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With the new media deal recently settled by the NRL, let’s take a look at what personnel $1b worth of TV rights will bring back.
This is a viewer’s guide to the big players on Channel 9 who will be bringing the action to your lounge rooms for the next four years.
Ray Warren – Chief caller
Nicknames: Rabs, Rabbits, Rabbi, Ray Rabbit’s Warren
Originally from small town Junee, Warren has established himself as the game’s premier caller and arguably the greatest sports caller in history.
From humble beginnings, Warren commentated on marble races much to the amusement of his school classmates. He honed his skills on the dish lickers before earning a gig calling the midweek challenge cup games.
The evergreen Warren is at the peak of his powers and recently returned from another much heralded performance calling the swimming at the Olympic Games where he again and demonstrated his versatility.
What to expect:
Warren is relied upon to bring sanity back to proceedings when his larrikin co-commentators get carried away.
Greatly researched and one of the game’s greatest ever ‘good guys’. Often described as laconic and understated exuberance, Warren is the jewel in the crown at Channel 9’s RL stable. Cool vernacular, cool stories about the game from the early 1900’s, the best “dead-set” in the business
Peter Sterling – Chief game-day analyst, expert opinions, host of the Sunday Footy Show, back up caller
Nicknames: Snork, Snorky, Snorkella, Sterlo, Sneaky Pete.
Club, State and Australian legend, Sterling has continued his impressive on-field resume in the commentary box. Shrewd and insightful Sterling has kept his finger on the pulse when it comes to interpreting the game.
Sterling hails from rural Wagga Wagga and this upbringing seemingly keeps him grounded when he dons the headphones to call a game.
When starting his media career, Sterling was often the brunt of bald headed big nosed jokes on the zany and irreverent evening Footy Show. Sterling shocked the rugby league world when he took hiatus from the Thursday night hijinks to focus on his analytical and serious roles.
What to expect:
Sterling provides credible and balanced analysis of the modern game. Respected by his peers and players, Sterling has taken to the commentary box with equal aplomb to his decorated on-field career.
Phil Gould – Omnifooty
Nicknames (printable only): Gus, Beesting head
Controversial, outspoken, knowledgeable, brilliant minded, hilariously funny, and incredibly handsome; these are some of the ways in which Gus would describe himself.
In the real world, the man is painfully pig-headed. He is to rugby league commentary what kryptonite is to Superman.
Gus thinks he put the air in footballs and is everything there is, has been and ever will be to rugby league. He makes me want to switch off the television and poke forks into my eyes.
As a New South Welshman, I am glad Queensland have won seven in a row and that Gus no longer has the record for best ever Origin coach.
What to expect:
Obnoxious calls such as “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO”, sheer smugness and ignorance.
Wally Lewis – Queensland coverage Analyst, expert comments, Queensland Nine News
Nicknames: The King, The Emperor, Harvey Norman Man of the Match
Wally is an ornament of the game to those from North of the Border and a rugby league Immortal. I have found Wally to be a good natured and amiable commentator. Lewis is self-effacing and surprisingly grounded.
Lewis speaks fluently and is revered among the Queensland audience. His appointment and subsequent performances are to be commended at Channel Nine. Lewis is rapidly becoming a polished media personality.
What to expect:
Fatty to get carried away with man love for Lewis. Wally will bring down to earth, easy going Queensland interpretations of the game.
Ray Hadley – second game caller, media workhorse, Thursday evening footy show cameo’s on ‘five in the bin’
Nicknames: Bolts, Raymondo, Horsehead
Hadley is similar to Phil Gould in that he is opinionated and is always considers himself to becorrect. Just ask him and he’ll tell you.
Got the job of the second Friday night game when good mate when Channel Nine CEO David Gyngell was fed up of Vossy sniping at Rabbits’ statue, which he had partly funded and organised.
A good head for radio, the controversial shock jock has done an admirable job this year in his first full season with Channel Nine.
I say a ‘good job’ because I am more often than not asleep during the second Friday night game and anyone is better than Vossy’s call
What to expect:
Respect for Rab’s statue at Junee, bombastic and opinionated calling.
Andrew Johns – Analyst, expert sideline comments, Sunday Footy show panel, Thursday evening Footy show guest
Nicknames: Joey, Johnsy, Bargearse
John’s addition to the Willoughby bunker came in bizarre circumstances and around the time his brother was axed by the network.
His knowledge of the game is unquestioned. Gould will occasionally even refer to Johns for anything contentious in Gould’s own mind.
Johns possess the uncanny knack of being an authority (he explained recently why a shepherd should have been called a shepherd because of running lines and inside runners and defensive decisions) and the jester within the commentary box.
Johns is a lovable larrikin and endears himself to the current crop of players.
What to expect:
Apologies for the cliche – expect the unexpected, a flashy set of pearly whites and slick hair.
Paul Vautin – Thursday evening Footy show host, Queensland Friday night game expert commentator.
Nicknames: Fat, Fatty
A stalwart at Channel Nine and multi Logie winning compere, Vautin is part of the furniture in the rugby league department.
His longevity is more a reflection of the lack of talent on the telly on a Thursday night than his ability to read an autocue or engage an audience.
I suspect Channel Nine are grooming Vautin for a role in any upcoming up late game show’s with some yet to be Big Brother evictee.
What to expect:
Lots of look a likes for anything red headed, Queensland and Manly patriotism, lame head wobbles, put down’s of Mario ‘The Falcon’ Fenech.
Darren Lockyer – analyst, currently on work experience
Nicknames: Locky
While Hadley has a good head for radio, Lockyer has a good voice for Charlie Chaplin feature films. I have yet to understand a word of what Lockyer has said so far. I am sure he is very knowledgeable, but he is incomprehensible.
What to expect:
Chewbacca like noises interspersed with words that sound like “Broncos” and “Queensland”.
Brad Fittler – Thursday Footy Show, Sunday Footy show analyst, Freddy’s pass off co-ordinator, Sideline commentator, analyst
Nicknames: Fred, Freddy, Blind Freddy
Similar to Lockyer, Fittler struggles to communicate, which is obviously an essential, non-negotiable asset for a media performer. In an extraordinary television innovation that equals stump cam or snicko, Channel Nine have given Fittler a camera so he can communicate by photo.
Jovial and affable, Fittler has risen to the challenge of the relaunch of Mossop’s pass the ball competition, ingeniously titled Freddy’s Pass Off’.
What to expect:
Lots of laughing at in jokes with Andrew Johns, incomprehensible chatter, a serious looking face every so often.
Ken Sutcliffe – Presenter, News Sport, State of Origin compere, Grand Final Host, World Cup Host
Nicknames: Blue Eyes, Male model from Mudgee, Kenny
Kenny adds the glitz, glamour and professionalism to the big match experiences. No one offers pre match anticipation like Ken does.
Well respected by the rest of the team, Kenny is often on the receiving end regarding junkets funded by the network. A good man with a heart of gold and appealing to the female demographic.
What to expect:
Polish, fluff, theatre, multiple references to Wimbledon.
Danny Weidler – Senior rugby league Reporter
Nicknames (not sure if accurate): Fantahead, Ranga, Danny Who?
As head reporter at Weidler is responsible for reporting meaningful stories and breaking rugby league news.
In addition to the game day outcomes, Danny reveals exclusively who former / current prominent rugby league players are dating, eating with and where they were spotted.
Weidler can be relied upon to provide scoops regarding Sonny Bill Williams, Anthony Mundine, Willie Mason and Khoder Nasser.
What to expect:
Days of our Lives type suspense.
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