Monday Buzz: Gus Gould weighs in on Andrew Johns, Erin Molan drama

Following What’s the Buzz’s report on an awkward falling out between Erin Molan and Andrew Johns, fellow Channel 9 commentator Phil ‘Gus’ Gould has his say.

Phil Gould, Erin Molan and Andrew Johns

• Transfer talk: NRL clubs target returning star

Check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another big weekend in sport.

GLOWING GUS PRAISE FOR ERIN

Gus Gould is a huge fan of Channel 9 presenter Erin Molan.

Erin Molan with members of Channel 9’s rugby league coverage team.

We reported over the weekend that Joey Johns had been taken off Nine’s Friday night coverage, which Molan has hosted all year, because there is some friction inside the commentary box.

“Erin is talented, professional, enthusiastic and very passionate about her work,” Gould told The Daily Telegraph.

“Erin, like our other girls, Danika Mason, Alana Ferguson and Ruan Sims, are always well prepared. They each have a tremendous work ethic. They are a pleasure to work with and a wonderful addition to our team.”

Brad Fittler, who is close to Molan and Joey, would only say: “I love working with both of them.”

Phil Gould, Erin Molan and Andrew Johns

HIGHLIGHT

Two old champions leaving the SCG together for the last time as teammates or opponents. They may not be a tight as they used to be but this picture shows the respect between Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk.

Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk share a moment after Storm-Roosters preliminary final. Picture: Getty Images

LOWLIGHT

Revelations of drama inside the Channel 9 commentary box. It’s a shame because Erin Molan is a good person and the ultimate TV professional, while no one knows rugby league and can analyse a game like Joey Johns.

SHOOSH

We’re hearing five-eighth Corey Norman didn’t receive a glowing review from Phil Gould in his report to the Dragons board on their disastrous season.

SPOTTED

Canberra legend Laurie Daley and his wife Michelle decked out in Green Machine colours to watch Friday night’s victory over South Sydney.

Laurie Daley and his Michelle.

SPOTTED II

Soccer boss David Gallop at the MCG on Saturday as a guest of Gillon McLachlan mixing with politicians and corporate types in the official AFL suite.

SPOTTED III

The Broncos are certainly enjoying their time out in Brisbane. More than half a dozen big-name players were spotted in the early hours of Saturday morning on the grog at Fridays Riverside bar.

SPOTTED IV

Former St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust at a Harvey Norman commercial luncheon on Friday, looking a picture of health and 10 years younger without the stress of being in charge of the Dragons.

BAD TIMING AWARD

Talk about bad timing. The Queensland Rugby League held its annual awards presentation on Friday night, clashing with the Raiders v Rabbitohs preliminary final. Guests had to watch the game on their mobile phones.

360 VIEW

Catch you tonight on NRL 360 at 7.30pm with Ben Ikin, Paul Kent, Nathan Brown and Anthony Griffin in the grand final countdown, and later on for the final Controversy Corner episode of the year.

ORIGIN STILL RATINGS CHAMP

The AFL grand final has failed to knock off State of Origin I as the most watched show on Australian television this year.

The opening Origin game attracted 3.2 million viewers, while the AFL grand final got 2.96 million as the second-most-watched show on TV in 2019.

The blowout scoreline at the MCG didn’t help the AFL numbers.

State of Origin I remains sport’s ratings king this year. Picture: AAP

We reported last weekend that the NRL’s TV ratings were poor and had been beaten by the GWS Giants. This weekend was much better.

Saturday night’s Roosters v Storm game attracted a combined 1.7 million, a total increase of 13 per cent on last year. More than 200,000 watched the game in Victoria.

Friday night’s Rabbitohs v Raiders game attracted 1.6 million, up 10 per cent on last year.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Gus Gould weighs in on Andrew Johns, Erin Molan drama