Good summary.

Eddie is fine for pre-match, post-match and half-time. SteveO could offer opinion/comment/character on BnA. Although Barrie McDermott is better ('Rinaldi is too short' being an exceptional example of him saying something stupid last night

).

The commentary could do with refreshing.

Bill Arthur and Brian Carney as 'pilots' with Barry Mac chipping in. Phil Clarke back to pitch side.

I embarrassingly laughed quite loud in the office when i read this in his blog! He makes some good points

I don't agree with any of the article.



I think the coverage is good. Saying that, of course I like the additions of other people coming in and one day soon Stevo will strat handing over the mike but Sky have certainly changed the view of Rugby League for the better.

Can you imagine us talking about BBC like this? They would have us back in the dark ages if they could.

Whilst the author of the piece doesn't seem to care much for our game, he has got it spot on with his closing paragraphs:



"The reality, of course, is quite different. Sky’s team may be entertaining enough on the first few watches, but regular viewers who have been exposed to their loud-man shtick for two decades are entitled to expect a little more insight and a little less incitement.



Sky may reckon that the homespun patter of Eddie and Stevo plays well in the agnostic south. In fact, their habit for overstatement undersells the product, perpetuating the myth that rugby league is a simple game for simple people. And I’ll tell you that for nothing."

Eddie has just done himself and the game proud during an hour on talksport with Keys and Gray

The only issue I've got is the constant need to find controversy in everything - to judge every call made by the officials down to the finest margins, without taking account of why they may have made the calls they did.



The Australians don't do this in their coverage. Sure, they'll pick up on real refereeing howlers, but they tend to spend the rest of the time talking the game up rather than looking for reasons to be hyper-critical of players and officials.

They're both cringe worthy and have a distinct lack of knowledge as to the rules of the games...or why teams are doing certain things, like a number of times a team will be winning by 6 with a couple of minutes left and they tap it instead of going for 2 Eddie starts screaming about it and asking why they aren't going for 2...when it's quite clear to all & sundry they're running the clock out.



Not to mention the constant bleating and favouritism from everyone Sky employ. The best person Sky had was John Davies during the world cup, an actual presenter who came across well and made the broadcast look professional.

Certainly an interesting article and one which has been written in a way to provoke people I think.



Whilst I do agree with some of the points made I have a feeling that Sky would be reluctant to change anything, we've had none stop publicity over the last 2 weeks about increases in audiences watching the SL and it's now Sky's 2nd most watched sport.



The increase would suggest, to Sky at least, that they're doing something right.

My main frustration with the Sky coverage, and this was especially the case on Saturday, that there are so many summarisers that they're all too busy trying to get a word in and the game ends up just going on in the background while Clarke/Cullen/McRae/Stevo debate a minor point from several minutes previously.

Good, but I'm sure doing yourself proud with those 2 paragons of virtue isn't exactly rocket science

What did he say?



I think the basic point of the article is true. Maybe keep Stevo for the Fulltime programme but try polish the match day a bit more. Tony Rea was easily the best analyser. I used to enjoy listening to him, as he actually pointed out important parts of the game that would just pass me by normally, I think I learned a lot from him.



Carney isn't bad though. At least he's played the 'modern' game so he knows what it's like out there.



When Eddie came out with the comment at the Salford v Cas game I couldn't believe it. "has he got that down? Or is it on the snow?" Really, Eddie?!

I agree. Had never heard of him before that but was really impressed - he was very professional, just what we lack and what we really need. I would be happy with him in the studio, bring over an Aussie commentator to just call the game and back them up with Carney and Wells.

Put Eddie and Stevo out to grass and send Clarke back to Wigan.

Why - are they even better at commentating in the NRL?!



No need for an Aussie - there are plenty of British candidates who are well qualified to do the job.