Broadcast options for Australian Rugby

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Where is this from?

The Ellisons, Israel and will Network 10 fight for the right?

A look at the anti-woke news chief who Network Ten’s billionaire owner has paid $227 million to hire; The Roar in limbo and an insight into the mind of Morry Schwartz’s top lieutenant up for grabs.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Strewthcobber]

Not really a "broadcast" thing, but lots of rumours around that the Roar has run out of money to pay the "experts" and are looking to sell to keep operating

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Yeah been swirling for a weeks. The Article above talks about it

There have been some pretty wild machinations going on in the background of one of Australia’s top read sports websites, The Roar this year, before its editor Tony Harper informed readers this week the site is going dark.

There has been a sale process rolling on in the background for several months, with Roar owner PlayUp and The Sporting News in discussions which appear to have fallen over, while in August, there was a now-deleted article claiming the site had been sold to cosmetic surgery entrepreneur Daniel Corsello for $1.

“Due to issues beyond the control of our editorial team, we are unable to publish content to the site until further notice,” Harper wrote this week.
News is a hard game in 2025. We hope The Roar can find a way to return to publishing soon.
(The Roar site was back up and running on Friday, October 10)

Side note: Anyone else see that Ch9 is going to broadcast 21 live NHL games on 9Go on Saturday mornings. Chuck some Rugby on ya muppets. Ice Hockey is fun but cmon even chuck some Club games out there for people to see.

 

[Adam84]

Would be a real shame for rugby, Roar have been a good source of news articles for rugby when mainstreams wouldn’t cover it

 

[Homer]

The problem with 9/Stan is that 9 is so intrinsically invested in NRL that they will always handcuff rugby marketing to protect the golden goose. It is also far cheaper to buy the NHL product than produce quality rugby material for free to air.

 

[Homer]

On the commentary, have a listen to how the poms talked up Ikitau during the warmup for his first Exeter game. Good insight, really pumped his tires up as a game breaker and gave detail as to how they thought he would help Slade grow. Good positive talk and turned out to 100% accurate.

Our commentators are still glass half empty at the best of times, and short of detail analysis. Im sick of jokes about not knowing what is happening in scrums, then get someone on who has a f***ing clue.

 

[Dctarget]

On the commentary, have a listen to how the poms talked up Ikitau during the warmup for his first Exeter game. Good insight, really pumped his tires up as a game breaker and gave detail as to how they thought he would help Slade grow. Good positive talk and turned out to 100% accurate.

Our commentators are still glass half empty at the best of times, and short of detail analysis. Im sick of jokes about not knowing what is happening in scrums, then get someone on who has a f***ing clue.

It's an issue for the older commentators for sure. Turinui is pretty good at offering analysis of backline moves. I'd love them to analyse a lineout as the boys walk in, try and predict which pod the ball will go to etc. Hooper has been pretty good in his recent times. Surely Nic White will be able to offer a bit.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Hooper is very good at it. Has that knack like the good Cricket commentators of seeing what is panning out. Harrison offers nothing even though he should be the specialist.

Turinui does have a good read on the game but been on a jaded run lately. Burke has been impressive as he seems to call it like he sees it.

I reckon White would be a good sideline guy. He can read the emotions of it and would be a good character for that role.

 

[Homer]

There is some great analysis by punters on Insta that really dissects how moves, scrums and defence operates in particular games (yes I know they get the benefit of replays and slowing things down) but in comparison our TV commentators seem to lack much preparation and review of teams tactics prior to the matches. Having someone who really understands how the Bok lineout works and how that sets up their next plays would be fantastic.

Hooper is like Leyton Hewitt, far better analysis than those around him. Burkey is good value as well, but maybe time for a new play-by-play guy to go with them.

 

[Major Tom]

Hooper is very good at it. Has that knack like the good Cricket commentators of seeing what is panning out. Harrison offers nothing even though he should be the specialist.

Turinui does have a good read on the game but been on a jaded run lately. Burke has been impressive as he seems to call it like he sees it.

I reckon White would be a good sideline guy. He can read the emotions of it and would be a good character for that role.

Turinui offers an opinion which I don't mind. Need a former prop or hooker to walk us through the scrum detail. It wouldn't be impossible. At Bathurst the commentators explain how the engineering works.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Would be a real shame for rugby, Roar have been a good source of news articles for rugby when mainstreams wouldn’t cover it

We talk about a paywall, there really will be one of we lose the Roar

 

[Strewthcobber]

Turinui offers an opinion which I don't mind. Need a former prop or hooker to walk us through the scrum detail. It wouldn't be impossible. At Bathurst the commentators explain how the engineering works.

Our broadcast history suggests former hookers (in particular) and props are actually pretty bad at doing this.

We probably need a former ref to do it, or at least the emphasis from the commentators need to be explaining why the decision was correct, not why it was wrong

 

[PhilClinton]

Our broadcast history suggests former hookers (in particular) and props are actually pretty bad at doing this.

We probably need a former ref to do it, or at least the emphasis from the commentators need to be explaining why the decision was correct, not why it was wrong

Yep I agree - a referee would be good.

Regardless of what people think about his reffing ability, Nic Berry would be a good candidate imo. He's also a qualified teacher so he's good at being able to verbalise his thoughts to a large group in an easily digestible manner.

I wonder what pays more - a Stan sports talking head or being an international ref?

 

[Major Tom]

Our broadcast history suggests former hookers (in particular) and props are actually pretty bad at doing this.

We probably need a former ref to do it, or at least the emphasis from the commentators need to be explaining why the decision was correct, not why it was wrong

Someone needs to give it a crack. I think the front rowers that are capable probably go into to coaching or other things. Anyways, when you watch other sports e.g. NFL or AFL, they are so good at explaining / describing plays, and they didn't necessarily play the position they're talking about. We need to get to that level. Use graphics or whatever you have to do to inform the viewer.

 

[PhilClinton]

Someone needs to give it a crack. I think the front rowers that are capable probably go into to coaching or other things. Anyways, when you watch other sports e.g. NFL or AFL, they are so good at explaining / describing plays, and they didn't necessarily play the position they're talking about. We need to get to that level. Use graphics or whatever you have to do to inform the viewer.

It helps that a number of the top end guys in NBA/NFL etc. that we hear on the national broadcasts are getting paid a bucketload of cash to be good at their jobs.

In terms of the local market, I agree there are some good commentators in the AFL but I think as a generalisation it's easier to commentate as there aren't many specialised skill sets that require a technical breakdown like we have in rugby with scrums, mauls, rucks etc.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Someone needs to give it a crack. I think the front rowers that are capable probably go into to coaching or other things. Anyways, when you watch other sports e.g. NFL or AFL, they are so good at explaining / describing plays, and they didn't necessarily play the position they're talking about. We need to get to that level. Use graphics or whatever you have to do to inform the viewer.

You also need the right former player with a true interest in broadcasting. We still tend to chuck a legend in there and let them talk.

You're seeing it in the NRL now where players are actively learning and getting better at presenting generally and then conveying what they analyse. It's stemmed from the US where they nail the prep before games of what to look for. Look at some of these guys like Michael Ennis and how polished they are.

 

[Major Tom]

It helps that a number of the top end guys in NBA/NFL etc. that we hear on the national broadcasts are getting paid a bucketload of cash to be good at their jobs.

In terms of the local market, I agree there are some good commentators in the AFL but I think as a generalisation it's easier to commentate as there aren't many specialised skill sets that require a technical breakdown like we have in rugby with scrums, mauls, rucks etc.

Yeah, it's probably easier in some respect, but there is still a massive number of moving parts. They do a lot of work around communicating how teams are moving the ball or defending it. They then match it with data (clearance, contested/ uncontested, intercept marks, inside 50s etc). The game is very scrappy to the untrained eye, so the commentators / analysts do a decent job to clean it up.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Would a special comments commentator be paid enough to do even any work outside of the broadcast?

It is fairly amazing how big a difference there is around team structure and tactics between the pros and someone like Squidge. There can't be any sport of similar standard where an essentially amateur production is so far superior

 

[Major Tom]

Would a special comments commentator be paid enough to do even any work outside of the broadcast?

It is fairly amazing how big a difference there is around team structure and tactics between the pros and someone like Squidge. There can't be any sport of similar standard where an essentially amateur production is so far superior

It's far better than anything Stan or anyone else puts out but it's not in real time. Admittedly I hardly ever watch the half time shows in rugby, but it would be good if they put together something there rather than the obligatory half time interview. Everything costs money, I guess.

 

[Strewthcobber]

It's far better than anything Stan or anyone else puts out but it's not in real time. Admittedly I hardly ever watch the half time shows in rugby, but it would be good if they put together something there rather than the obligatory half time interview. Everything costs money, I guess.

Sure, but has Stan ever gone into the pod structure that Schmidt uses with the Wallabies in any format?

The commentators give the impression that rugby at this level is all eyes up reacting to the opposition, when in reality, it's all planned to the smallest detail (and can be analysised, if you so chose)