There are a lot of threads on many message boards about Eddie and Stevo, Boots N All being rubbish, Cullen, Barrie and Terry, tired formats, constantly rolling out tired old coaches.

Some good has come through recently IMO like SL Supermen and is this show liked because it is different and has new faces presenting and as guests. I must admit that I do watch SL and Championship games on delay now so I can have x30 at the ready when all the turgid stuff is on.

If you were given carte blanche to re-vamp Sky's RL coverage what would you do? All formats have to re-invent themselves and it would be useful to hear some solution ideas rather than simply "I hate Sky's coverage" etc.

Kill them! Kill them all!!!

it's not just Sky, the BBC coverage is also woeful, but the product is less interesting this season as well.

Apart from making sure Brian Carney is never allowed to open his mouth on television again (or if he does then at least have someone overdub the audio) I wouldn't change much about Sky Sports RL coverage.

It's pretty decent in my opinion.

I'm pleasantly surprised by how Barry McDermott comes across on TV too. He seems an entertaining guy. I always had him down as an unintelligent brain dead thicko. I was wrong.

Wells, Mcrae, Clarke (and that chubby fella announcing the teams before the game) need more time on our screens and Eddie and Stevo need less.

Eddie is meant to present the programme and ask questions, not give his own opinions. If he does his job properly then he is fine.

Stevo needs to go other than his thursday evening slot on SSN, his passion for the game cannot be questionned.

I would like to see a seperate team for the commentry box and the studio, rather than the same guys rushing down to the studio during the ads.

Get rid of Baz and Tez and leave them to do some kind of funny section on boots 'n' all.

I would like to see more coaches as guests in the studio and maybe some ex pro's like Sculthorpe and Radlinski. Maybe even Farrell and Robinson, that would make more people stay on the channel if anything.

We need more ex-Wigan players in.

I considered buying 3d coverage when i heard it wasn't Eddie and Stevo doing it. Keep Wells and Carney, Bill arthur is alright, but we need a proper full commentator other than just Eddie.

Agree than BBC is bad but don't mind Claire Balding.

Generally I'm OK with the format.
I'd get rid of Tez, keep the rest, Jon Wells has been a good addition this season.

They all need to stop looking at the camera when they are talking to somebody else in the studio.........very odd, think it was started by Stevo.

Get rid of Phil Clarke. The guy is an absolute joke.

Grinds my gears! So unproffesional! He is not a news reader.

Get rid of Boot’s & All & replace with a round-up of the NRL games. At least we’d see an hour’s decent rugby each week.

I should get a rebate after sitting through the last two offerings.

Clarkey doesnt seem to be as much as a D!ck lately.
I think they all do a great job.

most people get offended if anyone of them talk bad about their supported team, or dont talk enough about them.
get over yourselves.
Id love to hear some of the crap people on here would come out with if they had the chance to do the same job.

I think a complete revamp is called for. I've always liked Eddie & Stevo but in recent years have begun to think they're past it. They repeat the same old predictable lines in every game, and seem to have turned into slightly bitter old men questioning every decision as if they know better.

I'd love to see Sky audition for new commentators (I'd give it a go!). Then get in a younger regular assistant to replace Stevo - an articulate ex-player with a sense of humour perhaps.

Tell the commentators to actually commentate. Less of the opinionated approach.

Thats true, you could takes stevo's commentary from one game and it would fit over the next.

PLEASE promise me you wouldn't?

The idea is really to get someone who has more than 1 functional bran cell and who knows a bit about the game.

One plus about sky of late.. They mention the challenge cup alot more rather than completely ignoring it. It would also be fun to get a guest from each team (currently injured/not playing player) to be in the commentary box and give there views through game.... Oh and bring back the two tribes song and the animated badges.

Yes it would be fun but probably for the wrong reasons.

I don't like to generalise but there are far too many RL players who seem to struggle to string more than 2 or 3 words together without sounding like a brain damaged extra off Emmerdale who has been sniffing petrol.

This must never happen.

EVER.

Super League & Internationals

Studio: Eddie, Stevo, Jon Wells (In Studio analaysis), Guest (Who is actually relevant & not over used). Also announce teams in the Studi and have the Studio guests give their opinions of the coaches selections.

Commentary: New play-by-play commentator, Stevo, Phil Clarke

Championship

Studio & Commentary: Bill Arthur, Baz & Terry

The Rugby League Show

I'd like a new idea from the Boots N All format and have Eddie, Stevo & Phil Clarke joined by 2 guests (current players or coaches) who all discuss and debate the recent talking points of the RL world, not just SL, but Internationally, NRL, the French game.. in depth! Then do some features that wouldn't be accesable on the internet e.g. reading on news sites. Something like they did a few weeks back with that Banker who went to France to play for Realmont or someone like that.

Boots N All

Led by Brian Carney, analaysis by Paul Cullen (or in an ideal world Tony Rae again). Features all 7 SL games, showing the tries then Cullen does his analysis and what not.

Super League Super Men

Keep Carney and his current format

Weekly Rota

Monday: Boots N All
Wednesday: The Rugby League Show
Thursday: Championship Game, SL Super Men
Friday & Sunday: Super League Games

Spot on regarding Eddie & Stevo. SKY's coverage is affected by having them in our ears all the way through the broadcast. They rarely concentrate on the positive aspects of the game any more and always seem to highlight errors and mistakes over good play. Their knowledge has never been the best either and they are increasingly calling things completely wrong. Eddie isn't a bad host from the studio but I don't want to hear him call a game ever again. I wouldn't get rid of Stevo completely either but I would scale down his involvement too.

The commentary situation is the biggest problem across all British RL coverage. Dave Woods is the best out there but this is no honour. There are enough people in the game that can provide good analysis from either the studio or commentary box (Wells, Carney and McDermott being the best) but in terms of calling the game there is nobody that springs to mind who I would choose.

Whoops, excuse me, I just farted more rugby league knowledge than you've ever demonstrated in any of your guises on these boards, Barry.

Besides, it's never stopped Eddie.

As you were.

ahhhh yes.

The good old 'Phipps has hit a raw nerve so i'll accuse him of being Barry Mackenzie' response





How predictable

Wouldn't mind a bit more of Rod Studd, I still treasure his 'Widnes keep shooting themselves in the foot, reloading and trying again' comment.

Sack it all off and start again from scratch. Get one of the presenters from Sky Sports news in the studio, maybe John Davies who did the WC. Get a new commentator in, find places for John Wells, and Brian Carney and maybe look at working with an older or recently retired big name and bring them into the fold.

Have a play caller and one at most two colour commentators, a presenter in the studio with John Wells doing his tactical analysis bit and an ex-player + relevant guest discussing the game.

Have Stevo for Boots n all and his thursday bit where his can keep his passion evident but has a bit longer to think about what he is going to say. Carney continue doing his SL Supermen.

I watch 'ringside' a lot on sky, the boxing magazine programme and its miles better than boots and all.

Eddie and Stevo still commentate with John Davies in the studio untill he gets up to speed with the game then give the commentry role to him instead of Hemmings and get an ex player involved to.

Boots n All is so boring : they should

- have a prank/punked where they prank current SL players
- during a game should interview players when walking back from scoring
- get bands and comedians on boots 'n' all and have a studio audience
- have Brian Carney, Terry, Barry and Wells doing the new boots n all
- have celebrity fans on the show and interview them about why they like RL and thoughts on the game