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.

I dont like the small studio that is built to cram them into. There must be a corporate box that they can use at most grounds they can present from

This! Tony Rae was brilliant on Boots n All. Gave genuine insight into every clip. It felt like being in the video room with a coach after a game

Stevo should go immediately and Carney take his place .

I would quite happily take a British one if they were good enough but I listen to plenty of commentators on TV and radio and can't think of one I like. I'm sure there are loads of rubbish commentators in Oz as well, but we may be able to find one that can call a game accurately with no favourites. Actually, I'd take one from anywhere if he can do that.

I just wanna see a some more non northern voices. There are far too many and would be good to see some balance brought in. Some eye candy women would be nice as well. Just get one from SSN already. They may not know the game inside out but they could do a job.

Eddy should not be presenter of Superleague, Boots n all and also commentator. Its mental.

RL should not be stereotyped as a northern sport but if you put on Sky Sports RL coverage you couldnt be blamed for thinking its just that.

Ch 9 commentators in Australia are getting nearly as bad TBH. Phil Gould can be hugely insightful, but also loves the sound of his own voice and if anything harps on about negatives too much. He and Ray Warren also seem to manufacture 'rows' at least once a game which they engage in whilst the game is still going.

FWIW I don't actually mind Stevo being a bit of a clown. Eddie needs to tone it right down and focus on commentating though. I would like to hear more non-northern accents as well, especially Carney, who I think is good value.

As I see it Eddie is an articulate presenter who rarely fails to misunderstand the game. His sycophantic interviews and mealy-mouthed hyping of the game make me want to reach for a bucket.
Stevo is probably the least articulate presenter on British television. He's totally incapable of completing a sentence when excited and if he manages more than three grammatically correct paragraphs in a game it seems like an achievement. He does however understand the game...as it was about 40 years ago when he played it.

I remember talking to a prominent SL coach about them many years ago, and he said he could cope with the training, the defeats and the hard slog, but the hardest part of his job was keeping a straight face when broadcasting alongside them.

I don't generally trust Telegraph journos, but I agree with much of this guy's analysis.

IMO Sky need to lose the hype and gimmickry, shed the stereotypes, ditch both Eddie and Stevo and treat the game a little more seriously.

This guy has got it spot on.

Eddie is not a good commentator nor presenter. He can't commentate he gets broiled up with his opinions instead of calling the game. When he presents it comes across as scripted and doesn't come naturally.

Stevo should be kept for the red button stuff at full time and thats it. He gets over excited and when he has an opinion he can't speak it during a match.

Phil Clarke, margin meter I hate but the thing he does on Boots'n'all I like. And is generally a good summariser (as long as Wigan aint playing)

I thought the comment about John Wells was harsh but if it was characterture or an impression of him it is actually true.

Brian Carney is very good but in this set up his voice is hardly heard over the commotion of the two main parts.

McCrae I never liked him commentating although I don't wish ill health on anyone I was glad when he was sick last year. At least I didn't had to listen to him.

The summarisers are the same people Cullen, Kear or Barrie Mc. Very rarely you'll see somebody else.

I am prefering the weekly shows much more now though. The tries show is much better and now they have got rid of that Cullen section on Boots'n'All and sort of combined it with All the tries programme which is much better. As I said before I like Phils thing he does on Boots'n'All I can understand why people won 't but you won't be able to please everybody. I would like there to be a refs bit on one of the shows to explain why one thing was dealt with one way and a similar thing in another way. Also it could be used to hype up the weekends fixtures somewhat.

In short Eddie and Stevo will remain there as long as we pay our monthly subscriptions. The only way to get Sky to change anything is to cancel your subscription and state that you don't like the Rugby League coverage and thats the reason why you bought it in the first place. Enough people do this then something will happen until then we are stuck with these numpties.

I used to like Eddie & Stevo - they brought an element of personality and humour to the game. But over the last 2-3 seasons they've lost the plot. They find it impossible to remain impartial, they bicker over moot points and try to create banter where none exists. Their conversations often degenerate into embarrassing mumbling. The Telegraph chap is right - and it's important to listen to hear an outsider's opinion.

Get rid.

But then I don't rate the rest all that much either. They do a job, but compared to other sports they're amateurish and awkward. Of course, they aren't professional presenters, but then you have to ask if they're right for the job.

If I were Sky I'd simply advertise for new presenters. Get someone fresh commentating, and either Eddie or another figure in the studio. There are budding radio/TV presenters/journalists all over the country who would kill for a break like that - and some RL fans might have a hidden talent for presenting.

SL needs to make sweeping changes in its presentation.

my main gripe with sky is showing replays of something minor that happened minutes ago while the game is going on,please sky, we dont need to see a replay of a dropped ball while the crowd are cheering/booing,we want to see whats happening on the pitch!

The only problem with that is that Arthur struggles to remember his own name most of the time never mind the name of the players, the rules or what is actually happening.