By MATT NEWSUM
NOTHING says new year like the return of rugby league after a winter of fallow.
Without my weekly hits on the mic, catching up with fellow commentators and reporters, and chatting with coaches and players, the offseason can be a miserable place; a seasonal affective disorder triggered by a lack of big hits, spectacular skills and blistering tries.
Unwrapping the Yearbook on Christmas Day is usually my signal that we’re on the right track and, of course, offers the chance to reflect on the year just gone.
It was a special season, with history made domestically with Hull KR’s treble success, and an Ashes series that despite the results was still a major highlight to be involved in. Describing the action at Wembley for the start of the revived Kangaroos touring series was a lump in the throat moment, and not just for the rugby.
Personally, I lost my dad in April, so those historic days in North London, Old Trafford and the like were tinged with sadness. No pre-match text or post-match call to dissect the action.
Though I must say my mum has become a rugby league nut in his absence. She listens and watches every week and often texts me to say she’s seen the latest James Graham Bye Round episode or Sam Burgess roughing up Phil Tufnell on a cricket pod. Extraordinary but I love it.
It was my dad who inadvertently gave me the gift of rugby league, despite growing up in Nottingham. My family had ensured I wouldn’t stray from the red and white side of the city in terms of football, but my dad’s drunken days out on the coach to Wembley for the Challenge Cup finals, organised by a league-mad colleague from Oldham, was my offbeat introduction to the game.
It was from there that I witnessed the brilliance of this sport, and the man who I would later come to emulate, the great Ray French, also sadly lost last year.
I loved his sing-song voice, that flickered like a flame when excitement came to bear. The little catchphrases – “and suddenly!” – that made it a ‘Ray’ commentary inspired me to follow suit.
Being selected to succeed Dave Woods as lead commentator was a huge honour and put me fourth in line of commentators who have called a Challenge Cup final on the BBC.
Commentary is like a drug, a legal high. I wouldn’t have got a game for Nottingham City even in their darkest days, so if I was going to get a piece of the action it needed to be somewhere else.
Thankfully for me it’s the commentary box. I love it. There is a massive adrenaline rush up on the gantry when Mark Chapman hands to the commentary team.
I wait for my name, and the surge of emotions is wild. It’s nerves, excitement, there’s that little shred of fear that nothing will emerge from my voice box when I go to speak. Then it’s on.
I’ve come to work with legends like Jonathan Davies, John Kear and Brian Noble, developed an enjoyable rapport with current players and coaches like Paul Rowley and Alex Walmsley. It’s a huge privilege that I am fully aware of every time I go ‘live’.
While television commentary brings the gravitas and the platform for rugby league, I’m passionate about radio commentary. It’s the descriptive element, those little turns of phrase that hopefully bring colour and fun to the listener whether in the home, the car or even halfway up a mountain.
Most commentators are nerdy, and I am no exception. I have bought a new notebook for 2026 as last season’s one came to its end just in time for the third Ashes Test.
I spend hours writing out my notes for each game. Want to know a player’s place of birth? There’s a good chance I’ve written it down sometime in the last 12 months.
We kick off on the BBC with some early rounds of Betfred Challenge Cup action on the iPlayer.
Those games are both a joy and a headache. Joy in that the community game delivers brilliant entertainment, that coaches are so happy to chat and pass on information.
Headache when it comes to squad numbers which often depends on what kit fits. Normally a kindly volunteer will supply me with the right info on the day!
After that, we’re right into it, World Club Challenge, Super League… the big events keep coming.
In a World Cup year, with games in Las Vegas, Paris and an Everton Magic Weekend, there is much to be excited about in 2026.
Let’s hope it delivers.
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