I agree about Craig Murdock.. he does an excellent commentary, and I always listen to the BBC Humberside feed if I cant get to either of the Hull grounds.
No way use Joe whats-his-name from Wish FM. 10% game commentary as to whats going on, the rest of the time just drivel and tweets from fans.

Murdock, Wilkin and Shenton are very good speakers about the game but they are summerisers not commentators.

SKY need to look at regular sports journalists/commentators from radio and tv. SKY pay very well, can demand and should get quality. There's plenty around.
I like Joe Mills, he's on local radio and when nothing is happening he talks local matters. A national broadcaster would have someone who could be versatile and talk both local, the whole sport and national.
That's what SKY need IMO, whether it's Joe Mills or someone else who knows.

I don't think we have ever had a decent commentator - ever ? Going back to Eddie Waring and then Ray French with his "bullocking runs".

Stephenson was Yorkshire biased in my opinion, but you could tell he really loved the game. Hemmings was just 'shunted in' and he knew nowt about the game when he first started.

Since then SKY have 'dumbed down' with the commentators. 'Tez and Baz' dear oh dear .

They could do away with them for me........just let me listen to the crowd when viewing.

The best we’ve had on these shores was Andrew Voss for the 2013 WC on Premier Sports.

I don’t know what’s up with your radios in Wigan, but Craig Murdock left radio Humberside at least four years ago

I heard him on there last year, unless they got his name wrong all afternoon

I watch all NRL games and during the game use the mute button on all matches except those where Andrew Voss commentates, providing Greg Alexander or Micheal Ennis are not assisting him!

Quote ="Pieman"I heard him on there last year, unless they got his name wrong all afternoon'" That’s entirely possible on radio Humberside Think Craig left 2014 due to a conflict of interest regarding his editorial work for the Hull Daily Mail, whilst you may of heard him interviewed on the radio, his commentary work indeed finished way back. A shame really because he was very good. https://www.revolvy.com/page/Craig-Murdock?uid=1575

Quote ="Pieman"I heard him on there last year, unless they got his name wrong all afternoon'" That’s entirely possible on radio Humberside Think Craig left 2014 due to a conflict of interest regarding his editorial work for the Hull Daily Mail, whilst you may of heard him interviewed on the radio, his commentary work indeed finished way back. A shame really because he was very good. https://www.revolvy.com/page/Craig-Murdock?uid=1575

What we need is commentators who know when to shut up. They don't need to be talking every minute of the match. Rugby league is one of the fastest sports in the world, with the ball in play longer than any comparable game, according to the best stats I have been able to find. The commentators need to have the confidence to let the game speak for itself for a while and jump in when needed. Unfortunately, I think sports commentators fear that if they do stop talking that they are not doing their job and will be replaced - maybe that's the cue they get from producers and therefore they act accordingly. In which case, producers need to be told to lay off and let commentators be quiet now and again.

Exactly.

Someone should send this to Terry O.

Must have been someone else then, I’m sure it was Craig Murdock and it was some time last season.

I too thought it was only last year when I last listened to "The Doc"
tempus fugit!

Chris Warren was good when he was in London, Tony Rea is still around his weekend round up on SKy was ok, for English commentators look for someone new Barry n Terry has never been anything more than an annoyance. John Wilkin comes across well but may have a longer career playing if Toronto get up to SL.

I think Wilkin is an excellent summariser

Do you remember the golden tones of Keith Macklin

Who used to do the Wigan home games on screen sports in the 80s, was it John McDermott or something like that?

Haha ! Yes I do. Keith actually got caught drink driving near my home in Rochdale in the late 1960's. After Eddie Waring any commentator was good. Waring loved the game but he was a bit of a joke and was regarded as such by the BBC. Hence why they put him on 'It's a Knockout' !

IIRC Screen Sports had every Wigan game on satellite broadcasting for a while.

Over on Humberside was the most biased commentator I have ever heard. One David Doyle-Davidson . IIRC he worked for BBC Humberside.....................neutral ? Not a chance with this feller.

DDD black and white right through & through, player coach commentator, and now senior Airlie bird.

Tbh player pass player commentary isn't easy.
With radio commentators often get players wrong and often miss out much of naming players too.
They can get away with it on radio. You can't on television and all those mistakes will be magnified. Sometimes it's best not to commentate where you'd struggle.
I know...I've been a match day radio presenter in my younger days.

Quote ="fleabag"Over on Humberside was the most biased commentator I have ever heard. One David Doyle-Davidson . IIRC he worked for BBC Humberside.....................neutral ? Not a chance with this feller.'" Mick Morgan would give him a run for his money on bias.......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsdP15Ar0do

Quote ="fleabag"Over on Humberside was the most biased commentator I have ever heard. One David Doyle-Davidson . IIRC he worked for BBC Humberside.....................neutral ? Not a chance with this feller.'" Mick Morgan would give him a run for his money on bias.......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsdP15Ar0do

I can't speyk!

You know, I don't see what the fuss over impartiality is anyway. Even though Wigan were always copping it from Morgan I love the guy's enthusiasm and passion for his club. If commentators are going to be characters maybe we should chuck impartiality and focus on passion and love for the game and its clubs.

Tulsen Tollet is on the books of the BBC, did he commentate at some stage?

I think he fell into the category of ‘London based/easy to get at short notice/cheaper expenses’ category like Jon Wells, unfortunately Jon Wells (A poor mans Darren Rogers lol) stayed with Sky.