NRL on Nine

Actually, it’s the current 3D Nine logo made 2D/white in whatever editing software they use.

The 1970-2000 and 2001-06 Nine logos had a curved hole in the “9” numeral, compared to the square hole in the “9” numeral of post-2006 logos (dotless & 2008 dotty revival)! :wink:

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Buzz Rothfield reporting Sterlo is quitting Nine at the end of the season as the network looks to go “younger” and more contemporary.

Hope he finds a slot on FOX.

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Courier Mail story

After 27 years on television, Peter Sterling will quit Channel 9 at the end of the season.

It will be part of a huge commentary box shake-up after years of declining ratings at the network.

Sterlo’s retirement will not be the only major change at the network.

It’s interesting that there is uncertainty over the team while their executive Mike Sneesby is in talks with NRL bosses Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo over a new television deal.

Queensland State of Origin legend Wally Lewis is unlikely to have his contract renewed.

There is also mail that the voice of rugby league Ray Warren will retire, although he may call the first State of Origin next year to bring up his 100th NSW v Maroons broadcast.

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But they keep Gus Gould… Skewing younger?

A shame that Peter Sterling will quit at the end of the year. But then again, he has been part of the commentary team for 27 years. Quite a feat.

Not fussed of Wally Lewis goes. He doesnt add much.

I actually dont mind Gus Gould on shows like “100% Footy” and his State of Origin analyst. But am not a fan of his when he commentates.

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After 27 years on television, Peter Sterling will quit Channel 9 at the end of the season.

If I’m not mistaken, Peter Sterling has actually been part of Nine’s rugby league coverage in some capacity since 1992 (which is more like 29-30 years)? Either way, definitely the end of an era.

Queensland State of Origin legend Wally Lewis is unlikely to have his contract renewed.

With Wally in that position for the network, is a new sports presenter for the 6pm news up in Queensland also likely? :thinking:

There is also mail that the voice of rugby league Ray Warren will retire, although he may call the first State of Origin next year to bring up his 100th NSW v Maroons broadcast.

I personally hope Ray Warren will permanently retire from rugby league commentary at the end of this season, even if that means not calling that coveted 100th Origin broadcast. Yes, Warren is an Australian sporting icon but the quality of his calls has undoubtedly deteriorated during the last two decades.

And Phil Gould? Yeah, I hope he’ll eventually quit Nine as well.

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Will bring the median age down once they sign one of Cam Smith’s kids for special comments.

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Finals promo

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Sterlo has told his Nine colleague Danny Weidler that he is retiring from NRL commentary, contrary to Phil Rothfield’s report in The Sunday Telegraph last week. Sterlo said he had discussed retirement with network management a couple of months ago.

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Peter Sterling made the announcement (and mentioned this article) on The Sunday Footy Show this morning, so it’s official now.

Sad in a way because Sterlo has been part of Nine’s rugby league coverage for my entire life (and a little before it), but at the same time ​nothing lasts forever. It’s probably also better that he’s stepping down while still relatively well liked/respected as a commentator, rather than staying around a few years too long like Ray Warren & Phil Gould.

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Agreed. Also good be chooses to retire and it isn’t something like end of broadcast deal to finish him.

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Wally Lewis will be staying with Nine until the end of 2022, courtesy of a long-term contract he signed with the network in 2019, according to Brisbane’s Sunday Mail. There were rumours that Lewis would be let go as part of Nine’s NRL commentary shake-up.

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Also apparently Erin Molan won’t be part of the NRL commentary team next season. She wants to spend more time with her father Jim who has cancer

I don’t think it’d be overly surprising to hear that Erin Molan is considering cutting back on her workload.

Between commitments to Nine’s NRL Coverage, Sport on the Friday/Saturday night editions of Nine News Sydney and the 2DayFM Morning Crew, there wouldn’t be much spare time in her schedule at the moment!

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The report in the Courier doesn’t specifically say that Wally Lewis will be staying as a NRL commentator, even though it talks about Peter sterling and younger audiences. Going from the headline regarding staying the King of Mt Coot-tha, it could be read to say that he is staying as the sports presenter for Nine News - a far more likely scenario; nine would have been crazy to make a change to their winning formula there.

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He doesn’t appear on the NRL coverage a whole lot anymore. If they removed him from Nine news it’d be a huge mistake IMO

Regarding Ray Warren’s eventual replacement, what do we think Nine are planning here?

Mat Thompson and Peter Psaltis are rarely if ever on camera. Not a good way to build their profile if Nine are going to fill from within. Or do we think Nine will poach someone like Warren Smith from FOX at the last minute. I can’t see Andrew Voss going back to Nine, if Nine want someone with a profile, there are really no other choices (as Brenton Speed, Matt Russell and Dan Ginnane are not high profile commentators either). And Ray Hadley is no longer calling games for Nine either.

Maybe Ray goes on next year for the last year of the rights before they move up 10/7

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If Nine do lose the NRL, that seems like a nice and neat option for everyone imo.

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The good thing is that we will know before the start of 2022