Phil Gould and Paul Vautin unlikely to be part of Nine’s commentary team for Origin I

Phil Gould and Paul Vautin have been mainstays of Channel 9’s State of Origin commentary team but it appears that they may be missing for Wednesday night’s opener.

Gus Gould looks set to miss Origin I. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Channel 9 is refusing to confirm if State Origin legends Phil Gould and Paul Vautin will be part of their big game coverage on Wednesday night in Townsville.

Rumours emerged on Saturday night that Gus and Fatty had been sidelined from the showpiece for the first time since they started commentating for the network.

Channel Nine’s rugby league boss Simon Fordham told The Sunday Telegraph: “I can’t confirm or deny that.”

Nine has confirmed veteran caller Ray Warren will be commentating, most likely from television monitors out of Nine’s North Sydney studios.

Phil Gould set to be missing from Origin I Picture: Tony Feder/Getty Images

Asked about Gould and Vautin, Fordham said: “We’re still finalising our team. There’s a few things to work through. We’ll have to work through the logistics.”

Fordham said Nine would put out a press release on Tuesday to announce their team.

Alongside Warren, Gould and Vautin have been the network’s longest serving commentators.

Both have been harsh critics of the NRL in recent weeks.

Vautin and Gould did not return phone calls.

Paul Vautin is also unlikely to be part of the commentary team.

Nine like to balance its team with an even number of NSW and QLD commentators. They will have Billy Slater, Johnathan Thurston, Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer backing the Maroons with Andrew Johns, Peter Sterling and Paul Gallen as their NSW commentators.

One source close to Channel 9 said: “Maybe they’ll be working out of the studio in Sydney but they’re not going to Townsville.”