Channel Nine should become Channel Mime, at least as far as some of its rugby league commentary is concerned.
Part of the reason I love watching the footy at home on a Friday night or Sunday arvo is for the commentators adding colour to the broadcasts. But it seems lately opinion has been getting in the way of a good call.
You won’t sit through a game without Gus Gould whinging about the referees, or how the game should be run.
The only thing his mouth has achieved so far is getting him a gig at the Panthers, and well, we’ve all seen how well he’s gone there.
Even Sterlo, previously the proverbial church mouse when it came to all opinions against the game, seems to have accidentally taken a swig from Gus’s Kool-Aid, coming out against golden point among a raft of other minor issues during game time.
While Rabbits Warren provides the only real antidote to Gould’s ramblings, which usually only begin after the five-minute mark, even Ray can sometimes take a dive in the revolutionary deep end.
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great our commentators discuss the issues around the game, otherwise it’d start sounding like a game of Rugby League Live, but it seems their opinions differ from week to week.
Sterlo was in favour of golden point when it was introduced, now he wants it gone. Gus picks a new issue about the game to attack every week.
The rules are the rules. Yes, some may need changing, and the great thing about Rugby League is it has been willing to adapt since its creation. But to have commentators go on and on and on and on… well you get the picture.
Enough with the whinging, enough with the whining, especially during finals. Otherwise, with this new media deal, it’s going to be a long five years.
Rossy
Guest
Ditto, these guys on 9 have past their use by date....retire and let us enjoy the league.
Rossy
Guest
Its time for channel 9 to replace their league commentators. Rabbit Warren and Gus Gould have lost the concept of commentating. It is childish dribble that comes from both their mouths. The public don't want to here this rubbish. Warren has to make the commentory sound so dramatic. Just commentate the game....take a lesson from the ABC radio commentators who call the game with excellent description of all the action. The only way to watch the game is with the sound on mute, but then channel 9 spend too much time showing replays and missing action on the field. And another thing. Get those trainers off the field, especially the Bronocs trainer Alfie Langer, he is a pest and is always in the way.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
games without gus are def an improvement.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
I have had an absolute gutful of these atrocious callers stamping their personal opinions of their agendas onto the match. its not calling anymore. it makes my brain turn off. i cringe each time. its pathetic of them. they should be told to shut up bluntly. I am not articulate in this, because its beyond the joke. I also hate it how they get behind their own team..... ch9 have no clue. I will tell you how to fix it: its simple. You copy english premiership callers. they just call, they do little else. they are not biased, and they always give a neutral view only. commentary should only be in the background too. the callers at 9 think it should be in your face. well, guys, the game comes first.
Andrew meaning MANLY
Guest
JUST GET RID OF GUS........... THATS ALL THEY NEED TO DO!
nEd
Guest
Wow you have a remote that just mutes Gould, where do I get one?
Dayer
Guest
Do what I do folks if you can not stand gould's blah blah blah .... press the mute button and presto his voice disappears into la la land. I can not stand his constant repeating of some play or rule, it is irritating so that is why I mute him as soon as I hear a nano second of his voice.
Boomshanka
Guest
Ooooh Yeahhhhh Nine faces rising prospect of receivership; http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Nine-faces-rising-prospect-of-receivership-pd20120917-Y8PPX?OpenDocument&src=hp4
Boomshanka
Guest
Too true. The lowest point had to be at half time of this years second State of Origin when the three muppets (Sterling, Lockyer and Johns) held up "Fly Buys" cards whilst Sterling promoted the product. The look on Andrew Johns face was gold (along the lines of I can't believe I'm doing this). Last years "Pokie's Promotion" at finals time was a close second.
yewonk
Guest
there is every chance nine will send itself broke through incompetence
maximus182
Roar Guru
Agree mate, Vossy does have a really good use of humour in his calls. Has the right balance. He is also good with Gould, much different relationship than Gould/Warren. Andrew Johsn does crack some good jokes, but sometimes he goes over the top lol
marco
Guest
anyone seen the tv ratings so far in the finals series for league? Its not looking pretty. its time for nine to have a good hard look at what they are doing.
Mantis
Roar Guru
Im sick of hearing Gus and Rabs having their stupid arguments every week. Its the same crap and its getting old. Gus and Rabs have to go. And is it just me or has the amount of times Rabs calls someone by the wrong name, usually Polynesian players, skyrocketed in the last year or two? Don't get me wrong I like Rabs, but you just gotta know when to give it away.
ceboss
Guest
stop kidding yourselves guys, our commentators are among the best in our code. they crap all over the foxsports callers and if we had to.listen to the super league callers in Eddie Hemming and Stevo every week we would be begging foe rabs, sterlo, and gus to call our games. aIll admit Gus always repeats himself with the same old "they love sunday footy here rabs" and "small men that make big blokes look stupid" but of te his analysis of a teams performance is awesome.
vaughan
Guest
How can the Commentators get the rulings wrong, when no one know what the rules are anymore?? I agree that Nine's commentary is poor, well very poor, but when it comes to the Refs, their decisions, and the way the game is being officiated, they should shout it from the rooftops imo. Why??? The NRL are so insulated from the fans that they never have to answer to anyone or ever have to confer with any fan about any decision they make! Whether we, as fans like it or not................Gould and the rest of the nine gang, and the Fox boys, are our only conduit to having our voices heard. They are not representative of us, sure, but they are all we have!
nEd
Guest
Couldn't agree more. The channel nine commentators are supposed to be lovers of the game but they keep being sooo negative. I think their outrage settings are too low, they fly off the handle too easily. Time for them to sit down and watch and listen to some quality commentators in other sports, try the NFL, or formula 1 or motoGP. They can offer opinions (less frequently) but have some humility, recognise they are not the be all of opinion. Add insight not bias. Applaud the great plays and players and call the game. As an aside I get the impression that both Gould and Warren do not actually watch much footy outside of the games they call, perhaps they are not allowed to watch Foxsports!. But given their position as the "premium callers" I would have though it a requirement to watch most games every week. Compared to Foxsports, I have thought for a while now that Nine's NRL team was a bit tired, not just the commentators but the producers, and given that they keep patting themselves on the back as being the home of the NRL I see little hope for change.
damoinaus
Roar Pro
When commentators do promotional reads about the upcoming episode of Farmer Wants a Shag, or Two Broke Munts, it's EXTREMELY hard to take them seriously. I blame Channel Nein. Anyway, it's not so bad...at least Channel 7 didn't win the NRL rights. They've butchered the AFL coverage and I'm glad they don't have their mitts anywhere near the rugby league.
damoinaus
Roar Pro
When commentators do promotional reads about the upcoming episode of Farmer Wants a Shag, or Two Broke Munts, it's EXTREMELY hard to take them seriously. I blame Channel Nein. Anyway, it's not so bad...at least Channel 7 didn't win the NRL rights. They've butchered the AFL coverage and I'm glad they don't have their mitts anywhere near the rugby league.
Chui
Guest
This 'agro banter' thing between Warren and Gould just gets worse every week. You can almost hear Billy Birmingham in the background handing over the script from a Twelfth Man album. Ritchie : "Right Bill and Tony, we'll start with you two, and that agro thing you have going. Sorry I meant Rabbie and Gus." Agree about Sterling. He used to offer just insightful analysis. I wonder if they are told to be more tabloid.
Army
Guest
I agree 100% and have been saying this for years. They are bringing down the game. When mistakes are made during other sports commentators tend to move on. All we read about these days is negative news about the game we're supposed to love. Negativity is addictive and it's getting to the point where the game is tearing itself apart. It's turning me off the game which i know it shouldn't be. Things such as....the commission is hopeless!!......the refs are hopeless!!....we're growing tired of it. The problem is that the media has had recent success in getting the commission or the referees to act on what they say. The media is in charge of the league at the moment and the commission needs to take it back and start promoting the game again. Commentators need to be told to stop attacking the game.