Media Buzz: NRL thriller delivers big ratings win for Channel 9

A nail-biting rugby league clash has helped Channel 9 score a crucial ratings triumph, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD. Check out all the latest NRL media chatter.

Daily Telegraph. 08, September, 2022. Ray Hadley and Tony V'Landys, at the Daily Telegraph NRL Finals Lunch, at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park, today. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Channel Nine’s Sunday night news has scored a resounding ratings win over Channel 7 – thanks to a late rugby league finish.

The Bulldogs v Wests Tigers match didn’t finish until 6.08pm – delaying Nine’s flagship bulletin – because of stoppages for the heat and a longer half-time break.

With the Bulldogs leading 26-22 and the game on the line, viewers stayed with the NRL rather than switch across to Seven’s 6pm bulletin.

In Sydney, Nine won the news ratings 243,000 to 199,000 – a win by 44,000.

This compares to the previous week when the margin was closer — a win for Nine by 35,000.

Viliame Kikau on the charge for the Bulldogs against Wests Tigers at Belmore Sports Ground. Picture: Getty Images

RAY HADLEY STEPS UP UGLY FEUD WITH EELS

We have seen some horrible feuds between media figures and NRL clubs over the years but few as bitter as 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley and the Parramatta Eels.

Speaking on Mark Levy’s 2GB show last week, Hadley slammed the club over coach Brad Arthur’s contract extension for a further 12 months.

“The CEO (Jim Sarantinos) must be a complete dill,” he said.

“How does the club justify this to their legion of fans? He hasn’t won a premiership; he’s been there longer than anyone in the joint. I just don’t think he’s much of a coach. This isn’t about bashing Parramatta but every year they sign Brad Arthur they’re a further year away from winning a comp.”

We approached Sarantinos for a response.

“I’m comfortable the club is in a better spot now than when I started in my role in 2019,” he said

“We played in the finals in the first two years then a grand final.

“And the club is performing well financially and off the field.”

Ray Hadley has fired the latest salvo in his feud with the Eels. Picture: Nine Network

MEDIA PROFILE: MEGAN BARNARD, 38 (Fox Sports)

First job? Working the cash registers at the IGA supermarket in Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula before selling surfboards at City Beach Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast.

Your sporting heroes? My parents were tennis players, so I followed a lot of tennis growing up — watching Martina Hingis win the Australian Open aged 16 was special. I got the chance to interview her years later, just a couple of weeks into my first job as a sports journalist.

What NRL team do you follow? Having grown up in Melbourne I’ve always been a massive AFL fan (sorry Buzz) but I got my first taste of NRL when I started working as a sports journo on the Gold Coast in 2007 and covered the Titans’ inaugural season. Since then I’ve always had a soft spot for the GC boys.

What sports did you play? So many … cricket, AFL, tennis, soccer, basketball, athletics, golf; my biggest achievement to date was representing Victoria in under-12 table tennis.

How do you spend a day off? Relaxing with my partner, Blanca, and my dog Billie

Career highlight? Covering our all-conquering Aussie women’s cricket team in 2020 at the MCG, last year in New Zealand and recently in South Africa for Fox Cricket. Tim Tszyu’s incredible win over Tony Harrison last weekend is right up there, too.

Megan Barnard from Fox Sports. Picture: Brett Costello

KNIGHT AT THE TRBOJEVIC HOME

We told you the story of South Sydney forward Liam Knight in this column recently around his battle to beat an alcohol addiction. On Monday night Knight sits down with Fox Sports reporter Jake Duke to expand on the interview. He tells the story of when he was forced to leave home as a youngster at Manly. He would have been homeless but for the parents of Tom, Jake and Ben Trbojevic, who invited him into their home for weeks until he found accommodation.

MAL MAKING (AIR) WAVES

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has joined the SEN radio network. Mal, who is also working on Fox Sports’ Super Saturday, will have his own show across SENQ and 1170am every Thursday between noon and 1pm with Jimmy Smith.

BIG BREKKY WINS RADIO BATTLE

The Big Sports Breakfast show on Sky Sports Radio has had another victory over Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander on SEN in the first ratings survey for 2023.

The BSB, for which your columnist is a contributor, rated 2.3 compared with SEN’s 0.5.

Not that SEN boss Craig Hutchison is ever concerned about the ratings numbers. He points out the network continues to do well in podcast numbers.

The SEN breakfast show rates No. 8 in Australia for all sporting podcasts.

Originally published as Media Buzz: NRL thriller delivers big ratings win for Channel 9