Leaguel Counsel Episode 4

In this weeks show, the boys chat through just how high is the Panthers ceiling? Des Hasler’s recruitment policy, Wayne Bennett’s comments on Jarryd Hayne and a potential Anthony Mundine/Brad Fittler movie adaptation.

At both ends of the globe we have an iconic pair of Rugby League commentators. In Europe we have Eddie Hemmings and Mike Stephenson and in the southern hemisphere we have Ray Warren and Phillip Ronald Gould. For all League fans the voices of these guys are iconic and have been the soundtrack to some of our best and worst moments of our Rugby League viewing career.

Mike “Stevo” Stephenson retired at the end of last year. His voice has been missed from all Superleague broadcasts coming out of the “Old Dart”. Eddie Hemmings keeps the continuity going but he isnt too far away from hanging up the boots. It is interesting what voices our children will be hearing when they take in their weekly fix of superleague.

Down under at the NRL a tectonic shift has occurred in the commentary sphere with the recent introduction of live games simulcast on Fox Sports and the introduction of the Fox League channel this year. This has given the Rugby League consumer a much greater choice. To be honest Fox professionalism is leaving the free to air Channel Nine in the dust in terms of its product. It is sad in a way. Ray “Rabbit” Warren and Philip “Gus” Gould were the voices of Rugby League – but maybe only because they were the only option. Now with the plethora of options through pay tv, social media and online including Rugby Pass, Gus and Rabs are looking like Luddite Dinosaurs. Fox Sports has given us tremendous commentary talent in Warren Ryan, Andy Raymond and Brandy Alexander to name but a few. It also serves up some trollop commentators though none more so than Mark Gasnier and Gary Belcher.

On the topic of brilliant Rugby League commentary check out this video of Rugby League commentary. The Castleford commentator doesn’t hide his dislike of Wigan!