What’s the Buzz: DAZN lock down Braith Anasta and Matty Johns

DAZN have made their first major move as the owner of Fox Sports, re-signing Braith Anasta and Matty Johns until the end of the 2028 NRL season, writes Phil Rothfield.

Fox Sports have signed network stars Matty Johns and Braith Anasta to three-year contracts in the first major move by new owner DAZN to lock down senior talent.

Johns and Anasta agreed to new upgraded deals with Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley that will see them remain at the network until the end of 2028.

DAZN is the $10 billion European sports streaming and entertainment platform that will soon begin negotiations with the NRL for the game’s next broadcast deal.

Anasta took over as host of NRL 360 in 2022 and has driven ratings to an all-time high.

“We didn’t realise Braith was going to be this good,” Crawley said.

“He’s done a remarkable job, and I have a suspicion he’s going to continue to get better.”

Crawley describes him as a “world-class” presenter.

“When you put hosts in, sometimes they think they’ve got to present like the people before them,” he said.

Matty Johns (L) and Braith Anasta (R) will remain at Fox Sports until 2028. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“With Braith, he’s got a new way of presenting sport that is very much a 2025 contemporary way. They’ve got to be themselves. His work ethic is unbelievable, and he’s world-class.

“We’re delighted to have him for another three years.”

Anasta will also take over hosting duties on Super Saturday from next week, when regular host Yvonne Sampson goes on maternity leave.

Johns, who joined the pay TV network back in 2011 from Channel 9, also was off-contract at the end of the season.

He was – according to himself – facing a bleak future.

“I was at Centrelink lining up in a long queue behind a few coaches,” Johns said.

“Crawls walked past and obviously felt sorry for me. So he took me back to the office and gave me another three years. Seriously, it’s just a great place to work.”

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: DAZN lock down Braith Anasta and Matty Johns