As a keen NRL fan, on the weekend I was watching the usual Sunday NRL shows on Channel Nine, the Sunday Footy Show and the Sunday Roast.
But something odd occurred. The two shows merged with each other, rather than being run like separate shows.
A genuine mix-match of two shows rolled into one. In the first week I thought at the time that it was going to be a one off, because Channel Nine were going to show a midday game from Auckland, the New Zealand Warriors vs Manly, due to the fact the cricket was scheduled later that day.
But it happened again on the weekend.
On the Sunday Roast, there was a completely different panel.It was hosted by Tim Gilbert with Adam MacDougall, Andrew Webster and Andrew Ryan.
They were there in place of Andrew Voss, Mark Geyer, Phil Gould and Terry Kennedy (I was happy TK was gone).
As a viewer it was hard to follow. Am I watching the Sunday Footy Show or ‘The Roast’. As the guys on the panel of ‘The Roast’ were discussing, they also included the guys from the Sunday Footy Show (who were busy tweedling their thumbs).
So you have two sets of panel shows talking to one another. Unusual.
A real shame, because I always found those two shows, especially ‘The Roast’ very entertaining. It certainly puts the Thursday night’s Footy Show to shame.
Another thing that was unusual is what has happened to Andrew Voss? Voss normally hosts the The Roast, but has been replaced by Gilbert.
This adds with Voss’ reduced role at Nine after he was demoted to the third main caller behind Ray Warren and radio 2GB Ray Hadley. He will only call games either in New Zealand or interstate, with Warren noted for his dislike of flying.
Voss also had a segment of the Thursday night footy show ‘Stuff that you may have missed’, but he also has been replaced by Darryl ‘Big Marn’ Brohman.
You could say that Voss is on the outer at Nine. Reasons for his reduced role at Nine is all speculative.
I remember Voss did make light of Ray Warren’s statue last year, which did upset his arch-nemeis Hadley, and more importantly David Gyngell, the boss of Channel Nine.
But surely there is something else to this story which hasn’t been brought to light yet.
In my opinion, I don’t think Voss is the main caller for a network, but he is more than capable.
Voss will also be used as part of Channel Nine’s Olympic coverage later this year, but after that, his future at Nine is clouded.
You could say Channel Nine covering the NRL next year is also under a cloud, with the likes of Channels Ten and Seven keen to get rugby league to their respective networks.
Maybe Voss is looking at his options right now as we speak with perhaps a possible move to Channels Ten or Seven.
There have been many criticisms of Channel Nines coverage of the NRL in recent years, but yesterday’s mix-match of the two shows, along with the absence of Voss, I’m sure has raised a few eyebrows.
There are many NRL fans out their that would want Channel Nine to lose the rights to the NRL. The irony here is, come season 2013, theres a possiblity Voss could be calling NRL games, but Channel Nine might not be covering it.
steve elliott
Guest
Please bring back Andrew Voss, he's the best commentator after Rabs and his wit and one-liners are the best, he makes the game more enjoyable to watch. Channel 9 should put him back on air, me and my mates think he's great and is lost to the game doing the New Zealand calls only.
Terry
Guest
Keep Vossy,,,get rid of Gilbert? who he hell is he anyway,,,,,he has no idea, and Fittler and Joey cant even speak the Queens english. Help us please
Paul
Guest
What's so hard to understand ?..The Storm, as good as they are, are up against Aussie Rules advertising dollars. No network is going to upset its sponsors for a minority following. Also...if the Storm are going to win 40 nil....who wants to watch that ? Duh !
I'mastormtrooper2
Guest
Voss has commentated NRL games for the last two weeks, including the Tigers v Storm game tonight ... Perhaps it won't be long before he is religated his rightful postiion on the Sunday Roast ... GO VOSSY !!!
In the know
Guest
Ok, here is the truth why Voss got nailed, I can assure you this is on very good authority and is 110% true. Voss is suing Hadley for defamation and Hadley hates Voss with a passion. So Hadley with his radio clout done a done a deal with J Packer via Stefanovic to give it to Gillard over the poker machine limit in return JP gets his good mate Gyngell to give him a job, keep in mind Hadley has always wanted to be a the big time football caller, as soon as Gillard backed down RH got the job and out went Voss as part of the deal, I believe it called squaring up. Welcome to the big end of town and watch your back Rabs...
Noel
Guest
Andrew Voss is the bring him back
nathan
Guest
My guess as to why Voss would be replaced or given a reduced role would be obvious. He's incredibly irritating, sarcastic smart ass comments about everything. A commentators job is to comment on the game, not to whinge, complain and be cynical about every little thing that happens. Even when he is just commentating his tone of voice suggests to me that he's just not happy with anything that's happening out there. My theory is that he is jealous of footballers and just wants to mock them. An example would be if a player fell over, he starts making fun of the player. I detest him. Ray Hadley is only a slight improvement though. I think the merged Sunday morning shows isn't really working. The roast is a much better show than the footy show because generally the panel members are not afraid to express their opinion, unlike Fitler and Johns and Sterlo who are always modifying their opinions to make sure there isn't a disagreement. The only time the roast starts to suck is when they have Fitler on. TK is great on the panel, he always expresses his opinion well and he doesn't modify it, I admire him. Freddies football passing competition is stupid because it relies on how fast the helpers can get the balls back into the basket. How quickly and well this can be done is obviously going to vary from week to week, meaning the contest is null and void. The easy solution is to have a set number of balls in two baskets, say ten on the left side and ten on the right.
Jonny
Guest
Bring back Voss!! He was a great caller of the game, made it exciting... Now were stuck with the grumpy, old, opinionated, "I know everything" Ray Hadley... He calls the game like he's calling the greyhounds! & He's terrible on the footy show, he just sounds like an annoying old man. & Darryl's no substitute for Voss, all he can do is make joke about being fat & an average player... gets old. Channel 9 NRL coverage has gone to rubbish.
alesana
Guest
Completely agree. I'm a kiwi and I always used to look forward to watching channel nines nrl coverage Friday nights and Sunday afternoons, and watching the Sunday roast in my opinion was the best rugby league show in the world. The local commentators over here and the coverage here is so biased towards the warriors it's sickening. Ray Hadley doesn't have the same charisma as vossy or share the same chemistry that vos use to have especially with Gus Gould or MG (what happened to MG?). Channel nine needs to reinstate vos now as second caller to instantly improve their product. Bring vos back to present the 'stuff you may have missed' segment too, I like Daryl Brohman but he is terrible hosting the segment. Overall Channel nines coverage seems to be old and slow compared to last season.
John
Guest
Give us a break get Hadley off fridaynight football
anthony
Guest
There is a world of difference between Rabs and Voss, we all comfortably agree with this fact. But having said this there is also a galaxy of difference between Vossy and Hadley. I think Nine has bombed another opportunity to develop a better stable of game callers. I think Hadley belongs on a.m, horses for courses.
Ano1manlyfan
Guest
I am very disappointed - the Roast used to be my favourite show. It seems like channel nine want to make all of their sport shows generic - a very boring option. Bring back the 'real' Roast. PLEASE!!! I, too, have given up watching the footy shows - and if Ray Hadley keeps calling the football like he is on speed I will have to get Fox.
kesh
Guest
I rarely watch the footy show anymore it just seems awkward and not very entertaining, I use to try and watch the sunday footy show was more about the footy, BUT I never missed the roast, if I was out I would record it, Was my highlight of the weekend. It wasnt as good when we lost Gus. But not having Vossy or MG there is a joke. Fair enough MG has gone to Fox, but the roast isnt a roast without Vossy, they might as well just get rid of it, the whole stupid flicking back between the two doesnt work anyway.. I dont know what Ch 9 are thinking these days. I aint watching the crap anymore, I'l watch recorded roasts from over the years!
thatguyoverthere
Guest
Please bring back Vossy! His insight, knowledge and quirky humour is irreplaceable - his commentary flows unlike Ray Hadlee who is boring as bat ****. I cant believe Ch 9 - Its ruined watching Friday night footy for me. What a disgrace! He's number one definitely not #3.
luapboy
Guest
Yes I agree about channel nine, I hope they lose the football (league) they treat consumers badly, the sunday game where they show on delay is a disgrace, most other major networks will show games of football live, they don't even show the friday game live, both of them for that matter, I know if 7 or 10 get the rights to the football ,they will not treat us viewers as badly as 9 seem to do, I really hope 9 do not get the new tv deal. I mean its sunday afternoon why can they not broadcast the game on time, wake up to your self channel 9.
Nicole
Guest
My husband and I noticed straight away the omission of Vossy from the Footy Show and the Sunday Roast. The Footy Show just goes from bad toworse anyway and I have after all these years stopped watching. The Sunday Footy Show followed by the Sunday Roast was the best. Now they have merged the two in a format that was just downright bizzare and the panel on the roast were boring. Where is MG also??. Channel 9....what have you done?? Hadley is okay with commentary but commentates with the radio voice. No-one is as good as Rabs but Vossy was certainly a good commentator. Too many princesses at Channel 9 who take offence to the littlest things.
Ashley
Guest
Personally I can't stand Ray Hadley. He calls what you can see and gibbers on. I don't want to hear this when I can see what is happening. I am no fan of Ray Warren (sacrilege I know) as he is losing it (forgetting names, and every non-white player appears to look the same to him). Voss is easily the best. Mainly because he doesn't indulge in the mutual backslapping of the other idiots. Channel nine have lost the plot. The new format on Sunday is a joke. I hope they do lose the rights
Frank Carrington
Guest
Like some people, I miss what Andrew Voss did as a presenter. For mine it was looking at rugby league from another perspective, it was more light hearted and entertaining. The "Stuff you may have missed" segment just doesnt seem the same. As for the Sunday Roast, I find it has now become grating and dis jointed. As a commentator I found Voss to be coherent and well spoken, I enjoyed his differing point of view. If anyones interested someone started a petition on facebook(address below), I'm tired of being bullied and taken for granted by channel 9 facebook.com/bringVossyback
Brad Kennells
Guest
Totally agree with the atricle and the majority of the comments above. Ray Hadley is terrible and he knows nothing about the game. The new sunday footy show is horrible, I miss the roast as it used to be great bonding time for me and my Dad on Sunday morning when I'd go over to his house. I miss that part of my life. Vossy is champion, love gussy and tk gave a different perspective on things (even though he is a bit of a wanker). for the small portions of SFS i do watch adam mcdougall doesn't seem to be too bad, maybe get the old crew back together but put dougs in MG'S place. very disappoitned channel 9. what do you guys think of foxsports new league set up?
T Webber
Guest
Quite honestly I am glad to see the back of Voss. He is arrogant and tries too hard (sometimes to the detriment of others) to get 'a laugh' by ridiculing or belittling someone. The way he carried on with the poor hapless person he picked from the audience to help him out in his Footy Show segment - what you may have missed - was pathetic. My husband just started to watch the Sunday afternoon local league match, and some kid made a break up the sideline....Voss's response 'that's better then sex'.... my husband got up turned off the tv and will wait for the 4.00pm match now - such class Voss!!