Ray Warren and Mal Meninga grabbed the attention before the Kangaroos-Kiwis Anzac Test in Canberra last night.
Veteran broadcaster Warren, who gave every indication he was pulling the pin on his 50-year career calling rugby league, signed on for another five-years yesterday.
That doesn’t translate to calling the 13-man code for the entire five year stretch, but the fact ‘Rabs’ will be on deck with Wide World of Sports gives Channel Nine breathing space to find a replacement.
Having known Rabs for those 50 years, I’m surprised he’s lasted that long with his genuine fear of flying.
There’s no argument he’s the best rugby league caller by the length of the straight, but these days flying is a dominant necessity.
Somehow the voice of rugby league has dealt with the problem, but I won’t be far wrong when I say once he hangs up his microphone, he’ll think more than twice about jumping on a plane again.
While Ray Warren was stitching up another five years – he turns 74 next month – Mal Meninga was being widely acclaimed as the next Immortal.
That’s old news to me, having proposed his induction for the last decade.
He should have been Immortalised long before Andrew Johns, and so should Ken Irvine, Norm Provan, Ron Coote, Peter Sterling, and Brad Fittler.
The ARL Commission now owns the Immortal brand with the closure of Rugby League Week, the original owners selling the concept and rights.
Hopefully the Commission will do damn sight better job with the induction of worthy Immortals than RLW, and include the late great coach Jack Gibson.
There’s no reason why a rugby league coach can’t be Immortalised, and in time Wayne Bennett as well.
The Anzac Test?
For the 100th time in 135 clashes, the Kangaroos gave the Kiwis a first half lesson, leading 24-nil.
But the Kiwis “won” the second half 12-6, as the Kangaroos took the foot off the pedal.
The final scoreline of 30-12, with the Kangaroos scoring five converted trues to two converted tries, but that’s what you’d expect from a side that boasts skipper Cameron Smith in his 50th Test, Johnathan Thurston, and Cooper Cronk.
That terrifically talented trio continually dominate all opposition – that’s just a fact of life, even though the Kiwis had Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa Sheck, and Jesse Bromwich, three of the world’s best.
But the Kangaroos have Mal Meninga as coach, the Kiwis David Kidwell.
That’s the difference.
The Storm and Dragons will be awaiting medicals on Cronk and Josh Dugan out of the game. Cronk limped off late in the second half with a knee injury, while Dugan may well have fractured a cheekbone after a heavy head clash with David Packer.
There are a host of rugby league internationals on this weekend, with one in particular set to shock.
Don’t be surprised if Samoa knock off England tonight.
That will cause a major stink.
Rod
Guest
Sounds good in theory, but where is the ABC going to get billions of dollars to pay for the broadcasts .
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
Should be 63 for Lockyer...
Beau Gann
Roar Rookie
19 rounds out injured in 2016 with an ACL injury - stagnation?
Warugby
Guest
Too busy partying after the game to complain. ?
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
FTA is more popular than Rupert TV for NRL - As I said the Tory government are changing the anti siphoning laws (as a result of significant reduction in licensing fee) to allow Rupert TV/Optus etc to then acquire rights to any events currently only available to them when FTA broadcasters don't acquire these rights. Rupert TV lost the EPL rights to Optus and no doubt Optus will be making a bid for Both the NRL/AFL when these broadcast deals come up for renewal again Better off bringing back TV licences for individuals and households so more events stay on FTA and ABC and that people are not forced to sign up to PTV providers like Rupert TV to watch these which looks like happening if the Tory government get this legislation in changing the anti-siphoning laws through the senate.
GWSINGAPORE
Guest
Rugby league is not a major game in NZ.
Birdy
Guest
Steveng i have to agree 2000% FH and Rex were the best of any sport. We could argue till the cows came home about which is the better sport but no sport can claim to have better commentators than those 2 immortals.
steveng
Roar Rookie
'The Barry' you don't know Frank Hyde but I do, I listened to FH always on 2SM and Rex Mossop on TV and of course Darryl Eastlake's enthusiastic and bellowing voice on SOO and all the other sports that he commentated on. These guys were legends and should be immortalised as RL commentators. Rabs was good (he's slipping away now) and he flourished in their shadows but once these guys were gone Rabs flourished. Yes, Rabs became the best after these guys were gone, but he's nowhere near as good as Frank Hyde, mark my words! Frank was the best 'if its straight enough, its straight between the posts' RIP FH, you are a legend!!!
Justin Kearney
Guest
Roughly 2.2 million viewers watch three games on fta each weekend and 1.8 million watch the 8 games on fox. Varies week to week but that is close to right.
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
230 k or maybe more at times watch Rupert TV - sure FOX have all games lives so if you have subscribed you would be watching FOX as why have it otherwise- problem is the tory government is going to change the anti siphoning laws to allow free to air and pay tv access to all events without restrictions -Currently pay tv can only acquire the rights to events listed under the anti siphoning list when free to air broadcasters don't acquire these rights. i.e Australia vs India test series on Fox as no free to air broadcaster acquired the rights.
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
Wazza's a huge baseball fan
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
Fully Agree Big Jack Gibson for League Immortal induction- who do we email this to now that the RLW is no more- other surviving immortals vote I recall- who else votes and who arranges the next inductee nominees??
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
I wonder what you people will be like when your 74 like Rabs though - some very harsh remarks about him - you people would also have been saying the same about the late great Richie Benaud no doubt
jeff dustby
Guest
those numbers are completely false. way over stated. considering that only 30% of australians have pay tv, a huge proportion are watching on fox. it is common knowledge that 9 is distressed by the proportion of viewers that remaking the choice of fox
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
It's 2017 not 1817
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
Can you provide the stats in how Fox is swamping 9 in the ratings- Fox would be lucky to have 230k viewers who have to pay for it compared to 9's 1.2 mill or so viewers who don't
Pickett
Guest
RTS scored a good try but was pretty in effective all night. He was never a sprinter over 100m but was pretty quick over 50m(which is all you really need in league or union) plus beautiful step. Has really stagnated since leaving Easts.
soapit
Guest
abc could do it if they charged a license fee like the bbc in the uk
soapit
Guest
i think he just misspoke. he corrected himself immediately
Jimmmy
Guest
I am with you. Smith and Brandy are my favourite pair. They are usually ahead of the game, get many more calls right than wrong, have an appropriate level of excitement and a little but not too much banter . Champagne compared to the vinegar of nine.