During the season, both Fox league and Channel 9 have extensive coverage of the NRL. They have a number of experts and commentators who cover the games and provide expert opinions usually in a panel format.
As they cover a large viewing audience I have decided to give you my opinion on a number of them and how they do their job.
FOX
The main face of the Fox League coverage is NRL 360. This is anchored by ex-Queensland player Ben Ikin and journalist Paul Kent. It has a format borrowed from the AFL show Fox Footy and covers rugby league news stories. The show is repeated several times in the evening and often introduces guests and other panel features such as Controversy Corner.
Ben looks like a chartered accountant but thinks like a footballer and, like a good anchor, steadies the ship when it goes off course. His vocabulary is extensive and always makes sense. He is the League’s Gerard Whately and handles the role well.
Paul Kent looks at the issues in a very different way. He is a passionate boxing fan and as a long time journalist with extensive contacts in the game of rugby league and seems to have sources close to or at the top.
He has forthright opinions and, unlike Mark Robinson at his cousin show, seems to express them clearly. He has avoided a veteran’s cynicism and is always worth listening to.
Michael Ennis has turned out to be a surprisingly good commentator (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Andrew Voss is a delight. Keen, enthusiastic and with a brilliant turn of phrase. Whether as a commentator or interviewing a player or some wacky bystander, Vossy is great value and always worth listening to. I think he is the best allrounder in both the AFL and NRL.
Finally, in the regular match day panel, Michael Ennis, who was a brassy aggressive hooker until his retirement last year, brings these qualities to the screen. He has quickly made a name for himself as a solid believable analyst. He is the find of the year.
Channel 9
Peter Sterling was always going to be a great analyst. Half backs seem to have insight, great turn of phrase and an innate ability to understand the game and its players. Sterlo has all of that.
Take him off the dumb Footy Show and he has shone. He anchors the Sunday Footy Show with humour and class; Channel 9 struck it rich with him.
I think Allana Ferguson is one of the most articulate intelligent analysts to appear on the screen. As a Jillaroo, she understands the game, its tactics and the players. Her opinions are clearly expressed and always worth listening too. I think she could be a great general sport analyst.
We are coming to the end, but we must mention two of the best.
Phil Gould is a living legend as coach and a player, up there with Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy. But today his main claim to fame is an analyst and a person who not only understands Rugby League, but can clearly express his opinions.
Phil Gould is a great analyst. (Photo: Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Sometimes a little overbearing like my old headmaster, his comments demand attention and are usually correct. I am not sure the removal of Anthony Griffin as Penrith Coach was his finest hour, but time will tell.
Now the best. Brad Fittler was, as a teenager, the golden boy destined for greatness. He has achieved it and maybe one day may be an immortal. He coached NSW to a State of Origin win in 2018.
If this was not enough, as a commentator and analyst – he is outstanding. Humorous, fair and knowledgeable, he has the talent of making every interview look friendly and sound easy.
He is the best new television talent in years.
Nerida Hogan
Guest
Please take Phil Gould off NRL commentating. He is biased to all NSW sides and does not have a good work for any player or team from QLD. He spoils the coverage of State of Origin with his one-sided remarks and encouragement for only NSW. Additionally on camera he always has a sour face and picks on any comments that and Queenslander offers. This is far from professional and if you can’t commentate without cheering for your own team you should not have the job.
farqueue
Roar Rookie
I never watch channel 9 so can't comment there except I know Hadley is shocking. I don't like Warren Smith on Fox and will listen to music now while game is on if he is commentating. Every single game after the first try he yells out " and they will play from in front today" ...he will carry on all game about a decision he disagreed with and I'm certain he doesn't like my team which makes him difficult to listen to. Corey Parker is quickly developing into someone who infuriates me as well.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Speedy's versatility is impressive. NRL/AFL and A-League and he is well prepared for all of them. Unlike Ray Warren who calls just 80 minutes of league a week and clearly reads two lines from the media guide Middo prepares for him and that is it. Vossy is the number 1 caller. A genuine fan of the game. It isn't work for him. You can watch Fox Footy on a weekend and hear him call a game from Townsville on Thursday, Gold Coast on Saturday and Sydney on Sunday and he still has the same enthusiasm for every game. Warren would laugh at you if you asked him to leave Sydney much less call two games.
Ben Kerrison
Guest
Andrew Voss number 1 ? Are you off your meds? Yes he calls the game with articulate enthusiasm but his senseless ramblings at times are irritating enough to make your ears want to bleed out. Ray Warren will forever be the best sports caller ever hands down. Sterlo and Brandy Alexander are next best.
Marty
Guest
Agreed. Ferguson is a repeater. She has not expressed her own opinion once. She is just a face. Ruan Sims on the other hand, she is and will be a great commentator.
db
Guest
I must be the only person who thinks Brenton Speed is the best of the game callers
Brian Hard
Guest
Those of us beyond TV reception get great commentary from the ABC's Andrew Moore. Having heard games since Tiger Black and Frank Hyde, Moore is on their high level. Just how many turn down the volume and listen to ABC? Ruan Sims and Dean Halatau are excellent and articulate side line persons, being able to articulate movements and provide word pictures. Bobcat needs creative expression training! Ruan was quickly identified and promoted to TV. Joey Johns is excellent, wherein he can breakdown and explain movements, almost a tutorial? Fittler's understanding is wholesome and his linguistics basic. The balance of TV callers are average. Gus is getting bigger by the month! The irrevelent personal comments between TV persons diminish their roles and the coverage. Its about the games, not TV persons egos! We want to know what's happening on the field, who's tackling and who is dynamic, not what might have happened back then and sub-standard slights. Ray Warren needs to retire before he freezes in the saddle.
RoryStorm
Guest
I cringe when I turn on a channel 9 game and hear it's going to be Ray Hadley calling the game. He thinks it's a horse race and rarely takes the time to take a breath. For the game day call it is very hard to go past Vossy. As you alluded to in your post Keith, Vossy brings a bit of everything. I love the way he injects humour into his call without missing a beat. Warren Smith is a very good caller of the game, even if he does get a little bit too excited to add drama to his call. His favourite phrase shouted at the top of his voice "What was he thinking?" Is a bit too contrived when repeated too often, but overall he is still very good. The sooner Ray Warren is retired the better. He adds nothing to a game. Nothing. PHIL Gould comes across as a know it all and that's because generally he does know it all. Andrew John's, Brad Fittler & Darren Lockyer should consider themselves extremely lucky to have such good jobs handed to them on a plate. Not one of them can finish off a sentence without making a mockery of the English language. Even wearing what everyone knows is a wig can help you out there. For me, it's Vossy 1st and daylight second.
RoryStorm
Guest
Wow! You must be fun to be with at a party.
Greg
Guest
Touché.
Wayne Turner
Guest
I call him Mr Personality - For his lack of one. He's also so biased,especially when Brisbane plays,a team he should never comment on,it's a massive conflict of interest. He's the Mark Taylor of rugby league - Boring,boring,boring.
Wayne Turner
Guest
They are all terrible. Before each match,they predict who is going to win,and then all call the game being biased towards the team they predicted to win.They also tend to crap on with boring praise of one certain player,regardless of what they are doing in the match.They are also so boring. Most struggle to put two words together.So,often they call the wrong player,and also crap on about unrelated side issues. The best is watching it at home with the sound muted.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
You are thinking of Ruan Simms
Phil
Guest
Fittler one of the best. Fair dinkum mate he never learnt to talk properly. He and Andrew Johns need vocal coaching and the comment about Lockyer was right. He has the charisma of a gumboot. Sterling is way out on his own at ch9, being an expert analyst and having the voice to bring it across. Gould, Gaseous Gus, no doubt has a great footy brain but he is too full of himself. That comment about Ennis being aggressive was utter bulldust. He was the greatest coward to play RL, a niggling grub who was in his element when the no punch rule came in knowing full well he could get away with anything.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Lockyer has zero personality. It's actually painful watching him commentate and do interviews
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
Voss no1 Sterling no2 Ennis good and will get better Sampson very nice, intelligent Thompson verbal diohrehh Lockyer and Lewis boring Gasnier ok Gould a no nothing big head Fittler and John's talking rubbish together Vauntin one eyed dumb wit Hadley terrible Warren needs to call player's by their last names so that people new to the game know who he is talking about instead of calling them by their 1st names terrible caller.
R N
Roar Rookie
Great idea for an article... sometimes when watching with friends we comment more on the commentary than the footy! Agree with most of your positive comments, especially in regards to Voss, Ikin and Sterlo! Freddy I am ambivalent and Gould I could be at both ends of the Likert scale within the same minute! However there is one "commentator" not mentioned that I believe needs special (swap the position last 2 words) attention. Lockyer is horrendous! Offers nothing! That he being paid probably a pretty good wage to do whatever it is that he is doing is an insult to all those working in aged care! Channel nine should move him on and give his wage to a charity. (instead of to the Darren Locker Foundation!)
johnno2
Guest
Thompson is very ordinary,overbearing and loud not to mention his bias For mine, I want to hear the progression of the game not an personal opinion cultured by the team he favours The comments by others on the panel are to deliver specific points of view They are all there to call the game not to infuse their personal opinions on team bias Vautin is the most one eyed " commentator " and the day he's gone won't be soon enough and the immature Thompson can go too Ray Warren is untouchable and has the class of the great commentators in all sport, Ray Hadley is also in a much better place than Thompson could ever aspire to
RandyM
Guest
harsh... she has improved a lot since she started. If you want cliches just listen to the King of robotic dull cliches Wally Lewis or "member that player from the 80s?" Paul Vautin". Alana also speaks in sentences, something Freddy, Joey or Lockyer struggle with. I watched the channel 9 broadcast last night. I don't mind Thompson but he gets far too loud and excited, to the point where it distracts from the play. He needs to take it down a few notches.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I think Allana Ferguson is one of the most articulate intelligent analysts to appear on the screen. Oh dear what have you been watching? She offers nothing but dull cliches as if she's reading off a bit of paper. Last night she made the brilliant observation that the Sharks need to start scoring when they were down 22-0 or something with 20 to go. She is woefully bad.