Erin Molan has been added to the full-time panel of Channel Nine’s The Footy Show

CHANNEL Nine’s Footy Show is undergoing a makeover with glamorous reporter Erin Molan being promoted to the full-time panel.

Channel Nine sports presenter Erin Molan will become a full-time member of The Footy Show’s panel.

IT once had a reputation for being grubby and vulgar and more about fart jokes than footy games. Not anymore.

Channel Nine’s Footy Show is undergoing another makeover this year with glamorous reporter Erin Molan being promoted to the full-time panel role.

Molan has been a regular contributor to the show for the last two years doing interviews, team changes and match previews.

News_Image_File: Erin Molan has been added to The Footy Show’s full-time panel.

Executive producer Glenn Pallister says it was time to give her a bigger presence on the show.

“Erin’s insight & knowledge of the game combined with a wicked sense of humour makes her the perfect fit,” Pallister said.

Molan is delighted to have a spot alongside old regulars Fatty and Slats, Beau and the Big Marn.

She is believed to be the first woman to sit permanently on a rugby league television panel in the game’s history.

“It’s brilliant, I’m absolutely stoked,” she said, “It’s nice to feel like I belong and I’m part of the family.

“I just want to work hard and prove myself. I love what I do and consider myself very lucky to have the job.

“Hopefully it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Under Pallister’s direction, the Footy Show achieved record ratings last year against the trend of falling audiences for live football.

This year he promises it will be even bigger and better.

The network has also signed up the Panthers’ new recruit Jamal Idris for regular appearances.

Roosters five-eighth James Maloney, the Broncos’ Sam Thaiday and Billy Slater return from last year.

“Jimmy has been like a part of the furniture here so we thought we should make it official while Sammy and Jamal both have a long history with this show and will be outstanding additions to our line up,” Pallister said

Catching a nap, not a flight

Being a recently retired rugby league star and occasional media personality can be tiring work.

Check out Brett Finch, who we found in the Qantas lounge at Melbourne airport last Tuesday afternoon.

News_Image_File: Brett Finch taking a little nap in the Qantas lounge at Melbourne airport.

He’s fast asleep in a T-short, shorts and thongs, presumably after a big weekend with some former Storm teammates.

Finch, who has been signed up by The Footy Show, was supposed to be in Auckland playing in the media touch football team but obviously didn’t make it.

Hitman winning his biggest fight

THE best story in Australian sport right now is former boxing champ Jeff Harding and his recovery from being an alcoholic.

News_Image_File: Former boxer Jeff Harding shadow boxing while his son Liam plays at Wentworth Park, Glebe.

The Hitman hasn’t touched a drop for five years and is slowly rebuilding his life.

Jeff Fenech is in his corner and helping his old mate launch an exclusive range of boxing memorabilia.

We’ll tell you more about it when the items become available.

It’s no holiday at the Tigers

MICK Potter is already facing pressure from a number of disgruntled players at the Wests Tigers.

News_Rich_Media: Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter expects experienced five-eighth Braith Anasta to help youngster Luke Brooks ease into the NRL this season.

After being knocked out of the Nines tournament last Sunday, the players thought they were free for an afternoon of sightseeing in Auckland.

Not so.

Potter called a weights session instead.

Good for team discipline and fitness but bad for morale.

A professional doing his homework

You’ve got to admire the professionalism of rugby league broadcasting legend Ray Warren.

News_Image_File: Ray Warren doing his homework before Saturday’s WCC.

On Wednesday morning he drove to Redfern Oval to watch the Wigan Warriors train for two hours to familiarise himself with faces and names.

He sat next to the media manager for the entire session to learn more about the players.

Sandy finds a handy offsider

NEW NRL media chief, Sandy Olsen hasn’t wasted any time boosting her communications team.

She has contracted Peter Grimshaw, former advisor to Premier Barry O’Farrell, to help with some of the NRL’s major events including the Auckland Nines and the season launch which takes place this week.

News_Image_File: New NRL media boss Sandy Olsen. Picture has added former advisor to Premier Barry O’Farrell, Peter Grimshaw to her communications team.

Grimshaw resigned from the Premier’s office during the Star casino inquiry two years ago even though it made no adverse findings against him.

He and Olsen go back a long way, working together as parliamentary reporters in Macquarie Street for the Daily Telegraph 20 years ago.

NRL credit risk

THE organisers of last weekend’s NRL Nines, Duco Events, did a sensational job creating and promoting the sell-out event.

News_Image_File: The NRL placed a media ban on the organisers of the Auckland Nines tournament.

Imagine their surprise then, when on game day, the NRL slapped a media ban on tournament organiser Dean Lonergan. A clear case of the NRL trying to take credit for someone else’s good work.

Robbie Dazzler

News_Image_File: Robbie Slater with his new born baby girl, Indigo.

Some old Socceroos just keep kicking goals. Our very own Robbie Slater has been celebrating the birth of a new baby girl.

Little Indigo Slater was born on Tuesday and, as you can see, Robbie’s one very proud dad.

SAINT:

The NRL’s edict for 2014 that all players shake hands with referees after matches.

This is something that will eventually filter down to junior ranks and teach youngsters to always respect the whistle blowers.

SINNER:

Boxing referee Charlie Lucas for his excessive and disgraceful use of the F word at the Geale-Wood fight. It came across loud and clear on the Main Event broadcast.

News_Rich_Media: Aussie boxer Daniel Geale says he expected to beat Garth Wood, but wasn't anticipating the fight to be over in just six rounds.

Don’t win, sir

Porn shop king and footy fanatic Con Ange was a guest of Sky City casino at the Auckland Nines last week.

The casino shouted the lot like they do for all big punters – free accommodation, unlimited food and drinks.

That was until he started winning a few thousand on a blackjack table and security stepped in and asked him to leave the table.

SPOTTED:

The toughest of all Great Britain rugby league forwards Malcolm Reilly arriving with his wife Sue on the Queen Mary in Sydney Harbour this week.

SHOOSH

A handful of star players were paid appearance money by the Kiwi firm that staged the Nines tournament last weekend.

They were less than thrilled when one player - paid a handsome appearance fee - failed to turn out on the Sunday despite having no apparent injury.

SBW V GAL - Stay tuned

It’s a shame we won’t get to see an end-of-season Sonny Bill Williams v Paul Gallen heavyweight bout.

News_Rich_Media: The Cronulla Sharks forward has won his first pro fight with ease as he disposed of Hurman Purcell in a State of Origin style clash.

The SBW camp has all but ruled out an off-season fight this year because of his commitments with the All Blacks.

When Royce rolled them

The Roosters played in a World club challenge in Sydney, a 19-year-old front-rower won the game ball.

Royce Ayliffe scored a try and had a blinder for the Roosters in the 25-2 victory over St Helens at the SCG in 1976.

News_Image_File: The game ball from the 1976 WCC was once by Royce Ayliffe.

In those days big punters and all sorts of colourful characters were welcomed into dressing sheds.

The game ball was sponsored and provided each week by Perce Galea, who had connections with underworld figures, bookies and crooked cops.