Re: Media whores : Mon Aug 25, 2014 7:06 pm  

I enjoy the BBC's coverage of the Challenge Cup these days. It's better than Sky's coverage of anything and it's a million miles better than the BBC's used to be. The only downside is the number of cameras the BBC use which isn't nearly enough to cover the game but then they only have the Challenge Cup and so it's unlikely they will invest in more cameras being made available anytime soon. Oh, and Crabtree really isn't a pundit. He's too forced and never says anything meaningful.

As for the OP ... Wilkin appears on the BBC as a pundit, not as a player. He wouldn't be asked back if he was anything less than professional about Leeds when discussing Leeds. Likewise for Jamie Peacock when he has had to speak about Saints on the BBC.

Re: Media whores : Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:07 pm  

Clearwing wrote:

Just iplayed coverage of the CC and was struck by the glowing praise for Leeds by Wilkin and Crabtree. Both seemed to mean what they said. Now, I can understand retired players showing this generosity of spirit but is it healthy for current players to enter into this mind set? Crabtree's always struck me as fairly amiable - perhaps too much so - but Wilkin used to exhibit a fair bit of spite towards Leeds earlier in his playing career. I know all players are different but as one of his team's motivators, will his effectiveness be lessened?

Crabtree is just too nice, he needs to grow an opinion. This probably explains why he never has been and never will be a top level prop.

Re: Media whores : Mon Aug 25, 2014 8:23 pm  

SaintsFan wrote:

I enjoy the BBC's coverage of the Challenge Cup these days. It's better than Sky's coverage of anything and it's a million miles better than the BBC's used to be. The only downside is the number of cameras the BBC use which isn't nearly enough to cover the game but then they only have the Challenge Cup and so it's unlikely they will invest in more cameras being made available anytime soon. Oh, and Crabtree really isn't a pundit. He's too forced and never says anything meaningful.

As for the OP ... Wilkin appears on the BBC as a pundit, not as a player. He wouldn't be asked back if he was anything less than professional about Leeds when discussing Leeds. Likewise for Jamie Peacock when he has had to speak about Saints on the BBC.

jamie peacock has been less than complimentary to bradford and hull fc before on the superleague show with cheap comments!

Re: Media whores : Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:11 am  

ratticusfinch wrote:

People used to mock Ray French for getting players' names wrong but woods managed it half a dozen times on Sat...at one point mistaking aiton for hauraki??!!

Yes, people spent a lot of time slagging Ray French, who knows more about the game than Woods ever will.

Re: Media whores : Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:11 am  

SaintsFan wrote:

Oh, and Crabtree really isn't a pundit. He's too forced and never says anything meaningful.

He's awful. Truly awful. Never really says anything at all if you actually listen to him.

Re: Media whores : Tue Aug 26, 2014 7:45 am  

number 6 wrote:

jamie peacock has been less than complimentary to bradford and hull fc before on the superleague show with cheap comments!

Really? What did he say?

Re: Media whores : Tue Aug 26, 2014 10:50 am  

Albion wrote:

He's awful. Truly awful. Never really says anything at all if you actually listen to him.

Both Crabtree and Paul are prime examples of what happens when you put someone who's both professional and eager to please through too much media training. Crabtree's more annoying right now but I think that's mostly a function of how long I've had to get used to him compared to Paul.

[Pumpetypump]

Re: Media whores : Tue Aug 26, 2014 11:13 am  

In 1996 Robbie Paul was a breath of fresh air. An eloquent spokesman for Rugby league at a time when the world thought players should go onto the pitch holding a pint of bitter with coal dust on their face. He was great to put in front of the Media.

Fast forward nearly 20 years and there are so many players capable of offering something insightful (Wilkin for me is impressive in the media role), and so Robbie Paul now comes across as an amiable but irritating gibberer.

Re: Media whores : Tue Aug 26, 2014 11:17 am  

number 6 wrote:

jamie peacock has been less than complimentary to bradford and hull fc before on the superleague show with cheap comments!

Yes, but Peacock can get away with it because the BBC are so far up his @r$e, it's unbelievable.

Re: Media whores : Tue Aug 26, 2014 11:22 am  

CommanderShepard wrote:

Yes, but Peacock can get away with it because the BBC are so far up his @r$e, it's unbelievable.

What? The whole corporation? That must be a bit of a squeeze.