The NRL Footy Show
Encyclopedia
The Footy Show is a Logie Award
-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network
and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has been on air since 1994. The original hosts (in 1994) were 'Fatty' aka Paul Vautin
, 'Sterlo' (Peter Sterling
), and 'Blocker' (Steve Roach
).
The Thursday night programme was, and still is largely entertainment-based, with some football-related content included, such as previews of the weekend's fixtures and interviews with players.
version of the show airs twice each week in the form of a:
, Queensland
, Northern Territory
and Australian Capital Territory
, the NRL version of The Footy Show is aired on Thursday evenings, and the AFL version would air later that night.
The Thursday night NRL version is based around variety with segments, bands and a serious discussion about current issues in the game and past/future match-ups.
Former segments included; Anti-Ad, National Naan News (with Mahatma Cote), Daredevil Dudes, Going.. Going... Gooone, "Crack-a-Fat", One Versus One, Their House (with Ryan Girdler
), Reg Reagan and That's Gold.
Perhaps the most popular segment introduced on The Footy Show in 2011 is "Stuff You May Have Missed"; presented by Andrew Voss
, a weekly wrap-up of funny things and bloopers that viewers may have missed whilst watching Channel Nine
's football coverage and many other programs not just on Channel Nine but other stations, appear on this segment.
The show's 500th episode went to air on 11 August 2011.
competition would take place in Australia in 1997 (see Super League War
). This meant that the Footy Show would be required to give fair coverage and discussion of both the Super League
and ARL
competitions during its broadcast. Hadley had been a stout supporter of the more traditional ARL
, believing that Super League
's agenda was backed by money and greed and was not prepared to lend his support to the rival competition, thus leading to his eventual departure from the show. Hadley left at the end of 1996, and returned to the show in 1998, before leaving for good. Roach, on the other hand, had been involved in an altercation, allegedly assaulting a heckler in a Sydney pub. Channel Nine, not wanting to condone such conduct and wishing to preserve its reputation, were quick to terminate Roach's contract as a result of his actions.
For two years, Vautin and Sterling presented the show by themselves, often with guest hosts such as Phil Gould
, the Johns brothers (Andrew
and Matthew
) and Ryan Girdler
with his highly popular segment, Their House, the name a parody of the Australian TV programme Our House (a lifestyle programme).
of the hit show Survivor
(also shown on Nine), and former Knights
forward Paul Harragon
, also known as 'Chief', was selected. In 2003, fellow former Knights player Matthew Johns joined as the fourth host, following the success of his appearances as alter egos Reg Reagan and Trent The Flight Steward the previous year. A new character, Randy Discotelli, based upon an American fitness instructor, was introduced in 2005.
Paul Harragon's introduction to the show brought popular segments such as 'That's Tops', which involves giving the 'thumbs up' sign with both hands simultaneously. 'That's Tops' ran from 2002 until the end of 2004. Mario Fenech
also appears often as a host. In 2005 'That's Gold' was introduced, a hand gesture which involves placing an upright clenched fist on an open palm; both gestures have become popular throughout Australia
and New Zealand
and are often 'performed' at NRL-related sports venues across the country.
In May 2005, due to declining ratings, former host Ray Hadley was invited back to the show. However, he declined this offer due to his radio commitments on 2GB
. Rebecca Wilson
was also invited to be part of the show and she accepted. However, Vautin and Sterling disapproved of this move due to personal reasons, and Wilson appeared for only one episode.
The show has spawned three "best of" video/DVDs, a compilation CD, the Reg Reagan All of Me DVD and the single Am I Ever Gonna See The Biff Again? by Reg Reagan and the Knucklemen (Reagan is a parody of a stereotypical ocker
football players from the 1970s).
For a period of ten weeks in 2005, the show was hosted by Matthew Johns, due to head injuries suffered by Vautin while filming a comedy sketch for the show. Vautin returned in September 2005.
The Footy Show is more a variety show than a typical sports programme. This is evident through the many games that the members play such as Going, Going, GOOONE! and segments such as Daredevil Dudes. Only one match is previewed in significant depth, it generally being the Friday Night showcase.
In 2007, Peter Sterling decided not to return to the show so he could concentrate on commentating. The show decided to keep the three hosts (Vautin, Harragon and Johns). In 2008, Laurie Daley
joined the show as a fourth host.
In early 2009, it was announced that Paul Harragon had quit the show, Laurie Daley had returned to Foxtel (where he first began his television career) and Andrew Voss
would join to replace the departing hosts. In May 2009, Matthew Johns was sacked by the network in controversial circumstances.
was removed as host (but still remained on the show as a supporting presenter), and Paul Vautin
was joined by three other hosts (Peter Sterling
(who returned as a co-host after a three year absence), Wendell Sailor
and Darryl Brohman
) who alternated their appearances weekly. In 2011, Wendell Sailor and Peter Sterling have left as hosts and the show has returned to having three weekly hosts with Vautin, Darryl Brohman and Brad Fittler
, with supporting hosts being Benji Marshall
, Beau Ryan
and Andrew Voss
.
, Gary Belcher
, Kevin Walters
(doing Street Beat), Peter Jackson
, Mario Fenech
, Laurel Edwards and Steve Haddin with a weekly live cross from Sam Newman
from the Channel 9 Melbourne AFL Footy Show who always had fun heaping sarcastic comments Mario Fenech's way. Today, the Sydney version is shown in Brisbane and Queensland. With the success of the recent "Mighty Maroons" shows airing before each 2011 State Of Origin telecast, Sydney Footy Show boss, Gary Burns, believes the time might be right for another Queensland based Footy Show now that Q'ld has The Broncos, Cowboys, Titans and possibly another team from the SE Q'ld area in the NRL within 4 years.
and a variety of panelists including Mario Fenech
, Phil Gould
and a variety of NRL
players. The show discusses the results of the weekend's matches so far and includes interviews with players. There is also a segment called 'Around the Grounds' which is presented by Tim Gilbert and discusses the rest of the weekend's game and injury wrap-up. There is also a 'League of League' segment showcasing previous greats of the NRL. At the end of the programme, there is a 'Brut
Big Hits' segment showing three of the biggest hits in the previous round.
Immediately after the Sunday Footy Show, there is 'The Sunday Roast' where the less serious Footy Show boys go through all of the funniest footy moments of the week.
The Sunday Footy show is filmed on the same set as the Today Show
.
, Tasmania
was rocked when news of two mine workers were trapped down a mine shaft. Miraculously, 34 year old Todd Russell and 37 year old Brant Webb escaped with aid from emergency workers. To celebrate, both the AFL
and the NRL Footy Show had a special programme dedicated to the two surivours. This included a cross to Eddie McGuire
who held an interview with Brant and Todd.
In 2006, to celebrate the State of Origin
decider - which was to be held in Melbourne for the first time in years - the two shows were filmed in adjoining rooms, in Nine Network
Melbourne's complex. On the AFL Show, Fatty went over from the NRL Show to join as a guest for a few minutes. Upon his return, a quiz was held between AFL Show regulars Billy Brownless
and Sam Newman, with Matthew Johns and Peter Sterling representing the NRL side. Most of the questions were about either the Melbourne Storm
for the NRL boys, since it was a celebration of Melbourne Rugby League, and the Geelong Football Club
who Newman and Brownless both played for in the AFL. The AFL boys won the quiz. Also during the show, Newman showed the two boys what he thought of their 2006 Logie by destroying a (presumably) fake Logie while Fatty was on their show.
In 2006, the AFL and NRL produced a special broadcast from Germany
. This was to coincide with the Socceroos FIFA World Cup
campaign. It was co-hosted by Eddie McGuire
and James Brayshaw
. Unlike the traditional versions, the special was solely based around the Socceroos' World Cup Campaign.
Logies won:
Logies nominated:
It has also benn nomitated for:
on the set. The show has also received its share of criticism for its lowbrow humour and poor productions values.
and Ireland
on Setanta Sports 1 every Thursday night at 10 p.m. and Sky Sport in New Zealand at 11:30 p.m. Thursday Live.
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has been on air since 1994. The original hosts (in 1994) were 'Fatty' aka Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches...
, 'Sterlo' (Peter Sterling
Peter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
), and 'Blocker' (Steve Roach
Steve Roach (rugby league footballer)
Stephen David "Blocker" Roach - is an Australian former rugby league prop forward of the 1980s and early 1990s. He made thirty-nine representative appearances for the Australian national team in Tests, World Cup and New South Wales State of Origin matches between 1985 and 1991...
).
The Thursday night programme was, and still is largely entertainment-based, with some football-related content included, such as previews of the weekend's fixtures and interviews with players.
Presenters
- Paul VautinPaul VautinPaul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches...
(1994–present) - Darryl BrohmanDarryl BrohmanDarryl Brohman is an Australian former rugby league footballer, commentator and media personality. Brohman is best known for his time playing for the Penrith Panthers and the Queensland rugby league team...
(2010-present) - Brad FittlerBrad FittlerBradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
(2011-present)
2011 Supporting Presenters
- Benji MarshallBenji MarshallBenji Marshall is a professional rugby league footballer with the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League . A goal-kicking five-eighth, he is the current captain of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations tournaments...
- Beau RyanBeau RyanBeau Ryan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League. He plays primarily in the backs....
- Andrew VossAndrew VossAndrew Voss is an Australian sports commentator for the Nine Network, who currently works on National Rugby League coverage.-Television Career:...
- Scott PrinceScott PrinceScott Prince is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and current captain of the Gold Coast Titans club of the National Rugby League...
- Peter SterlingPeter SterlingPeter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
(1994–2006, 2010) - Ray WarrenRay WarrenRay "Rabbits" Warren in Junee, New South Wales is an Australian sports commentator, most famous for his coverage of televised professional rugby league matches on the Nine Network. On occasion he is referred to as "The Voice of Rugby League". Ray also calls the action for Australian swimming team...
- Andrew JohnsAndrew JohnsAndrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
Former Presenters
- Wendell SailorWendell SailorWendell Jermaine Sailor is an Australian former professional rugby football player who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international. He is an Australian Torres Strait Islander.Sailor's large frame and bullocking style changed the way wingers played rugby...
(2010) - Andrew VossAndrew VossAndrew Voss is an Australian sports commentator for the Nine Network, who currently works on National Rugby League coverage.-Television Career:...
(2009) - Laurie DaleyLaurie DaleyLaurie Daley OA is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of Indigenous Australian descent. He represented Australia on 26 occasions and has since been named as one of the nation's finest players of the 20th century...
(2008) - Matthew JohnsMatthew JohnsMatthew Johns is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former professional player...
(2003–2009) - Paul HarragonPaul HarragonPaul "The Chief" Harragon OAM is an Australian rugby league football identity. A retired Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football for the Newcastle Knights whom he captained to the 1997 ARL premiership...
(2001–2008) - Steve Roach (1994–1999)
- Ray HadleyRay HadleyRaymond Morris Hadley OAM is an Australian talkback radio broadcaster. He presents 2GB Sydney's morning show, and leads the Continuous Call Team, a rugby league-based talkback radio panel program.-Early Life:...
(1994–1996, 1998)
Scheduling
The NRLAustralian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
version of the show airs twice each week in the form of a:
- Thursday night programme, shown at 9.30 p.m. AEST, and
- Sunday morning programme, shown at 11:00 a.m. AEST
Thursdays
In New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, the NRL version of The Footy Show is aired on Thursday evenings, and the AFL version would air later that night.
The Thursday night NRL version is based around variety with segments, bands and a serious discussion about current issues in the game and past/future match-ups.
Former segments included; Anti-Ad, National Naan News (with Mahatma Cote), Daredevil Dudes, Going.. Going... Gooone, "Crack-a-Fat", One Versus One, Their House (with Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played centre and was a successful goal-kicker. Thanks to his on-field skills and good looks he became a popular figure in rugby league.-Rugby league career:Girdler first played in the NSWRL for the Illawarra...
), Reg Reagan and That's Gold.
Perhaps the most popular segment introduced on The Footy Show in 2011 is "Stuff You May Have Missed"; presented by Andrew Voss
Andrew Voss
Andrew Voss is an Australian sports commentator for the Nine Network, who currently works on National Rugby League coverage.-Television Career:...
, a weekly wrap-up of funny things and bloopers that viewers may have missed whilst watching Channel Nine
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
's football coverage and many other programs not just on Channel Nine but other stations, appear on this segment.
The show's 500th episode went to air on 11 August 2011.
Thursday Credits
Burns, Gaunt, Iannelli, Morton, O'Brien, Quinn, Rochford, Sullivan, Wallace, Issa, Murray, Wiseman, Simm-Jones, Campbell, Hincks, Carroll, Chalmers.1990s
Hadley and Roach did not have a good relationship with the rest of the team, and both left at the end of the 1998 season for varying reasons. Hadley had become disillusioned as a result of the confirmation that the Super LeagueSuper League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
competition would take place in Australia in 1997 (see Super League War
Super League war
The Super League war is the common name given to the corporate dispute that was fought in and out of court during the mid-1990s between the Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation-backed Super League and the Kerry Packer and Optus Vision-backed Australian Rugby League organisations over broadcasting...
). This meant that the Footy Show would be required to give fair coverage and discussion of both the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
and ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
competitions during its broadcast. Hadley had been a stout supporter of the more traditional ARL
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
, believing that Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
's agenda was backed by money and greed and was not prepared to lend his support to the rival competition, thus leading to his eventual departure from the show. Hadley left at the end of 1996, and returned to the show in 1998, before leaving for good. Roach, on the other hand, had been involved in an altercation, allegedly assaulting a heckler in a Sydney pub. Channel Nine, not wanting to condone such conduct and wishing to preserve its reputation, were quick to terminate Roach's contract as a result of his actions.
For two years, Vautin and Sterling presented the show by themselves, often with guest hosts such as Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
, the Johns brothers (Andrew
Andrew Johns
Andrew Gary "Joey" Johns is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. He was heralded as the world's best halfback for a number of years...
and Matthew
Matthew Johns
Matthew Johns is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former professional player...
) and Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler
Ryan Girdler is an Australian former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. He played centre and was a successful goal-kicker. Thanks to his on-field skills and good looks he became a popular figure in rugby league.-Rugby league career:Girdler first played in the NSWRL for the Illawarra...
with his highly popular segment, Their House, the name a parody of the Australian TV programme Our House (a lifestyle programme).
2000s
In 2001, a contest was held to find a new co-host, via a parodyParody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of the hit show Survivor
Survivor (TV series)
Survivor is a reality television game show format produced in many countries throughout the world. In the show, contestants are isolated in the wilderness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe...
(also shown on Nine), and former Knights
Newcastle Knights
The Newcastle Knights are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Newcastle, New South Wales. They compete in Australasia's premier rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
forward Paul Harragon
Paul Harragon
Paul "The Chief" Harragon OAM is an Australian rugby league football identity. A retired Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative forward, he played his club football for the Newcastle Knights whom he captained to the 1997 ARL premiership...
, also known as 'Chief', was selected. In 2003, fellow former Knights player Matthew Johns joined as the fourth host, following the success of his appearances as alter egos Reg Reagan and Trent The Flight Steward the previous year. A new character, Randy Discotelli, based upon an American fitness instructor, was introduced in 2005.
Paul Harragon's introduction to the show brought popular segments such as 'That's Tops', which involves giving the 'thumbs up' sign with both hands simultaneously. 'That's Tops' ran from 2002 until the end of 2004. Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech is a Maltese-Australian rugby league personality. He is a former player of the game for New South Wales, and is a regular guest on The Footy Show. His favoured position was as Hooker, where he represented NSW. In his later career he became a Prop-forward...
also appears often as a host. In 2005 'That's Gold' was introduced, a hand gesture which involves placing an upright clenched fist on an open palm; both gestures have become popular throughout Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and are often 'performed' at NRL-related sports venues across the country.
In May 2005, due to declining ratings, former host Ray Hadley was invited back to the show. However, he declined this offer due to his radio commitments on 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
. Rebecca Wilson
Rebecca Wilson
Rebecca Wilson is an Australian media personality, known mainly for her reporting on sport.-Career:Wilson has worked in both the newspaper and television industry for over 20 years...
was also invited to be part of the show and she accepted. However, Vautin and Sterling disapproved of this move due to personal reasons, and Wilson appeared for only one episode.
The show has spawned three "best of" video/DVDs, a compilation CD, the Reg Reagan All of Me DVD and the single Am I Ever Gonna See The Biff Again? by Reg Reagan and the Knucklemen (Reagan is a parody of a stereotypical ocker
Ocker
The term "ocker" is used both as a noun and adjective for an Australian who speaks and acts in an uncultured manner, using a broad Australian accent...
football players from the 1970s).
For a period of ten weeks in 2005, the show was hosted by Matthew Johns, due to head injuries suffered by Vautin while filming a comedy sketch for the show. Vautin returned in September 2005.
The Footy Show is more a variety show than a typical sports programme. This is evident through the many games that the members play such as Going, Going, GOOONE! and segments such as Daredevil Dudes. Only one match is previewed in significant depth, it generally being the Friday Night showcase.
In 2007, Peter Sterling decided not to return to the show so he could concentrate on commentating. The show decided to keep the three hosts (Vautin, Harragon and Johns). In 2008, Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley OA is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of Indigenous Australian descent. He represented Australia on 26 occasions and has since been named as one of the nation's finest players of the 20th century...
joined the show as a fourth host.
In early 2009, it was announced that Paul Harragon had quit the show, Laurie Daley had returned to Foxtel (where he first began his television career) and Andrew Voss
Andrew Voss
Andrew Voss is an Australian sports commentator for the Nine Network, who currently works on National Rugby League coverage.-Television Career:...
would join to replace the departing hosts. In May 2009, Matthew Johns was sacked by the network in controversial circumstances.
2010s
In 2010, the show underwent a format change. Andrew VossAndrew Voss
Andrew Voss is an Australian sports commentator for the Nine Network, who currently works on National Rugby League coverage.-Television Career:...
was removed as host (but still remained on the show as a supporting presenter), and Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin
Paul Vautin , is an Australian sports television personality and former rugby league footballer and coach. He currently hosts the NRL Footy Show and provides commentary for the Nine Network's coverage of rugby league matches...
was joined by three other hosts (Peter Sterling
Peter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
(who returned as a co-host after a three year absence), Wendell Sailor
Wendell Sailor
Wendell Jermaine Sailor is an Australian former professional rugby football player who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union – a dual code international. He is an Australian Torres Strait Islander.Sailor's large frame and bullocking style changed the way wingers played rugby...
and Darryl Brohman
Darryl Brohman
Darryl Brohman is an Australian former rugby league footballer, commentator and media personality. Brohman is best known for his time playing for the Penrith Panthers and the Queensland rugby league team...
) who alternated their appearances weekly. In 2011, Wendell Sailor and Peter Sterling have left as hosts and the show has returned to having three weekly hosts with Vautin, Darryl Brohman and Brad Fittler
Brad Fittler
Bradley Scott "Freddie" Fittler AM is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. The current coach of NSW City team in the City vs. Country clash, he coached in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters between 2007 and 2009. As a player, Fittler captained both New South Wales...
, with supporting hosts being Benji Marshall
Benji Marshall
Benji Marshall is a professional rugby league footballer with the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League . A goal-kicking five-eighth, he is the current captain of the New Zealand national team, with whom he won the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations tournaments...
, Beau Ryan
Beau Ryan
Beau Ryan is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League. He plays primarily in the backs....
and Andrew Voss
Andrew Voss
Andrew Voss is an Australian sports commentator for the Nine Network, who currently works on National Rugby League coverage.-Television Career:...
.
Brisbane Footy Show
The Brisbane Footy Show was the original concept of an NRL Footy Show devised by the QTQ9 Production Manager John Evans. The show started in 1993 for two years before Channel 9 Sydney believed it was a waste of money and resources to have different footy shows airing in different states. The Brisbane Footy Show started as a high budget "live" show alomst solely concerned with League discussion and a music act. The set was large encompassing the entire of Studio B including a studio audience of more than 100, with a complete green floor (simulating grass) and a large set of goalposts. There were several areas where interviews were conducted, including "controversy corner" and the "bar room" as well as the main panel desk. The show was generally hosted by Chris BombolasChris Bombolas
Chris Bombolas is a former Australian politician and television presenter. A former sports reporter for the Nine Network in Brisbane, he served as the Labor member for Chatsworth in the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2009.Bombolas was born in Newcastle, New South Wales...
, Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher
Gary Belcher is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of the 1980s and '90s. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin representative goal-kicking fullback, he played club football in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership for Souths and in the NSWRL...
, Kevin Walters
Kevin Walters
Kevin David Walters is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant coach for NRL club Melbourne Storm. He joined them from French club Catalans Dragons of Europe's Super League as their head coach. Before that he was head coach of the...
(doing Street Beat), Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson (rugby league)
Peter Jackson was an Australian professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and '90s. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative back, he played club football in both Queensland and New South Wales as well as a season in England...
, Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech is a Maltese-Australian rugby league personality. He is a former player of the game for New South Wales, and is a regular guest on The Footy Show. His favoured position was as Hooker, where he represented NSW. In his later career he became a Prop-forward...
, Laurel Edwards and Steve Haddin with a weekly live cross from Sam Newman
Sam Newman
John Noel William "Sam" Newman is a retired Australian rules football player and current television personality. He is a featured presenter on the AFL version of The Footy Show.-VFL career:...
from the Channel 9 Melbourne AFL Footy Show who always had fun heaping sarcastic comments Mario Fenech's way. Today, the Sydney version is shown in Brisbane and Queensland. With the success of the recent "Mighty Maroons" shows airing before each 2011 State Of Origin telecast, Sydney Footy Show boss, Gary Burns, believes the time might be right for another Queensland based Footy Show now that Q'ld has The Broncos, Cowboys, Titans and possibly another team from the SE Q'ld area in the NRL within 4 years.
Sunday Footy Show
The Sunday Footy Show is aired on Sundays at 11 am. Most of the time, it is a more serious football-focused panel hosted by Peter SterlingPeter Sterling
Peter Maxwell John "Sterlo" Sterling OAM is an Australian rugby league commentator and former player. He was one of the all-time great halfbacks and a major contributor to Parramatta Eels' dominance of the New South Wales Rugby League premiership in the 1980s. Sterling played nineteen Tests for...
and a variety of panelists including Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech
Mario Fenech is a Maltese-Australian rugby league personality. He is a former player of the game for New South Wales, and is a regular guest on The Footy Show. His favoured position was as Hooker, where he represented NSW. In his later career he became a Prop-forward...
, Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
and a variety of NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
players. The show discusses the results of the weekend's matches so far and includes interviews with players. There is also a segment called 'Around the Grounds' which is presented by Tim Gilbert and discusses the rest of the weekend's game and injury wrap-up. There is also a 'League of League' segment showcasing previous greats of the NRL. At the end of the programme, there is a 'Brut
Brut
-Literature:* Roman de Brut, a verse chronicle in Anglo-Norman by Wace* Layamon's Brut, an English chronicle by Layamon based on Wace* Brut y Tywysogion , a Welsh mediaeval chronicle...
Big Hits' segment showing three of the biggest hits in the previous round.
Immediately after the Sunday Footy Show, there is 'The Sunday Roast' where the less serious Footy Show boys go through all of the funniest footy moments of the week.
The Sunday Footy show is filmed on the same set as the Today Show
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
.
Special editions
During May 2006, the town of BeaconsfieldBeaconsfield
Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within the South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of Charing Cross in Central London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
was rocked when news of two mine workers were trapped down a mine shaft. Miraculously, 34 year old Todd Russell and 37 year old Brant Webb escaped with aid from emergency workers. To celebrate, both the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and the NRL Footy Show had a special programme dedicated to the two surivours. This included a cross to Eddie McGuire
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph "Eddie" McGuire AM is an Australian television presenter and businessman known for his long association with Australian rules football and the Channel 9 television network....
who held an interview with Brant and Todd.
In 2006, to celebrate the State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
decider - which was to be held in Melbourne for the first time in years - the two shows were filmed in adjoining rooms, in Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
Melbourne's complex. On the AFL Show, Fatty went over from the NRL Show to join as a guest for a few minutes. Upon his return, a quiz was held between AFL Show regulars Billy Brownless
Billy Brownless
Anthony William "Billy" Brownless is a former Australian rules footballer with the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League and media personality.- Football career :...
and Sam Newman, with Matthew Johns and Peter Sterling representing the NRL side. Most of the questions were about either the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
for the NRL boys, since it was a celebration of Melbourne Rugby League, and the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
who Newman and Brownless both played for in the AFL. The AFL boys won the quiz. Also during the show, Newman showed the two boys what he thought of their 2006 Logie by destroying a (presumably) fake Logie while Fatty was on their show.
In 2006, the AFL and NRL produced a special broadcast from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. This was to coincide with the Socceroos FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
campaign. It was co-hosted by Eddie McGuire
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph "Eddie" McGuire AM is an Australian television presenter and businessman known for his long association with Australian rules football and the Channel 9 television network....
and James Brayshaw
James Brayshaw
James Antony Brayshaw is a former state cricketer and now Australian television and radio personality. As a cricketer he was known as Jamie Brayshaw. He is the son of former Western Australian cricketer and Australian rules footballer Ian Brayshaw, and the brother of Mark Brayshaw, a former...
. Unlike the traditional versions, the special was solely based around the Socceroos' World Cup Campaign.
Awards
The Most Popular Sports Program award at the Logies has been going on since 1996 (except 1999 where the award was not given out). The show has won or been nominated every year since this award has been out.Logies won:
- 7 times (2000, 2004 - 07, 2009 - 10)
Logies nominated:
- 7 times (1996 - 98, 2001 - 03, 2008); (lost to The AFL Footy ShowThe AFL Footy ShowThe Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
(1996 - 98, 2002 - 03, 2008) and The Dream with Roy and HGThe Dream with Roy and HGThe Dream with Roy and HG was a sports/comedy talk show, broadcast every night during the Sydney 2000, Salt Lake 2002 and Athens 2004 Olympics, presented by Australian comedy duo Roy and HG....
(2001)
It has also benn nomitated for:
- Once (1996) for the Most Popular Light Entertainment award (lost to Hey Hey It's SaturdayHey Hey It's SaturdayHey Hey It's Saturday was a long-running variety television program on Australian television. It initially ran for 27 years , debuting on the Nine Network on 9 October 1971 and broadcasting its last episode on 20 November 1999. Its host throughout its entire run was Daryl Somers, who would later...
)
Criticism
The Footy Show has attracted criticism for its often crass, low-brow humour and for being seen as "celebrating" alcohol in sport. The programme has once featured alcohol advertisements throughout, and alcohol advertisingAlcohol advertising
Alcohol advertising is the promotion of alcoholic beverages by alcohol producers through a variety of media. Along with tobacco advertising, it is one of the most highly-regulated forms of marketing...
on the set. The show has also received its share of criticism for its lowbrow humour and poor productions values.
International Broadcast
The programme is also shown in the UKUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
on Setanta Sports 1 every Thursday night at 10 p.m. and Sky Sport in New Zealand at 11:30 p.m. Thursday Live.