This Thursday night will see the launch of a new Rugby League season, and a new broadcast landscape with live coverage and opposing commentary teams on Nine and Fox Sports.
Details of the Fox Sports coverage was published on this website last week, and Nine has now confirmed its line-up.
In a new- look broadcast, Peter Sterling will anchor Channel Nine’s LIVE Thursday Night Football coverage in 2016 with unprecedented access to teams, while Fox Sports will anchor its coverage from the Sydney studio, Nine will continue to present pre and post-match analysis live from the ground.
Phil Gould and Andrew Johns will join the voice of Rugby League, Ray “Rabs” Warren, in the commentary box this Thursday night at Pirtek Stadium when the premiership favourites, the Brisbane Broncos, take on the Parramatta Eels. Queensland and Broncos legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer will join the panel of experts before and after the game.
Gould said: “The Brisbane Broncos might be early season favourites to take out the title, but they won’t get any favours from the new-look Parramatta Eels and their passionate fans on Thursday night. What a way to start the year.”
Friday Night Football
Yvonne Sampson will host Friday Night Football for Nine’s NRL coverage in 2016, also with unprecedented pre and post-match analysis live from the venue, including unmatched access to teams after the game.
Erin Molan will join the team for Friday Night Football, reporting from the sideline.
On Friday night, Paul Vautin rejoins the commentary team at Brookvale Oval when the Manly Sea Eagles play the Canterbury Bulldogs. Vautin will sit alongside Ray Warren and Peter Sterling, a combination that goes back to 1992.
“It’s great to have the old gang back together and what a place to start calling again at Brookvale Oval when the Manly Sea Eagles take on a gritty Bulldogs team coached by one of Manly’s greats in Des Hasler. Bring it on!” said Vautin.
Wide World of Sports
Wide World of Sports has a new co-host this year: Emma Freedman is coming home to Nine.
Nine’s Director of Sport, Tom Malone, said: “I first dragged Emma out of a pub in Melbourne as an 18-year-old to do some racing tips on the Today Show. She didn’t even have shoes on! I’m very excited she’s returning to sit alongside Ken Sutcliffe, Michael Slater and John Steffenson as a co-host of Wide World of Sports.”
Freedman is excited to be coming home to Nine. “It’s great to be rejoining the team at WWOS. I’m looking forward to being back in the co-host seat and bringing viewers all the latest sports news and opinion every Sunday morning.”
The Sunday Footy Show
The Sunday Footy Show also has a new host, with Yvonne Sampson taking over in 2016. During the season, she will be joined by all of Nine’s experts to dissect and deliberate on NRLgames every week.
Sampson said: “It’s an enormous privilege to join The Sunday Footy Show. For two decades the program has delivered rugby league analysis and robust debates, and now I can’t wait to be part of it. To follow in the footsteps of Peter Sterling is a huge honour and a career highlight.”
Sunday Afternoon Football
Sunday Afternoon Football will be hosted by Peter Sterling in 2016. And this Sunday it doesn’t get any bigger when the Rabbitohs run out against their arch rivals, the Roosters.
Sterling said: “Not just a fierce battle between two of rugby league’s most traditional rivals, but two clubs whose off-seasons have provided more lows than highs. Who rises to the occasion to get their campaign off on a positive note?”
A rivalry that dates back to the inception of rugby league in 1908, this clash promises to produce fireworks.
Also joining Nine’s NRL coverage and sports shows as expert commentators and panellists in 2016 will be Brett Finch, Paul Gallen, Billy Slater, Matt Moylan, Ben Hunt, James Maloney and Sam Thaiday.
Freddie Cam
Former Roosters’ premiership winning captain Brad “Freddie” Fittler will bring all the colour and action from the sideline at every game with the introduction of “Freddie Cam” in 2016. Fittler will be given free rein to wander anywhere and do anything.
“We’re taking the leash off Freddie – literally. He’s getting his own camera, with no leads. Live television is about being unpredictable and dangerous, and they don’t come more unpredictable than Freddie,” Tom Malone said.
Malone added that Nine’s whole NRL team can’t wait to get started. “The 2016 season will be bigger and better on Channel Nine. The best games, broadcast by the best team, live and free right around Australia. There is only one channel rugby league fans need to watch this year, and it’s right here on Nine – and it’s free. And of course the biggest games of 2016 – State of Origin and the Grand Final – can only be watched live and free on Nine.”
Check local guides for details. Times will differ.
