Regular viewers of Channel Nine’s sports programs won’t be surprised to see that the Wallabies-Scotland Test will be broadcast on delay at 11.15pm.
Anyone who caught any of Nine’s coverage of last year’s Rugby World Cup knows that rugby is hardly a top priority for the network. Their handling of the World Cup was very poor.
Firstly, commentator Ray Hadley was badly suited to the tournament as he clearly didn’t understand the game. Add to that the showing of matches on delay and hiding them away on digital channels and you understand the frustration of rugby fans.
Nine did want to show the Scotland Test live on their digital channel GEM but was prevented by legislative red tape. But for me, in recent times, there has been a litany of poor decisions made by those in power at Nine sport.
The dumping of Andrew Voss for Hadley for NRL matches was a bad one, as Hadley’s style is better suited to radio, not TV. On TV he comes across as annoying and pedantic, simply describing the action when we can already see what is happening.
Voss has also been relegated from The Sunday Roast, along with Gus Gould, while Mark Geyer has decamped to Fox Sports. The Roast has been merged into The Sunday Footy Show, weakening any distinctive flavour it had. The banter between former Penrith comrades Gould and MG was a highlight, with Voss pulling the strings, but this is no more.
Then we have Brad Fittler appearing across Nine’s NRL coverage. Freddy was a freak on the field, no doubt, but at times you wonder about his mental sanity with his appearances on the small screen. Having a bit of fun is fine, but the occasional bout of seriousness wouldn’t hurt either.
I think it was Beau Ryan the other week that said on The Footy Show: “I want to report a lost person, Brad Fittler. He’s lost his mind.” Ryan was spot on. If it’s not crazy looks, pulling funny faces or something else, Fittler is out of control.
Then you have the likes of Gordon Tallis on TV. Who decided Gordy was TV talent? Again, great player, but this shouldn’t be the only requirement of a media career. The ability to talk eloquently, have informed opinions and engage in entertaining debate should rate far ahead.
Now Gould and Ray Warren are great commentators, the best in the business when it comes to rugby league. There is no more experienced and knowledgeable pair.
But how often do they spend arguing with each other every game?
Friday night and Sunday footy often descends into a kindergarten spat when they quibble over semantics at set points every game, often a video ref awarding a try.
They should be reminded to act their age and sort out their annoying stoushes that are anything but entertaining. Focus on the footy. Focus on Benji’s flick passes and Carney’s kicking game, not on Gus urging Rabs to “press the button” for the video ref.
Anyway who has seen Nine’s promos for its upcoming Olympics coverage and doesn’t have access to the Fox Sports broadcast, should be concerned. With Nine’s track record of late, I’ll be putting a few dollars on the blunders to continue during the Olympic period for the London 2012 broadcaster.
With Fox Sports having eight dedicated Olympics channels that cost no extra to existing Foxtel subscribers, it’s not a hard choice to make.
Drumshag
Guest
Rugby Manly / North Queensland game 14th September was a messy match but worse was the adverts about the new show called House Husbands. Why have an ad during a game when we have enough of the bloody things during the match.Just comment on the game.
Al
Guest
Channel nine coverage of rugby union is a disgrace to them and ARU. International test are delayed telecast so nine can show reruns of crap on several channels. This is so stupid it must be a deliberate attempt to force people to Foxtel. A shame ARU allow nine to get away with this to the detriment of all those who would like to watch international rugby tests but dont want to stream 40 channels of crap from Foxtel into their home.
bjt
Guest
There's no better way to get Roarers agreeing then simply telling the truth about channel 9!
fastbunny
Roar Rookie
I live in Perth and I recorded the game because I wasn't going to stay up until 1:30 or 2AM. Anyway I got home to watch it yesterday only to discover that Channel 9 had totally stuffed the broadcast - they had the teams and anthems and the first 15 minutes of the game then they went to a break and back from the break they started playing the teams and anthems over and over again. Then it jumped to the 62 minute and played through to the 73 minute before finishing and going to some video hits program. I DIDN"T EVEN SEE THE END! Being a Kiwi and devout All Blacks fan I was looking forward to seeing the Wallabies lose again but Channel 9 robbed me of that chance!
Queensland's Game Is Rugby League
Guest
Does rugby union deserve to be on FTA? It's not exactly a ratings drawing machine like rugby league and Aussie rules. Soccer would have just as much right to FTA coverage.
MemberforDobellforCEOofARLC
Guest
Come on people seriously sometime RU should not be shown at all !!! This was one of those games !!!
Sir K1W1ana
Guest
Channel 9, alias LOSSTV, are the absolute pits and that is expressing it mildly. Not a thing on the 6.30 News about the forthcoming Rugby Test with Scotland. Andrew Slack gives a report on a horse that hasn't run. And Peter Fitzsimmons wife is on the screen. Richard Wilkins, a K1W1, is a rugby follower. Good grief !!! Wake up LOSS TV. The World doesn't begin and end on the Sydney to Brisbane highway.
The Bush
Roar Guru
"It is not going to get anywhere when games are decided like this." Why? Because you don't like it? Australia couldn't score a try so why exactly did we expect to win? We then went and lost due to our deficancies at the set piece, again. Scrummaging is a key part of rugby that we only ignore because we're rubbish at it. As an example of how ridiculous your logic is, consider this - conceding a scrum penalty and then losing because of that penalty goal is as "unfair" as the Wallabies scoring a great try out wide "only" due to Scotland's rubbish outside backs and sliding defence. They are both key aspects of the game and if you suck at them, you will be "penalised".
warren
Guest
rl - I think rugby is doing a good job of killing itself. The game last night was decided on a penalty from a scrum. What a joke. The administrators of the game need to understand that unlike places like NZ and SA, rugby here runs well behind other codes in the areas of crowds, TV audiences and participation. It is not going to get anywhere when games are decided like this. Absolute joke.
The High Shot
Roar Pro
I love Freddy. He's as insane as the fans, I truly believe he's our man on the ground. He's the only one of them with any sort of originality. He goes to the footy to party (as it should be) and he's not ashamed. He can be serious when required.
p.Tah
Guest
Channel 9 didn't even show the Wallabies game at 11:15. More like midnight. I watched the game in Newcastle, then drove back to Sydney well before Nine decided to show the game, rediculous
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
Does he? I can't understand a word he's saying so you might be right!
Andrew
Guest
Just what programming moron puts a live match on delay for queens jubilee knees up & the block.I thought anti siphoning laws forced them to telecast live.If it was next wednesday night do you think channel 9 would have delayed the stae of origin,like @@@@ they would.Channel 9 shows the sport of rugby no respect and treats its followers with distain.They can't even be bothered to supply their own commentary team instead teking foxs feed entirely.What a farce,take the rights off them and give them to sbs i'm sure they willl do a better job.
Dane Eldridge
Expert
Spot on mate. Gorden Tallis: tough as granite on the park and a man who withstood some horrendously large tackle contacts. This shows when he lifts a microphone to his mouth. Football commentary is awash with agendas and bias, and Tallis is one of the worst offenders with his habitual leaning towards Queensland for basically every single comment he makes. We get it Gordie, you love Matty Bowen and Jono Thurston. No need to reiterate. As for Freddy, his grey matter is very, very high up in the stratosphere. Whenever he makes one of his customary comments that relate to absolutely nothing on the screen, I am reminded of the rumours of his partying ways from his playing days. I'm a Rooster devotee and will always love Freddy as a favourite son of the club, but I can never defend him when his name is thrown up in 'footy's biggest space cadets' conversations.
Sandy B
Guest
my apologies JON - I hoped you weren't that foolish - and you weren't. Still look on the bright side I suppose - Off to the pub soon to catch the game!
John Davidson
Roar Guru
Thanks PLANKO, great video. I remember that game, was a classic. Brendon Reeves, blast from the past
Hairy Pear
Guest
The footy show is a joke & should have been put to sleep years ago. Ray Warren is a clown & the only worse commentator is Gould sitting beside him. These two would be enough to put anyone off watching NRL.
Renegade
Guest
Those NZ commentators should all be sacked....they blatantly get it wrong everytime. Clear knock on by Manu - "That's a terrible decision by the referee, i can't see a knock on anywhere" Try by the other side - "Gee, the refs are getting it wrong today i'm sure there was an obstruction or forward pass in there"
Wales15
Guest
What annoys me with channel 9 is the amount of breaks they drag the game over. It is not as though they're exciting, new adverts. It's the same old, which just encourages mugs to gamble. Ray Hadley is an idiot. I find him arrogant. Did he even play at the top level, if not then he shouldn't think his knowledge is more superior than the ex-professionals. I find this happens during the footy show. I think it is wrong the Australian game is postponed for this jubilee larky. I like the Queen and respect her, but I don't give two hoots about a celebration that just sees thousands of boats and high authority people walking about like their god's gift. Im sure it's on many channels, so if the royal enthusiasts want to get their bit of royalty they can elsewhere. I also think channel nine should get rid of a lot of their programs. The likes of Big bang theory and two and a half men are a load of American crap, that just isn't funny. Of course, the hot seat leads an all star lineup for the night :/
p.Tah
Guest
Lol :)