Paul Vautin's staggering call on Cameron Smith as Channel 9's plan to replace NRL icon revealed

Paul Vautin has told Yahoo Sport Australia he believes fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith will become rugby league's next great broadcaster. Vautin, who last week announced his retirement after 33 years in the media, worked alongside the former Melbourne Storm and Maroons superstar at Channel 9 for the past few seasons and has watched him develop into a quality analyst.

He had no hesitation in placing Smith alongside the likes of Peter Sterling and Phil Gould for his ability to break down a game. "Cameron's going to be one of our all-time great callers. He knows the game inside out," Vautin told Yahoo Sport Australia earlier this year. "Sterlo was really good at dissecting a game as is Gus (Gould), but Cameron is right up there as far as his knowledge of the game.

"He was obviously one of the greatest players we have ever seen and sees things before others do. He's made a very easy transition from player to commentator and has been a really good addition to the commentary team. He's great to work alongside and likes to have a laugh as well. He will only get better over time and will be right up there (with the best) when it's all over."

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Smith is set to play an even more prominent role in Channel 9's coverage now Vautin has departed the commentary box after more than three decades. Fatty told Nine Newspapers upon his retirement: "I got to work with the best commentators, like the great 'Gus' Gould, Joey (Andrew Johns) – he could see the game three minutes ahead of anybody else – and of the current mob, Cameron Smith, who is just as good as any of them."

Paul Vautin reveals phone call from Anthony Albanese

Vautin has also expressed his gratitude to the hundreds of well-wishers who have contacted him since news of his retirement broke, revealing he received a call from Prime Minister – and rugby league tragic – Anthony Albanese. "I got contacted by a lot of people and the Prime Minister actually rang me, which was fantastic," Vautin told Sky Sports Radio.

"He left a message and I rang him back the next day on his private number. I'm thinking surely it will be some lackey (answering it) and this voice goes 'Hello' and I said, 'is this the Prime Minister?'

"He said, 'who's this?' and I said, 'it's Paul Vautin'. He says, 'ah Fatty, how are you mate?' I had 20 minutes with him but I was down at Bonville (golf course) and the boys were on the first tee saying 'c'mon', so I said, 'Prime Minister, I've got to cut you short, sorry'."