- Channel Nine’s pre-game Origin coverage was panned
- Network bizarrely promoted the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
- Comedian Andy Lee strange choice for open-to-camera
- Opals veteran Lauren Jackson at the high-profile Olympic Games
Channel Nine’s pre-game Origin coverage from Melbourne has come under fire after the free-to-air network brazenly took the opportunity to promote the Paris Olympics next month.
Australian basketball great Lauren Jackson made a bizarre appearance on TV screens across the country to talk about the Games ahead of rugby league’s jewel.
The Opals star then declared: ‘I never thought I’d be here talking to you on a night like this’ – and Jackson won’t find any argument from the Australian sporting public, who were so stunned by it.
Then comedian Andy Lee performed the opening piece on camera – despite being from Victoria and a well-known Carlton Blues AFL fan.
It wouldn’t be Origin if Nine didn’t produce a banger for eternity.
And true to form, Angus Crichton’s junior rugby club, the Young Yabbies, flashed – unlike his junior league team, the Young Cherrypickers – at the introduction of the NSW Blues team players.
Luckily, 2024 Australian Idol winner Dylan Wright was nowhere to be seen when it came to performing the national anthem.
During the season opener on June 5 in Sydney, Wright was bashed by football fans after singing a sober, guitar-tinged version of Advance Australia Fair to a packed crowd at Accor Stadium.
Channel Nine’s Origin coverage from Melbourne has come under fire (Andy Lee is pictured doing the opening piece to camera – despite being from Victoria and a well-known Carlton Blues AFL fan)
Australian basketball great Lauren Jackson made a bizarre appearance on TV screens across the country talking about the Olympics in July ahead of rugby league’s jewel
The Blues’ Liam Martin (right) celebrates with Stephen Crichton after scoring the first try in game two at the MCG
Queensland players were left stunned after NSW jumped to a commanding 28-0 lead in the first half
Wright’s slow-paced performance was branded ‘devilish’ and ‘hipster’ by angry supporters on social media.
NRL officials clearly had a handle on the atmosphere: Sheridan Adams’ performance of the national anthem was impressive from start to finish.
Aunt Joy Murphy’s Welcome to Country received some criticism on social media – mainly because of what was smeared on her face.
One viewer wrote: ‘It looks like she fell face first into a pile of snow.’
On the field, NSW raced out to a commanding 34-0 lead at half-time, thanks to tries from Liam Martin, Zac Lomax and Brian To’o, who tried to level the series.