NRL 2022: Channel 9 suffer as Brisbane Broncos struggle | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
The Broncos’ disastrous slide in recent years is hurting broadcasters, with viewership plummeting by almost 70,000. That and more in Australia’s best sporting gossip column.
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The Broncos’ slide out of the NRL finals in recent years is seriously hurting Channel 9’s TV ratings in the Brisbane market.
Since 2017, the Broncos’ average audience in Brisbane on free-to-air television has fallen 39.4 per cent from 156,450 viewers to 94,862.
Even when adding Nine’s streaming viewers this year (7640) it’s a decrease of 34.4 per cent.
These appear to be people who have been lost to rugby league because Fox Sports has had no increase in Brisbane over the same period, although the numbers do not include their streaming service, Kayo.
In 2017, the Broncos finished third on the ladder while they have now missed the finals for the third straight year.
In other markets outside of Brisbane the Broncos still rate well. Everywhere but their home city.
These figures show the importance of the Dolphins having early success as the NRL’s 17th franchise next year to try to win back support in Brisbane.
The concern for the NRL and the Broncos is AFL figures on Channel 7 are climbing on the back of the Brisbane Lions’ success.
Everyone loves a winner.
Since 2017 the AFL numbers are up by 15 per cent on Channel 7. Admittedly off a very low base of a game average 24,309 to 27,955. The AFL is also up on Fox Sports.
Still, it helped AFL boss Gill McLachlan do his record-breaking broadcast deal with Channel 7 worth $200 million a year - $180 million in cash and $20 million in contra.
‘SHOCKED’ LEGEND TELLS GAL TO QUIT NOW
Legendary boxing trainer Johnny Lewis has appealed to old warhorse Paul Gallen to retire immediately.
Lewis says: “It can only take one more punch – and I do not want him becoming a statistic.”
Fight fans were shocked to see Gallen knocked to the canvas by Justin Hodges in Brisbane on Thursday night before somehow recovering to win the fight.
“I was shocked,” Lewis said. “I didn’t think there was that much on the punch.”
The former Cronulla Sharks and NSW Blues enforcer still has one more fight on his contract with promoters No Limit Boxing.
Surely though Matt and George Rose won’t hold him to the deal, not if they stop and listen to the hall-of-fame trainer. At this stage the plan is for a Hodges rematch or fight against Parramatta Eels forward Junior Paulo.
“This year he (Gallen) has deteriorated as a fighter,” Lewis said. “Being tough is not enough.
“He’s slowed up and looks like an old man. I don’t mind telling him but I don’t know if he’ll listen.
“Don’t even have one last fight. It could undo all the good things he’s done in boxing.
“He should leave it at that.
“He’s no different to anyone else when the time’s up.”
Lewis trained Australia’s greatest boxers Jeff Fenech, Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Harding.
It’s not the first time he has encouraged a fighter to quit.
He convinced Tszyu to walk away even when he had one fight left on a multimillion-dollar deal with Showtime.
Lewis has also seen the sadder stories around fighters who have not known when to quit.
He admires what Gallen has done for Australian boxing in attracting bigger audiences and lifting the profile for fighters who would have otherwise gone unrecognised.
“He was a great asset to the fight game,” Lewis said. “And boxing was good to him too.
“One thing he’s got – and no one will ever take it away from him – is courage.
“He’s as courageous as any fighter who has got into the ring. But if Hodges had got off the ropes and held the centre a bit, he could have stopped him.”
SAINT
A huge boost for rugby league and the local economy in north Queensland on the back of the Cowboys’ remarkable surge towards the grand final. On Wotif website, there is not one vacant hotel room in Townsville for Friday night. The last remaining rooms were snapped up for $800 a night. Interstate fans will need to pack a tent.
SINNER
With no NRL on TV on Thursday night and few wanting to pay $59.95 for a boxing circus, rugby union had a huge opportunity to show off a Bledisloe Cup game to a wider audience on Channel 9. The result was then determined by a disgraceful match-deciding penalty that cost the Wallabies victory. Casual fans will not be returning.
SHOOSH
Which NRL head coach carried on like a goose at his team’s recent Mad Monday get-together and upset players to such an extent that one wanted to take him outside. It brought back memories of old Souths coach Jason Taylor getting whacked by David Fa’alogo at a Bunnies Mad Monday.
SPOTTED
Boxing champ Jeff Fenech, Mark Bouris and Nick Politis among the heavy hitters at the launch of the Greek rugby league team for the World Cup at the beautiful Grand Roxy function centre in Brighton on Thursday night.
SPOTTED
Willie Mason has attacked our esteemed colleague Brent Read on his podcast. He didn’t like Ready’s comments about the fiery Roosters v Rabbitohs game last Sunday and his suggestion players needed to take responsibility for ill-discipline. Mason fired up: “Spoken like a true f---en journo who has never strapped on a boot and never been out there. He’d make a f---en good ref, Brent Read.”
Blow that whistle Brent.
SPOTTED
Cost-conscious South Sydney CEO Blake Solly on a bus from Redfern to the city for a meeting.
SPOTTED
Former cricketer Brad Haddin watching the Screaming Jets at the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle.
SPOTTED
Fox Sports star Cooper Cronk and his lovely wife Tara Rushton at Mosman library.
SPOTTED
There is a long-standing tradition at Penrith Panthers on presentation night each year that the player-of-the-year has to skol a beer with guests when he accepts the award. Fullback Dylan Edwards collected the Merv Cartwright medal on Monday night but wouldn’t do it. It turns out the entire Panthers team is on a booze ban until the end of the season.
SPOTTED
Some old race broadcast legends having dinner at a Brazilian restaurant in Zetland – the great Paul Ambrosoli, Graham ‘Shadow’ McNeice and the voice of Sydney racing, Darren Flindell.
SOUTHS SEND SCARF TO STADIUM BOSS
The Rabbitohs were not happy about a recent item in this column showing Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd wearing a Roosters scarf at the Souths v Roosters round 25 game.
Souths boss Blake Solly reacted by sending Shepherd a Rabbitohs scarf and cap to wear for the match against the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.
Shepherd chose not to wear it. He is angry at Solly for trying to break Souths’ contract to play at Accor Stadium.
KAMBOSOS DUMPS HIS US TRAINER
Boxer George Kambosos Jr has parted company with his US trainer as he looks for new ways to beat superstar Devan Haney in their world title rematch.
Instead, Kambosos has opted for an All-Australian team, reuniting himself with his original trainer, Chris Bakis, who cornered his first 14 bouts as a pro boxer.
Bakis, who heads up security for billionaire hotel tycoon Justin Hemmes, is also one of Sydney’s most respected boxing trainers, renowned for his old school values.
He will be in Kambosos’ corner alongside assistant trainer Ronny Sinclair and cuts man Brian Wilmot for this huge fight at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on October 16.
“We opted for a different approach to go with an All-Australian team,” said Kambosos’ father, Jim. “We just felt the game plan for the first bout was not great. The instructions from the corner given to George didn’t work in the last fight.
“The American trainer (Javiel Centeno) wanted George to travel to America and train there as he had commitments with his other fighters. We wanted to keep our training base here.”
Unlike the more colourful figures in the boxing game, Bakis is a private man who avoids publicity. He declined to be interviewed for this story.
“It’s great to have Chris back in the team,” Kambosos said. “He knows the fight game really well. He’s really switched on. And he loves George as an individual and wants to see him be successful again.”
Kambosos fought Haney in Melbourne in June in front of 42,000 fans, a fight in which he was clearly outpointed.
“We need to get the right result this time,” Kambosos said. “Things will be done differently.
“This is such an important fight for George. If George doesn’t get the result this time it’s going to make things harder on the international stage.
“We know we can beat Haney. We just have to change some small things from the first bout.”
HAMMMO’S STORY CAN PROVE A LIFESAVER
Paul Green would have turned 50 last Monday in what was obviously a tough day for his family and a painful reminder to us all in regards to mental health.
This is where the NRL has a huge opportunity to make use of a truly inspirational voice in the rugby league media – the ABC’s veteran broadcaster Craig Hamilton.
Hammo’s story is both inspiring and important.
He was at rock bottom 20 years ago, diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, and contemplated suicide more than once.
Hammo is now telling his story as a mental health ambassador.
He has saved many lives over the years.
His latest project is a documentary called One Conversation.You can find the trailer on You Tube or on the Green Frog Productions website.
Please watch because it is truly magnificent.
We will also be sending a copy to Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo.
It needs to be shown at the next independent commission meeting.
If Hammo and his documentary can save just one life in rugby league, it will be worth it.
We need to ensure that Green did not die in vain. That his legacy will be rugby league taking on a leadership role in mental health awareness.
* Need help? Call lifeline > 13 11 14
RISING STAR WANTS OUT OF DRAGONS
The St George Illawarra Dragons are facing a fight to retain boom fullback Tyrell Sloan, despite him being under contract for another two years.
Unhappy at being overlooked for first grade behind Cody Ramsay, the 20-year-old junior is poised to ask the club for a release.
The Dolphins and several other NRL clubs are aware of the situation and are monitoring it closely. The Dolphins desperately need a quality fullback and have the chequebook poised but cannot make an offer until Sloan gets a release.
Sloan has played 13 first grade games for the Dragons in the past two years but has been unable to convince coach Anthony Griffin he is worthy of a regular starting position.
TENNIS TV RATINGS TAKE A DIVE
The value of the Australian Open TV broadcast rights has nosedived since the retirement of Ash Barty and now Roger Federer. They were without doubt the most popular male and female players on the tour. Federer, 41, pulled the pin last week after undergoing three knee operations in the past two years. He won 20 grand slam titles. In January this year 3.6 million viewers nationally tuned in on Channel 9 to watch Barty become the first Australian to win the tournament in 44 years.
125TH CELEBRATIONS FOR CRICKET
Some of Aussie cricket’s biggest names will help Sydney Cricket Club celebrate its 125th anniversary on the October long weekend at Drummoyne Oval.
Women’s pioneers Belinda Clark, Christina Matthews and Julie Hayes will join stars Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes. Former Test spinners Greg Matthews and Gavin Robertson, ACA chief Todd Greenberg, CNSW CEO and former Kiwi Test player Lee Germon and a host of club greats will also attend.
A birthday highlight will be a men’s and women’s T20 double header on the Monday of the long weekend.
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