The network seem to have been boxed into a corner, with the sponsors of the show and TV Execs wanting it toned down.

Fatty's recently talked about going back to match commentary from what I've read. He's fed up with all the changes they've made to the format, which I think was why Paul 'Chief' Harrogan sacked it off at the end of the last series.

Matty 'Reg Reagan/Percy le Blanc' Johns on the other hand seems to be in a whole heap of you know what: [urlhttp://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,25472443-5006066,00.html[/url

That will just kill The Footy Show off completely, unless they get Fenech back to take the michael out of.

Fox suggest he is expected to be dropped. www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

Fox suggest he is expected to be dropped. www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

On Robbie Fowler it was really funny as he was heckled by the crowd and shouts of "talk about real footy" were thrown at him!

Matty Johns has been stood down inderinately by channel9 and melbourne storm today.

Yep, Johns stood down indefinitely and you can't blame Nine for that.

Well Andrew Voss this season is quite funny. I can't believe there is so little talent you can't find others to fill a vacancy and give a League-focused light entertainment program. You don't have to have ex players. I bet there are some comedians/presenters who'd give the right arm for that gig. Maybe get a decent female presenter in to make it more appealing to women.

This season, they've often used Jacquelin Magnay, who writes for the Sydney Morning Herald, in a futile and somewhat cynical attempt to satisfy some of the show's critics and boost the female audience. It says a lot that the only woman they can get who knows a bit about the sport (League isn't her main thing I understand) is there only after pressure from the top to put her in. The whole situation's made worse in that she's like watching paint dry - or whatever the audio equivalent of that is! (all IMO, of course!)

As I said, the Nine Network and the media at large felt that the Footy Show was too 'Blokey' and was full of idiotic, chauvinistic nonsense. They were right, but that's why we all loved it - or at least I did!

So they've thrown in Vossy in an attempt to talk more footy, thrown in Magnay to add some token female presence and swapped all the lunacy and hi-jinx for super dull commercially sponsored segments, betting odds and longwinded discussions about chicken wing tackles and the like, were everyone ends up agreeing with one another anyway.

Fatty's never been a great presenter IMO - he can't read an autocue - but that has never really mattered because it was all a bit of a laugh. Now its all supposed to be so slick and Fatty just ends up looking crap. Both he and Matty Johns have also looked far from comfortable in their own skins at times this year, almost seeming to bite their tongues on occassion, when previously they'd have let rip.

The Footy Show is finished. Long live the Footie Show

Been on for ten minutes and they're not making much sense. Flailing in the face of a witch hunt.

Quote ="Bilko"It is - www.rugbyleagueontv.co.uk'" I've got it on at Midnight and not 10pm.

Quote ="Bilko"It is - www.rugbyleagueontv.co.uk'" I've got it on at Midnight and not 10pm.

Bet it's not fun for them and everything that has gone on.

Thought Gus Gould talked a lot of sense. At least they're not burying their heads in the sand, especially Matty Johns. Think the other culprits should hang their heads in shame for not owning up and letting him take the fall.

Finally a sports star who is actually prepared to apologise for his actions.

magnay has been good.

she knows a lot about RL.

not a bad sho wtonight

Gould only comes on when there is something important to talk about and his interviews are always superb.

see Andrew Johns and Sonny Bill Williams interviews for further proof

Trying to watch this now only the feed of that setanta is its the only channel not getting signal. Would like to hear what they are saying about Matty Johns.

You can rely on Gus Gould to have a good blub on the show. No doubt the ratings were good. Call me cynical but Johns will be back in a couple of months after it all blows over and the woman has pilloried in the press as a slapper who was gagging for it. It's a bit more mileage in it yet to get the names of the other boofheads out in public.

Fatty looks as happy as if he'd just bitten on a Big Mac and found a fresh cow pat in there.

The NRL is in a fecking awful state. The Footy Show is dying.

The whole situation is ridiculous.

Do you rhink they will banned from mentioing it on teh Roast? Could be interesting of they let MG lose!

sailor will be on the roast

Interesting to watch a sports programme have an intelligent discussion about the issue without trying to apportion blame, or skirt around things. An excellent piece of television which I doubt we'd see of a similar standard from many of our sports broadcasters.

It seems those players have come to light and a certain Luke Branighan of Gateshead Thunder was named, would be interesting to see if he is sacked in light of these allegations. I'm sure they'll be eager to keep this quiet as its hard enough for Rugby League to develop in the north east as it is without a scandal like this affecting their growth.

Totally agree.

If another "sport" was involved it would never get off the ground.

A concern I have is who's agenda is it to have a go a league in Australia?

I could take a guess but it's not that obvious without having a lot more information

union . afl . aleague football . take a geuss

Onion isn't powerful enough, soccer is a joke, so I go for AFL!!

The only POSITIVE i can say about that game is you have to be fit to play it but otherwise it's as dull as ditchwater.

They seem to want expand everywhere.

Any old bugger can play in the AFL. They have over a hundred interchanges per team per game...

Fatty was in combative mode tonight and the show was all the better for it. LOLed at the bomb challenge.