El Capitan
Guest
It kinda reminds me of ESPN's pre/post football shows which go into depth of plays and what has been done right or wrong. Kafs Chalkboard is similar in the rugby club, also on fox. I'm suprised that Ch9 doesn't have a similar show, cause during games Sterlo will draw on the screen after tries are scored of defenders that were suckered in. I guess it comes down to ratings, and tech details doesn't sell as well as boofheads hanging sh*t on each other or dressing up as women.