For quite some time now the conflict of interest commentators have with NRL clubs has been festering.
Obviously our great game needs well-respected ex-players in the media. Their opinions are held in the highest of regard as they‘ve been there and done it.
I don’t have a major issue with industry experts getting involved with current clubs to a point, however it must be acknowledged that this is fraught with danger.
At some point it makes sense to pick either/or – such as Paul Harragon choosing a position with his beloved Newcastle Knights over his media job with Channel Nine.
The best player I ever saw was Andrew Johns. He has a great football brain and I love his thoughts and opinions. However over the past few years his assistant coaching job with the Manly Sea Eagles has become a conflict of interest.
The issue comes to a head when Johns is involved in the telecast of Manly games. There is an obvious bias whenever he refers to the halves pairing of Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran, who he spends so much time coaching. For opposing team’s fans to listen to comments from a man you know is their coach leaves a bad taste.
The way he interviewed and joked with Foran on-field last year after Manly eliminated the Rabbitohs in the preliminary final made me feel even more sorry for Souths fans.
The obvious bias which frustrates fans and viewers could so simply be avoided. Surely there is enough talent to go around that Johns does not need to be a part of that telecast?
Possibly the biggest case of this is whenever we are forced to hear the voice of Phil Gould during a Penrith Panthers telecast. How can the General Manager of a club be allowed to commentate on his own team?
To hear him giving glowing compliments about Panthers players during a game makes me very uncomfortable – imagine if Russell Crowe was allowed to commentate on Souths games!
Phil Gould certainly still has a place in commentary. He has a great sense of occasion for those big games, and some of those introductions he’s given prior to a kick off have been legendary.
But week to week he does tend to waffle on and struggle to maintain interest. It might be time for Gus to focus on his role at the Panthers and just join in on the big telecast occasions like Origin and grand finals.
But he shouldn’t even have to make this decision – Channel Nine should have more sense.
Roosters legend Brad Fittler is another one who, although he doesn’t hold an official post with the Roosters that I am aware of, shows a complete lack of viewer empathy. He clearly barracks for his old team – it borders on the ridiculous.
After the Cowboys’ loss to the Roosters in this year’s finals, viewers sat through interview after interview of Freddy on the field joking with the Roosters, laughing it up with private jokes as if they were still teammates in the locker room.
All of this could have been avoided with some simple professionalism when assigning which experts will call which games. If Freddy cannot keep a lid on his loyalties he should not be involved in calling Roosters games.
I could raise plenty of more examples, but I’d rather show how there is a right way to do things. Look to Peter Sterling for proof.
Sterlo is a Parramatta legend and for all the years he has been on our TV screens, you wouldn’t have known which team he’d won all those premierships with. He never shows a bias to the Eels, he’s always professional, and that’s what’s made him so well respected.
Of the new brigade Matthew Johns, Gorden Tallis and Mark Gasnier are of the same mould. Extremely professional, always have an opinion, but leave their loyalties at the door.
Ben Ikin does his best to stay neutral when the talk of the Cowboys arises, as any statement he makes comes with a prior disclaimer that he sits on the club’s board.
News that Channel Nine’s Erin Molan was recently told by her employers she could not take on a position with the Canberra Raiders board baffles me when compared to others currently in their employ. They actually said it was due to a conflict of interest.
While I agree with that decision, if I was Erin I would seriously wonder how on Earth they can say that when they clearly have no issue with Johns or Gus being involved with other clubs.
The RiffMarn
Guest
Im sick of the Gus or Brandy commentating Penrith gameswhinge - seriously Gus does everything he can to avoid commentating on those games while I have watched many a game where Brandy has critical of the Panthers or complimentary to the opposition. If these guys are good enough who cares ???
Sam Bright
Roar Rookie
Good article and very accurate, especially the Freddy Fittler/roosters/panthers bias when commentating. Overall he offers very little anyway in my opinion. Joey on the other hand I don't find too bad and his insights and input on how he reads the game are brilliant. Gus Gould also has great insights but his constant crusade against the administrators and referees is boring and repetitive.
Jordan
Guest
Agreed Glenn I would take Lockyer's croaky voice and insight over Johns' umming and ahhhing any day of the week!
Glenn
Guest
Yeah FOX sports does a much more professional job of commentating the RL, and the players that they have apart from the clowns, Matt Johns, Nathan Hindmarsh, Brian Fletcher, the rest are professional in their style and light on the loyalty to previous clubs or SOO team.. maybe a smidgeon of this comes thru at origin time, but we can live with that, seeing they don't actually call the origin games.. Channel nine for mine, need to realise that an entire panel of NSW based and aligned commentators, with a token QLDER amongst the line up isn't something that appeals to Qld viewers, and they need to address the imbalance and bias shown. The game is bigger than any individual, and the commentators need to realise they're not talking or reporting to their team mates, or their old club board.
Glenn
Guest
SO True Jordan, he maybe an Immortal.. but he never got that because he could make sense as a commentator..? I am going to say, that Darren Lockyer makes a better critic than Johns, while both are humble in their style, the idiot factor doesn't show thru with Lockyer..
Nate Hornblower
Roar Rookie
I'm sorry but how many Panthers games this season did Gus Gould actually commentate on? I cannot recall any
Glenn
Guest
Agree with what you've said here Barry, and yes you're right about Paul Kent being in the minority as his very obvious bias to NSW shows thru in buckets..
Chook
Guest
I think your right. I have never seen him commentate live at a Penrith match
Chook
Guest
Yes Paul I would have to agree that some commentators have thinly veiled contempt for the Bulldogs and who can blame em!!!
Jordan
Guest
I have always found Sterlo to be the most level headed and intelligent caller for the last few years. As a QLDer I simply can't take Phil Gould, Fittler and Johns should go not QLD bias shining through here but their plain lack of professionalism during interviews and calling. Johns can't speak and at the start of GF day coverage was clearly still drunk or on something not doing any wonders for the game keeping him on the panel, his step by step plays could probably be done by another player who has actually mastered talking.
millsy of perth
Guest
And not to mention the negative commentary from channel nine amazes me shouldn't they be promoting Rugby league not denigrate it np wonder people switch off or are turned off. Get more journalists involved to equal out the ex players channel ten would do it well
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
I'm pretty sure Gould doesn't even commentate on Panthers games anymore. I'm 100% sure he didn't commentate on either of their finals games.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Have you ever thought that Nine want you complaining about the bias. It keeps you talking about the game.
sambo
Guest
Good article James. I can't stand the commentary team so i watched the Grand Final wit the sound muted.The only down side was that the atmosphere of the event was missing,but it was better than the talkfest.
dayer
Guest
Excellent article ... I always mute my tv when Gould speaks. i can not stand his "REPEATS"" blah blah blah Sterlo is great and warren is tolerable. The rest are so-so.
Fairy fairfax
Roar Rookie
true.
The Barry
Roar Guru
HarryT - I think you've hit on something there. Rabs is over 70 I'm not sure that he's up on current strategies and plays. Gould is very good at reading what makes players tick but there's a reason he's not coaching any more. I think they talk about the 'knitting' and the refs and the 80s and the rules because they're not as strong as they once were in the current tactics of the game. When you listen to Joey explain how teams are using one play to set up their next several, about how players are kicking the ball and what they're trying to achieve it's on a different level to Waldorf and Stadler.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I'm with you Ken. We all know Sterlo played for Parra, Joey the Knights, Fittler for Penrith and the Roosters. It's not a surprise and as a result I don't think it's a conflict.
Midfielder
Guest
Interesting article and I think you have a point. I did a very quick and maybe mistake ridden check across some of the worlds major sports.. EPL match callers no former players on panel discussion they make up roughly 50% NFL [gridiron in the US] match callers no former players .. panel discussion about 35% former players .. Basketball ... similar to the NFL...
Clark
Guest
I agree, if you actually listened to Gould's commentary, there is almost no indication of his affiliation with Penrith, Fittler on the other hand...