You can’t really say that though as a fact. A lot of people drop their days in the years leading up to retirement. A colleague of mine in his mid 60’s dropped to 4 days last year with the intention of retiring in 12-18 months. It’s a very common journey to retirement.
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Seven probably want to emulate the transition from Hitch to Alicia and Tom on 9 Melbourne. Moving a popular long term presenter to weekends and having new presenting team on weeknights. Seems to have worked in Melbourne so why not Perth?
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It’s obvious from both of their comments that this isn’t completely their choice. They have both consistently said they aren’t ready to give this up and I believe that. News is their life.
This is clearly a financial decision but Seven didn’t want to risk upsetting viewers by removing one or both of them, and by doing it this way they don’t have to worry about either possibly being snapped up by STW.
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Perth and Melbourne are very different. Perth hates change, especially when it’s something that is part of their daily routine.
Seven made a solid choice with Tim and Angela. Both are well known and have had plenty of face time on Seven News so that may help things but I would be surprised if there isn’t a drop in viewers once this happens.
And heaven forbid if this was an eastern states decision. There’s nothing WA hates more than decisions like this coming from the east.
There are some interesting times ahead.
Guys they are both in their 70s… Seven need to start the transition. Perth will stay with Seven don’t worry. It works for everyone this way.
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Rick is 67. Susannah is 73.
But Seven do need to look to the future.
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His first shift back on air at 7NEWS and 7SPORT will be January 18, when he fills in for Mel McLaughlin as she goes on annual leave after her summer hosting duties with cricket.
He will steer Seven’s NRL coverage, as well as the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
“I’m pumped, ready to rumble, it is time to come back,” he said, saying the late newsreader Ian ‘Roscoe’ Ross was also an inspiration for his return.
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That’s surprising. I wonder if he settles in doing weekend sport for 6pm in Sydney? It would be an interesting decision after letting Matt Carmichael and Mark Beretta go. If so, you would have to imagine that the Sydney bulletin is fairly costly for a second rate bulletin. They seem to have a lot of high-profile presenters it is paying in comparison to other cities.
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Seven’s NRL Coverage?
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I’m Surprised that Matt White is back. But I was hoping he was on the Nine Network
Presume the reporter used it as shorthand for their rugby league news/programme coverage
Agenda Setters maybe?
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Sydney will have a strong sports team with Mel McLaughlin, Matt White and Jelisa Apps at the forefront.
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Matt White returns to Seven
Respected sports broadcaster to supercharge 7NEWS and network NRL coverage
The Seven Network today announced the homecoming of Matt White, one of Australia’s most respected broadcasters, in a new cross-platform role.
After a decade as a familiar face on Seven, White returns to the network ahead of a blockbuster 2026 sport line-up to take on a key presenting role with 7NEWS Sydney and 7SPORT.
White will front Seven’s expanded NRL coverage in 2026, serving as a key 7NEWS sport presenter delivering authoritative analysis on the latest NRL news across bulletins nationwide each night.
He will also join Seven’s exclusive coverage of the highly anticipated Rugby League World Cup 2026 in October and November and will contribute to Seven’s new program NRL Agenda Setters, connecting fans with the biggest breaking news stories and best analysis impacting the game.
White will return to the 7NEWS Sydney Sports desk on Sunday, 18 January before focusing on the 2026 NRL season start.
White’s return also reunites him with 7NEWS Sydney’s sports anchor Mel McLaughlin, after the pair first worked together more than a decade ago, creating a formidable sports presence in Sydney and bringing together two of the leading authorities in Australian sports broadcasting.
White said: “It’s a huge privilege to be re-joining Seven at such an exciting time for Rugby League. 7NEWS is home to the best newsmakers in the business and I’m genuinely pumped to be part of what’s next for the network’s NRL coverage.
“Jumping into Seven’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 coverage later this year is the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to get started and connect passionate footy fans with the sharpest insights and stories from across the game.”
Seven’s Director of News and Current Affairs, Ray Kuka, said: “Matt’s return to Seven is a homecoming for one of the most respected voices in Australian sport.
“His reputation, knowledge and energy make him the perfect fit, while his deep understanding of the NRL, combined with his ability to cut through the noise and explain the game with clarity and authority, will strengthen our formidable newsroom. This is a game-changing addition for 7NEWS sport and for viewers.”
Seven’s Director of Network Sport, Chris Jones, said: “Matt is smart, dynamic and insightful in the way he covers the game. Bringing him into the fold across 7NEWS, our Rugby League World Cup 2026 coverage and our wider NRL programming is a huge coup for Seven and for fans.”
Mel McLaughlin added: “We’re so excited to have Matty back in the Sydney newsroom. We go way back, and I know how much he absolutely loves it.
“He’s a huge asset and we’re lucky – easily one of the best in the business, can’t wait for a massive year with him as part of our awesome team.”
White is one of Australia’s most accomplished and versatile broadcasters, with a career spanning more than three decades across television, radio and print. He has hosted and commentated on some of the world’s biggest sporting and news events, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games, Supercars and Formula 1 championships, Australian Open Tennis, US Open Golf and major motorsport series. White is widely recognised as a founding face of Sports Tonight and has held senior management roles in Australian television, including Head of Sport at Network Ten.
Beginning his career at The Manly Daily before moving into radio and then television, White went on to spend a decade at Seven, where he became a familiar face to Australian audiences. During this time, he anchored coverage of the Athens, Torino and Beijing Olympic Games, hosted Today Tonight and fronted Seven’s award-winning motorsport broadcasts. He also led major live events such as The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
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7 really are ramping up their NRL coverage, obviously because they have the rights to the Rugby League World Cup. But could there be other reasons? Are they gearing up to make a play at some NRL rights?
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I think this is great news. Definitely strengthens 7 News in Sydney.
Always remember him on Sports Tonight in the early 2000s, then 7 News Sydney followed by Today Tonight. I think his last stint at Seven was presenting Sevens Afternoon News with Mel Doyle in 2013. From memory he also presented Sunrise as a fill in.
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If only he was replacing Mel McLaughlin on the weeknight sport gig. The latter should only really be on weekends at best given her mediocre hosting abilities.
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Given it somewhat looks like Liam Tapper might not be returning to his role doing sport, does anyone else think Matt could pop up doing sport on the 12pm news?
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Or how about the new Sunrise sport presenter? Two Matt’s on the desk
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