Saint, sinner, shoosh: Dan Ginanne to call Las Vegas opener, Warriors’ bid hinges on Andrew Webster
The Las Vegas NRL season opener will live long in the memory, which is why who gets to call the game is so sought after. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals who gets the honour.
Broadcaster Dan Ginnane knocked back the opportunity three years ago to become the replacement for legendary caller Ray Warren at Channel 9.
Now he has the honour of launching the NRL into millions of US homes on the Fox network with the Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs kick-off to the double header.
It’s something not even the great Rabs got to do.
“I was blown away to come here, let alone call the first game,” Ginnane said. “I’ve been giving it a lot of thought about how to capture it and how to kick it off. This isn’t a normal game and you want to do it right.”
It is a huge acknowledgment of Ginnane’s ability as a caller that Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley has entrusted him with such a historic moment in league history.
His man could so easily have been at rivals Channel 9.
“It’s a pretty big deal when Channel 9 comes knocking but I was very happy at Fox Sports,” Ginnane said. “They were the ones that put me on TV in the first place so there was this sense of loyalty. I also really enjoy the people I work with.”
The irony is that Ginnane was once a producer for Warren on Triple M’s old Saturday morning show Dead Set Legends.
He used the opportunity to learn as much as he could.
“I’d throw questions at him all the time,” Ginnane said.
“He gave me a lot of advice.
“Good stuff like what to do when the game’s a bit off with two bad teams. Give it more energy.
“Then the great games when you don’t need to say as much.
“All these things make so much sense now.”
Crawley is a huge fan of the 45-year-old commentator.
“He knew Rabs was retiring and it was a big opportunity,” he said. “But I didn’t want him working against us. We had to keep him.”
Crawley has spent long hours helping Ginnane become such a polished and colourful caller, often texting him during games with tips and advice.
“Steve will give me a little straighten up every now and then when we get a bit conversational during the call,” Ginnane said.
“Bring it on. I love feedback, especially from people like Steve. He’ll text me during a game and I’ll send him back a thumbs up.
“Mate I love it. I’d never previously had anyone saying ‘you need to do this better’.
“I’ve tried to model myself on Rabs, but no-one can do what he’s done. No-one can match that brilliant voice he had.”
Ginnane loves it in Las Vegas. He has been coming here every NRL off-season for the last 15 years to play poker.
The cigars and a game of cards. It’s like his second home.
“It’s actually the third time I’ve been here in nine months,” he said. “I love Poker. I’ve played in the World Series a few times in some of the smaller tournaments.”
As for the nerves on the eve of calling such a huge event, he says: “I feel an enormous sense of responsibility. This is such a big deal. The money, effort and time people have put into it.
“It’s easily the biggest thing by far I’ve been involved in and I don’t want to let anyone down.”
Ginnane has certainly come a long way from his first outing as an NRL commentator back in 2009 on Triple M. He still even remembers the scoreline.
“It was a Monday night game – Wests Tigers at Campbelltown against Canberra. Very cold night.
“I was working with Gus (Gould) who was with us then.
“I reckon Wests won 34-26. You always remember your first one.
“I think I’ll always remember this one too.”
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SAINT
Your columnist has witnessed many great rugby league events over five decades but, honestly, the atmosphere at the NRL fan fest on Fremont St on Thursday night was a next-level, off-the-charts, goosebump experience.
SINNERS
Those who tipped that having nearly 100 NRL footballers in Sin City would be a disaster. Obviously, the danger will be the night out after the game but, so far, so good. Touch wood.
Amazing at ground level pic.twitter.com/bn5Klq7OwP
— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) March 2, 2024
SPOTTED
In a rare hour of spare time on this trip, independent commission boss Peter V’landys was spotted at Battlefield Vegas – firing machine guns at targets on the shooting range alongside Daily Telegraph editor Ben English, who was clearly superior.
SPOTTED
Matty Johns and Bryan Fletcher have their wives, Trish and Britt, in town for the double header. Matty said: “We got home looking so shabby last time that they insisted on coming to keep an eye on us.” Matty and Fletch had a huge day/night out on Tuesday when they got here but have behaved since, coinciding with the arrival of their better halves.
SPOTTED II
Ex-NRL centre Michael De Vere is in town to cheer on the Broncos. He’s best remembered for the famous head cut in the 2003 Origin series when Blues doctor John Orchard used a staple gun in front of millions of TV viewers to hastily repair the bloody wound.
SPOTTED III
It’s nice to have Venues NSW chairman David Gallop and sports minister Steve Kamper here for the game and to check out facilities and opportunities. Both are league tragics but their trip is more about getting ideas for back home.
SPOTTED IV
Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss demolished enough food for five at the world renowned $95 buffet at Bellagio casino.
BIG BREKKY
Catch you on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast with Ray Thomas and Neil Breen at 9.40am in the countdown to the NRL double header kick-off in Vegas.
* * * * *
WEBSTER’S WARRIORS VEGAS CALL
New Zealand Warriors are tipped to be one of the four NRL clubs playing here in Las Vegas next year, alongside Penrith and two others.
Having New Zealand fans to add to the Aussies and UK supporters in Sin City would enhance the spectacle and no doubt sell more seats.
The Warriors have put enormous trust in coach Andrew Webster in regards to playing in Vegas.
Owner Mark Robinson says a final decision will be left to the 2023 Dally M coach of the year.
“We’ll chat to Webby,” Robinson said. “If he thinks we can benefit from it, without any negatives, we’ll put our hands up to go.”
No club is growing as impressively as the Warriors, with a 40 per cent rise in commercial revenue since last year’s outstanding campaign.
A heritage jersey that went on sale recently, sold out in 18 minutes.
All corporate tables – bar one, for the Newcastle game on Easter Sunday – have sold out.
So, too, a trial game against Wests Tigers in Christchurch.
It’s a sold-out-athon.
“New sponsors are coming at us from everywhere but all our major assets are sold,” CEO Cameron George said. “It’s very satisfying considering where we’ve come from in the dark days.”
UNCLE NICK’S DESERT DRIVE
Nick Politis loves a good Greek meal. On Thursday he drove for four hours from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in a hire car through the Mojave Desert rather than catch a plane.
And you would believe it … the multi-billionaire automobile tycoon found a Greek restaurant along the way in the middle of the desert.
He stopped at the Mad Greek Café for lunch. “Like all Greek food it was outstanding,” he said.
MANLY ROYALTY
The Manly Sea Eagles know how to look after their old legends.
Former Kangaroos skipper Max Krilich and his wife Irene are in Vegas as guests of club sponsor Shaw and Partners.
They were flown here in business class and are staying in the flashiest accommodation.
PVL SHOWS HIS COLOURS
What was Peter V’landys doing in a Broncos scarf at the fan fest on Thursday night?
It actually belonged to Broncos superstar Reece Walsh, the player Peter V’landys recently described as the Justin Bieber of rugby league.
Walsh walked off the stage, straight over to the VIP area, embraced the commission chairman and wrapped his scarf around V’landys’ neck.
QRL BOSS ABDICATES
Not all the big news is here in Vegas. The legal war between the NRL and the state leagues has taken a dramatic turn with news that QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher is standing down. He had been in the job since 2017.
There have been rumours that QRL board member and former champion halfback Cooper Cronk was positioning himself to take over. The speculation intensified when Cronk was granted special access to the NRL’s AGM last week as an observer.
However further inquiries reveal Cronk is not interested because of other interests, including his TV role at Fox Sports.
NIU LEASE OF LIFE FOR EX-DRAGON
Former St George Dragon David Niu arrived in Vegas on Wednesday to witness the realisation of a three-decade dream for rugby league to have relevance in the US market.
He’s been a coach, CEO, manager and volunteer for league organisations in America since the early 1990s.
It’s a remarkable story.
Niu’s life changed forever on day one of the Dragons’ end-of-season trip to Hawaii in 1991 when he met a young American lady on the beach.
Two weeks later he married that lady, Donna, and set up base in Philadelphia.
There will be no prouder man when the sides run on to Allegiant Stadium.
Phil Rothfield travelled to Las Vegas courtesy of the NRL
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