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On Sunday, the Melbourne Storm, attempting to mount an unlikely comeback, crossed for what looked to be an incredible try.
The play went from one side of the field to the other and back to the middle before Sisa Waqa crossed under the posts.
Watching in my loungeroom as a neutral, it got me out of my seat. It was spectacular rugby league.
So when the replays showed that Jesse Bromwich had knocked on way earlier in the play, it was understandably disappointing. The video ref ruled no try and a classic moment was lost. But that’s rugby league, and they got the decision right.
Some members of the commentary team, unfortunately, let their disappointment get the better of them. From that point on, viewers were subjected to an ongoing diatribe against the video referee.
Phil Gould called the decision “one of the great travesties of the modern era.” After a couple of players were later placed on report following video referee reviews, he stated in a dejected voice, “I’m very quickly losing interest in this.”
For the record, I have huge respect for Phil Gould as a footballing mind. His insights into the game in his newspaper columns and on mid-week talk shows are up there with the best. And he has done wonderful things at the Panthers.
But during a live call, unless everything goes perfectly – rare in a game with as many grey areas as rugby league – he usually manages to get a bee in his bonnet and kill the fun. Sunday’s game was a perfect example.
When I sit down to watch the footy, I’m looking for an escape. Nothing better than kicking back with a beer and watching a game after a long work week.
However instead of simply calling the action, increasingly we get agenda-driven commentators overcome by emotion when something ticks them off. Gus isn’t the only one, but he’s certainly the worst.
Am I the only one that just wants to relax and enjoy a sporting contest, warts and all? Rugby league is an imperfect game. The things that make it imperfect are the same things that make it great.
The game has issues, I get that. And we should try to improve it wherever possible. But can we please save those discussions for the chat shows, for the newspaper inches?
I can’t imagine new viewers, with little understanding or interest in the game’s more controversial aspects, would have any chance of being drawn in while ever we have commentators going on negative rants smack bang in the middle of a call.
I look at Andrew Voss as the best commentator to listen to. He doesn’t take the controversial moments too seriously. He at least sounds like he’s having fun up there.
Please, Phil, bring back the fun. If you can’t manage that, step away from the live calls. Let us enjoy our footy.
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