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Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler cop backlash as Channel 9 commentary comes under fire again

NRL fans were far from impressed with the call on Sunday during the Kangaroos and New Zealand Test.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

NRL fans are once again calling for a shake-up of the Channel 9 commentary team, with social media flooded with comments panning the likes of Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler on Sunday. Johns and Fittler were in commentary as the Kangaroos beat New Zealand 22-10 in the Pacific Championships, exacting some revenge on the Kiwis after last year's final.

But as is often the case during a big game, Johns and Fittler's names were trending on social media - and not for the right reasons. Many complained on Sunday that the commentary was dull and lifeless, and not a great advertisement for international rugby league at a time when interest is low.

Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler.
Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler have once again come under fire for their commentary. Image: Getty

Comments were highly critical of Johns and Fittler, with many pointing out the NRL legends sounded bored and uninspiring. Debate has been raging for years about the Channel 9 commentary team compared to that of Fox League, with many left fuming when big games like State of Origin are only broadcast on Nine.

One person wrote on social media on Sunday: "Forced to watch Channel 9 for the Aus v NZ game due to Foxtel outage, why are they so depressed? Such a somber feeling listening to their commentary, is this really the best they can come up with?"

Another commented: "It's unlistenable. It's like they're commentating a funeral at times. The worst part is when a team starts to get the upper hand they go into uber negative dissection of losing team ignoring the efforts of the team that's up." While a third added: "Boring commentary Channel 9. Please tell Andrew Johns/Brad Fittler we have a test match of rugby league not a test match of cricket."

Others pointed out that the commentators would have been calling the game from the studio, so wouldn't be able to get the full sense of the atmosphere in New Zealand. But that fact highlights the way broadcasting has gone in recent years, with networks hardly ever sending their callers to the actual venue anymore.

The win for Mal Meninga's side marked their first in New Zealand since 2012, and went some way to making up for a 30-0 thrashing in the Pacific Championship final last year. The Kangaroos have advanced to the final in two weeks' time, and will play the winner of next weekend's clash between the Kiwis and Tonga.

Isaah Yeo in action for Australia against New Zealand.
Isaah Yeo in action for Australia against New Zealand in the Pacific Championships. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

If Australia faces New Zealand again, captain Isaah Yeo is expecting a vastly different opponent to the one they faced on Sunday. "I felt like we were a better side this week than last week and I think just the extra weeks' prep, you have the game under your belt," he said. "I certainly think New Zealand will be a hundred times better.

"There are blokes in there who wouldn't have played for four or five weeks. So automatically, you get 80 minutes under your belt and another week's training, you'll be a better side for it. Off the back of that, whoever wins next week will be a better side again because they've got another game under their belt."

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Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said: "If we happened to lose tonight, we were under pressure as a team and we'd have to rely on whoever next week to lose (to make the final). It's always pressure under these sorts of relegation and promotion systems. I'm just happy that we've made it. We're there."