The upcoming rugby league World Cup beginning October 27 will once again find itself on Channel Seven as the broadcaster for the event, but what face will we be staring at on the TV? What voices will we be hearing throughout the tournament?
Well, it’s an expected mix of TV personalities and ex-players who will be making up the commentary team for the Cup that has been played at sporadic intervals over the last 50 years.
Seven news reporter Jim Wilson will head the team, being joined by New South Wales coach Laurie Daley and six-club man Brett Kimmorley as the leading trio for the month-and-a-half-long coverage.
Daley and Kimmorley will be joined by a range of former players on the television screen with a mix of on-screen and commentary roles.
The names include former Raiders moustachioed fullback Gary Belcher who has come across from Fox Sports to play a role in the coverage, Panthers points-scoring record holder Ryan Girdler, fiery big Englishman Adrian Morley and Panthers grand final hero Scott Sattler.
Queensland veteran and Broncos premiership winner Brent Tate and Dubbo export Andrew Ryan have also been brought in for commentary duties.
Seven will have all the coverage in and out of Australia as the host broadcaster, with former all-time leading points scorer Daryl Halligan joining kiwi international Monty Betham and journalist Glen Larmer as the leaders for New Zealand’s coverage.
Among the non-footy players apart of the main team is veteran Grandstand commentator Andrew Moore, Triple M radio host Dan Ginnane and Mark Braybrook.
Renee Gartner and Allana Ferguson will both be prominent members of the team as on-air hosts of the tournament.
“We are also delighted to have secured such an outstanding group of people who will bring both Cups to millions,” said Saul Shtein, Seven’s Head of Sport.
Joining the aforementioned Ryan and Gartner will be Bill Harrigan and Nathan Cayless in coverage of the Women’s World Cup which is being run simultaneously with the men’s event.
Seven previously hosted the 2013 World Cup held in England and won by Australia.
The first World Cup game kicks off on the 27th of October with co-host Australia taking on England.
The 2017 edition is the 15th iteration of the Cup dating back to 1954 and will be co-hosted by Australian and New Zealand with Papua New Guinea hosting all three of their games in Port Moresby.
The final will be played on December 2 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Paul Chapman
Guest
It could be different as we wont have commentators arguing with each other as on Channel 9. Please allow the Bunker to officiate without the commentators talking over the Bunkers reason for allowing or not a try. I am looking forward to decent commentary without Gould & co.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
He has to be better on TV. Couldn't be worse then on radio. Another that thinks that the Darrell Eastlake style is the only style Girdler is excellent
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Ginnane is not bad on radio. Let's hope he translates to tv medium
Mike from tari
Guest
No not Laurie Daley, he was hopeless as a commentator before he took the SOO coaches job, so I don't think he has improved, please don't let us suffer again.
Craig
Guest
I think Finch is quite good too. Hated the bloke as a player.
The Fatman
Guest
Wilson is a terrible choice.
boonboon
Roar Pro
Girdler does a great job on tripple m and will be a standout
Nat
Roar Guru
I agree but to get the start in media you have to have a high profile or personality. Brett Finch and Joel Caine maybe, better than the average toiler but only just. Not that being good at the game translates directly into incisive commentary - eh Johns and Fittler! Listening to 'Big Maan' Brohman on Sat, 4BC can be just a painful. Matty Johns is an example where personality morphed into authority. He started as the Jokester and now he is an influencer! Please!
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Ch 7 did a great job for RLWC2013. Surprised Ryan Phelan isn't part of the line up (is he still with ch 7?) & so far their promotion of the tournament on the news & social media is excellent by the station.
Craig
Guest
Girdler, Tate and Ryan. Not a real strong commentary line up is it? I hate to say it, but I actually quite like Michael Ennis. I really find it interesting that commentators are pretty much all former stars of the game or journalists. There doesn't really seem to be much room for the ex fringe first grader or an honest toiler who played 50 odd club games. Is it because the other ex players don't respect them? At least a journalist criticising someone can play the "my job is a journalist, not an ex player" whereas an average ex-player would get looked upon as a hypocrite due to being not that flash themelves? Plenty of average (and by average, I mean "average", not bad) footballers make the best coaches. It stands to reason they would also make excellent commentators.