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.
Frank MacDonough
Guest
I am constantly dismayed by opinions that Ray Warren is a top Rugby League commentator. I am a long time supporter from Essendon and used to the inane comments from some of the leading Aussie Rules crew, but Warren really takes the cake. It seems that his only contributions to any game are confined to " how many meters" from the line. Perish any interesting remarks about the progress of game. !!
Paul
Guest
Ray Warren is a true professional, exciting caller and in unbiased. Do you know who his favourite team Is? Parramatta Eels!! Yet he never shows it, and Peter Sterling has amazing analytical knowledge of the game that few people would notice until he makes us aware and Peter of course loves his Parramatta as a true loyal one club player, yet he is also unbiased when he has to comment on his old club. I am a Manly supporter however I respect the passion of these two men for their club.
Arty
Guest
What is channell 9 doing? What is Carl Stefanovic doing on the commentary team at half time? Has everyone else walked out on them? They have pushed out the team of ex footballers who know what they are saying for a glamour jock like Carl who has no idea about league. He is obviously the golden haired boy. I can only assume that he is married to or is related to someone up high in the Channel 9 management. Get rid of these pretty boy pretenders and bring back those that know what they are talking about. I see that Peter S is now on a Foxtel footy show which shows how bad Channel 9 has become.
Canecutter
Guest
Hi Prior to 2012, I was a regular viewer of your Sunday NRL Footy Shows, but not in 2012. One thing that put me off was Brad Fitler and Andrew Johns as two of your three panelists of the Sunday NRL Footy Show. People who describe them as Dumb and Dumber aren’t too far off the mark. But I think it is that inability to speak properly and their lack of humour that is the main problem. They are OK doing sideline commentary but not much else. I also didn’t like the way Nine combined the Roast with the Sunday NRL Footy Show. I really like the Roast, but having to sit through the incoherent rambling of Messrs Fitler and Johns just wasn’t worth it. I think that Peter Sterling and Andrew Voss are great hosts. They are both articulate, knowledgeable and humorous, unlike Messrs Fitler and Johns who seem to spend most of the time looking bored or laughing at inside jokes while Peter Sterling does his best to keep them focused. As for the Thursday night NRL Footy Show, this has become something that I am not interested in watching. Fatty and Darryl Brohman are fine but I wonder what the rest of the regulars are there for. Beau Ryan, Raging Bull, Slats and Benji don’t seem to bring any entertainment value to the show. One formulae that might work is to have Fatty and Sterlo doing the hosting and Darryl doing the jokes and drop everyone else. Then use the same format at the AFL Footy Show, with three guest players each week. I am a huge NRL fan and I used to be a big fan of the Sunday NRL Footy Show and the Roast, but right now I get better entertainment value from the NRL shows on One. The presenters are fine and they focus on the players and not themselves. Another thing I like about these shows is that they are repeated, so I get two chances to watch these shows. I hope Nine can do better for its NRL fans in 2013.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
League has the commentators that league requires.
marco
Guest
I can't watch footy on channel nine anymore. There seems to be so much negativity towards nine on the internet it will be interesting to see their ratings in the coming years. The anti channel nine sentiment because of their poor Olympics coverage really got a lot of people talking .same with the league coverage.
Matt_S
Roar Pro
They do that on the morning Today show, with AFL first. Atleast 7s Sunrise alternate with NRL/AFL. They don't have to do that but they do. That's why i think Gyngall hasn't got his finger on the pulse.
Bigjohn
Guest
I have not listened to the Channel 9 fools for years, ABC radio turned up, tv volume off. This is mainly because I like my tv, and would probably smash it if I had to listen to Gus ' oh I am just so amusing ' Gould, and Fittler, who appears to have missed every lesson at school, which involved grammer and structuring of sentences.
Edward Kelly
Guest
Good point about the "you people in melbourne" comments from Rabs, he does it every State of Origin, particularly those being played in melbourne. I used to yell at the TV "we are watching the game so we know something about the game, call the game for the fans" (expletives removed). I'm still waiting for a commentator in the Tour de France or the MotoGP or Formula 1 to explain the whole wheels things to "those who are new to the sport".
Morfs
Guest
I like Vossy, he seems to me to have the right balance between Freddy, Sterlo, and Rabs, with a slight emphasis on humour. While Rabbits is certainly a wise and experienced commentator of the game, I don't appreciate his at times condescending manner. Watch any big game involving Melbourne and you will almost inevitiably hear him put on his 'teacher's hat' and talk down to "you people in Melbourne" or "those of you who may not watch a lot of rugby league" about some supposedly obscure rule. I cannot recall which game, but I'm pretty sure it happened once when a 40/20 was kicked, or nearly kicked! Sterlo has also been guilty of this in the past, and I cannot remember the specific example, but he did it during the 1999 grand final, but in a slightly less condescending manner. He has since improved and certainly seems to have found his niche as an expert commentator/analyst. Gus is, well, Gus. Just as with Eddie Everywhere here in Melbourne & Collingwood matches, there's no way Gould should be allowed to commentate on Panthers games, yet it happens. While he will occasionally throw up some tidbit of enlightenment, I think he is well passed his use-by date, and his obnoxious, contrived, 'arguments' with Rabbits were tiresome many years ago. As for Ray Hadley, well, I'm no fan of his, for the reasons others have stated above. Just my thoughts.
JazzyJase
Roar Pro
I tried for a while listening to talkback radio with Alan Jones - man, most intense radio ever. That bloke needs to lighten up. You're spot on though, they only remain on air cause there are peanuts who listen to them.
JazzyJase
Roar Pro
Hi Jim C I find Gould hypocritical also. One minute he wants the video ref's to simply "press a button" then he is the first to lamblast them when they get it wrong. Nice pick up re the 'tiddlywinks'. He does similar with forward pass calls "just get on with it and let play go on". I enjoy the call so much better without him advising why things occur in the game. I notice he often gives the result in hindsight too i.e "i could see this brewing in the first 10 minutes that such and such would happen" Freddie seems a bit of a knockabout
JimC
Guest
I like Voss too. I also like Freddie - he's funny. I don't like Gould - irritating and likes to gloss over foul play with all that bollocks about "it's not tiddlywinks"
solly
Guest
I agree. Ye gads do I agree. I simply cannot stand Hadley. There is something wrong with society as a whole when people like Hadley, Alan Jones etc are commerically popular. (end of first rant) I like Voss. He doesn't have that 'eternal presence' that someone like Warren has but he has personality. If you let him explore his funny, larikin side, he would be great. The way Phil Gould attacked him on TV sickened me and to see Voss not stoop to Gould's level was a massive tick in favour of Voss' character. You are right, he does deserve more credit. Channel 9 are blind to quality and the public's acceptance of this is no better. (end of second rant)
max
Guest
Hadley is a complete goose who is a self-centered shock-jock. He is well suited to radio but not TV. Vossy adds life, humour and something crazy to the commentary box that Rabs can't. Don't get me wrong Rab's is king, but Voss can turn the games you think will be duds, into fun & exciting 80 minutes. Voss deserves more credit and has done his time calling the lower grades. Great caller in my opnion.
JazzyJase
Roar Pro
Fox are serving up a good package now with the gameday coverage and post game shows. No rubbish or antics, just relevant footy discussion. they have a few recently retired players in Noddy, Gasnier and Mad Dog who i think is really good value
solly
Guest
Just as an aside, here in Sydney, I find it very strange that Channel 9 News always reports on the AFL before the NRL during hte daily news report. I doubt that they do that in Melbourne....
Edward Kelly
Guest
The friday night Broncos commentary team is shocking. One eyed Lewis sees only broncos and Warren knows Nine wants brisbane ratings so goes into overdrive with broncos brown drivel. Expect the same or worse next year, I wonder if Lockyer will take the hint and retire properly from commentating, he can not even put a sentence together. Overal I think the nine NRL team are tired, and have fallen for doing the same every week. The innane comments and stories and cheerios is not what this fan wants. I just want the game called and some good balanced analysis, leave the other BS to their talk shows. I'd like to see credits at the end of each telecast as I feel the director/producer has a far greater role in the coverage than the commentators and the director/producer should pull the commentators in line more often. I have a suspicion that some of Nine sports directors don't like league or have never watched it as they cut around all over the place and do that annoying zoom in on the ruck then zoom out then zoom in rubbish, and some seem unable to show a replay at all quickly. The Fox sports team is vastly superior (and in HD) in all ways to nine, its just a shame the general mugs of fans without paytv don't realise because nothing will change without pressure from the fans. After the Fox sports great coverage all year it is a shock to have to watch Nine for the finals, what a dumb deal that is for the game and fans. It is also a shame that for the next five years we will have to put up with Nine as I see no likelihood of change, but hey the game got a billion bucks!
Hamish
Guest
I used to like it when Gould would go off at the refereeing but hes obviously been told to tone it down so much that only obvious errors are reported on...I'm not sure who is better than Warren if Voss is on the outer. Hadley has no off button...
JazzyJase
Roar Pro
centremetre perfect P Poon - Cometti is the benchmark