Erin Molan taking over hosting of Footy Show shows where league is now

IT’S a blockbuster battle for NRL fans fought out on our television screens across the country from March 2018.

Darryl Brohman, Beau Ryan, Erin Molan and Paul Vautin pose with the Logie Award for Best Sports Program 'The NRL Footy Show' during the 58th Annual Logie Awards at Crown Palladium on May 8, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

IN the red corner, Yvonne Sampson, Fox Sports. In the blue corner, Erin Molan, Channel 9.

It’s a blockbuster battle for NRL fans fought out on our television screens across the country from March 2018.

Channel Nine has finally worked out that rugby league’s biggest growth potential is in females.

It’s why old Paul Vautin has been axed as the Footy Show host after 23 years.

No more Tommy Raudonikis ‘F’ bombs or the old fart jokes.

The Channel Nine Footy Show crew Beau Ryan, Erin Molan, Paul Vautin and Daryl Brohman. Pic: Gregg Porteous

From next it’s a whole new ball game. Slicker and classier.

Last year Fox Sports stole Sampson from the Nine network to become their face of rugby league.

Nine is now pitching the very talented Molan into the same role from next year.

Both outstanding broadcasters and lifelong fans with a fantastic knowledge of the game.

It’s an area of television where Fox Sports have led the way.

Fox Sports heavily invested in adding female depth to its rugby league coverage this year. Pic: AAP

Sampson not only hosted pre and post-game shows over the weekends but also the popular League Life alongside Jess Yates, Lara Pitt and Hannah Hollis.

It almost doubled the audience of the Peter Sterling show on the pay TV network.

The women also hosted the recent Dally M Awards night at The Star casino which attracted record ratings.

Where Channel 9’s ratings have fallen in recent years, Fox Sports have grown, especially in the female market.

Yvonne Sampson heads up Fox League’s coverage. Pic: Britta Campion

Nine had to do something. They are paying almost a billion dollars for their share of the NRL broadcast deal yet were losing viewers.

It’s a decision NRL bosses are happy about.

NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo said the emergence of female hosts showed how far the game had come in the last five years.

Erin Molan has increased her role with the Footy Show and will likely take a lead role in 2018. Pic: Gregg Porteous

“It’s great for our game to have two knowledgeable and well respected women hosting major rugby league shows,” he said.

“Importantly, they have landed these roles because they have credibility … they really know their rugby league.

“So I would expect both hosts to attract more viewers for the game and give rugby league an even greater audience in 2018.”