‘I have an interesting perspective’: Cheika signs on for Nine and Stan Sport commentary team
Nine and Stan Sport have put the finishing touches on their commentary team by signing former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and Australian rugby legend David Campese.
In what may come as a big surprise to supporters ahead of the Super Rugby AU season on Friday, Cheika has opted to try his hand in the media after recent stints as an assistant coach of the Sydney Roosters and Argentina’s rugby team during their Tri Nations campaign last year in Australia.
David Campese (L) and Michael Cheika (R) have been unveiled as part of Nine and Stan’s new rugby commentary team. Credit:Nine
Cheika will continue his role as head coach of Lebanon’s rugby league team and feels he has plenty to offer behind the microphone, having done a handful of appearances in the UK in recent years for BT Sport and the BBC.
The man who coached the Wallabies from 2014 until the 2019 World Cup says he would rather provide analysis and insight than criticise those on the field, many of whom played in his teams.
The announcement was made in a Stan Sport special program on Tuesday morning.
“It was very dependent on the role they wanted me to play,” Cheika told the Herald. “I can’t see myself on the microphone asking questions but [my job will be around] around giving people who are watching the game a different view on the game and insights into what might be happening in the background and on the field.
“There is going to be a whole new viewing audience to get a look at rugby. Lots of different outlooks on the game will maybe help people connect with the game. I think people who have watched the game for a while, they know what’s going on, so they might be interested to hear some different points of view.
“I remember coming back from the 2015 World Cup after it being on free-to-air on Nine and it really touched a lot of people who wouldn’t see the game before. I think it’s a good chance to give an insight to those people and the loyal rugby fan who has been watching the game for years.
“Obviously I have an interesting perspective because I have been on the other side. If you have an opinion, it’s based on evidence, not just a thought. It’s also about trying to connect the dots for people around what players and coaches are thinking or doing as opposed to judging them. I won’t be going on TV to judge anybody.”
Nine - the owner of this masthead - will begin its new foray into rugby on Friday when the Waratahs face the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
Stan Sport will also show matches live and ad-free and will broadcast the Western Force and Brumbies match later on Friday evening.
Cheika arrives at Sydney airport after Australia’s quarter-final exit at the 2019 World Cup. Credit:Renee Nowytarger
Regular Stan subscribers can pay an extra $10 a month to have the sport package, which includes all Super Rugby matches, Wallabies and Wallaroos Tests, club matches, among others.
Cheika and Campese will join a commentary team already featuring Drew Mitchell, Tim Horan, Andrew Mehrtens, Sean Maloney, Roz Kelly, Allana Ferguson, Nick McArdle, Morgan Turinui, Justin Harrison and Andrew Swain.
Campese, a Rugby World Cup winner and Australia’s most prolific try-scorer, used to work for SuperSport when he worked in South Africa and has one of the loudest opinions in the game.
“I’ve always wanted to be in rugby,” Campese said. “I just think I’m old enough now to understand the game pretty well and just try and give a different aspect. Over the last couple of years I think the game has been neglected in knowledge of the game. I’m not saying the guys who have been there don’t know the game , but I’m a bit different.
“Cheika and I have been mates for donkeys through Randwick. He came to Italy and coached. We catch up all over the world.”
Last year Rugby Australia signed a new three-year broadcast deal with Nine and Stan worth $100 million.
Tom Decent is a journalist with The Sydney Morning Herald