Latest news with #MattyJohns
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
How footy great Braith Anasta has made a FORTUNE out of massive sport media shake-up
NRL great Braith Anasta has emerged as one of Aussie sport media's biggest success stories after securing a high-profile contract extension with Fox Sports' new owners. Anasta - and his fellow Fox Sports host Matty Johns - have recently signed upgraded deals that will see them through to the end of the 2028 NRL season as streaming giant DAZN makes moves after buying Foxtel. The global streaming giant's recent purchase marked a huge shake-up in Australian sports media, with the company expected to soon begin negotiations for a broadcast deal with the NRL. Anasta, who retired from rugby league in 2014, has transitioned seamlessly to working in the media and has become a household name among footy fans. In 2022, he took over as the host of NRL 360 and ratings have been on the up ever since. 'We didn't realise Braith was going to be this good,' Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley told News Corp. Anasta has been an NRL 360 host since 2022 and ratings have been on the up 'He's done a remarkable job, and I have a suspicion he's going to continue to get better.' Anasta's deal is said to be lucrative, but the exact figures remain undisclosed. 'When you put hosts in, sometimes they think they've got to present like the people before them,' Crawley said. 'With Braith, he's got a new way of presenting sport that is very much a 2025 contemporary way. 'They've got to be themselves. His work ethic is unbelievable, and he's world-class. 'We're delighted to have him for another three years.' Anasta took to social media over the weekend to confirm that he was extending his contract and thank those who have helped him along the way. 'Dream big kiddos, block out the noise, surround yourself with good people and work your f**king ass's off,' he posted. 'Always striving to be the best I can possibly be. 'Thank you to my family, friends, work colleagues and everyone who has and is supporting me along this incredible journey. There is no way in the world I'd be here without every single one of you.' Beyond his role as a Fox Footy pundit, Anasta also runs the sports management company Searoo, which represents NRL stars including Cameron Munster and Lachlan Ilias.
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matty: Munster a 'Top 10 Origin player'
State of Origin: Matty Johns has called Cameron Munster a top ten greatest State of Origin player after he lead the Maroons to victory in Perth.
Sky News AU
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
Matty Johns reveals hard truth for New South Wales following controversial State of Origin Game II
Matty Johns has revealed the harsh reality he believes New South Wales fans should acknowledge following a controversial State of Origin II defeat to Queensland. In the aftermath of Wednesday night's Origin match in Perth there have been calls for referee Ashley Klein to be demoted for Game 3 following a lopsided penalty count, favouring Queensland 10-2. On the Backstage with Cooper and Matty Johns podcast, Johns declared the hard truth was that the penalty count was nothing but the fault of the Blues' poor discipline. 'Us New South Welshman, most people will point to that and go look at that, but I tell you what, we were f***ing undisciplined,' he said. 'That's it. Don't blame the referee. We were undisciplined.' At half-time Queensland had eight penalties while NSW were not awarded any inside the first 40 minutes. Queensland made the most of the penalty count, establishing a 26-6 lead at the break before holding off a late Blues comeback in the second half. After winning 26-24, Queensland will now battle it out in a series decider at Sydney's Accor Stadium on July 9. Many rugby league greats and punters did not mince their words following the controversial nail-biter. Former NSW superstar Jarryd Hayne took to X in the first half, posting: 'This is why Origin is the greatest game in this country!!! Regardless of the pressure teams face, it is the team spirit that truly matters. 'Ps 7-0 pen count. Did some individuals attempt to influence the referees to force a decider?' While another former Blues representative Jamie Soward said: 'That will do me. Ash doing his best to get in the way here'. Former Penrith Panther Greg Alexander said on SEN1170, 'god knows what's going to happen in Game 3' following the officiating in the match. 'We have a decider. Boy didn't we really want one of those and not too subtle way to do it. Let's just make the penalty count 8-0 at half time. Eight-nil,' Alexander fumed. 'I don't think I have ever written a referee's name as many times on a piece of paper as I did last night, through that first half. 'My god I know some of the penalties blown against us were warranted, but if Queensland weren't offside a thousand times last night, especially on their line in that little period where NSW were attacking the line. I am going well 'what is he looking at. Is he looking at the line'." NSW had to wait 45 minutes to be awarded their first penalty of the game, shortly scoring soon after. A few punters responded to Alexander's fiery words with one saying, 'NSW supporters are sookie'. 'Doesn't help when a team is elbowing or eye gouging. Seriously, take a look at the ill-discipline before blaming the referees,' another added. Five-eighth Jarome Luai escaped a suspension after initially being accused of eye gouging in a tackle on Maroons forward Reuben Cotter, while winger Zac Lomax got off a charge after a blatant elbow to the head of Trent Loiero.
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matty Johns drops uncomfortable truth about Origin ‘disgrace'
Matty Johns has turned the tables on the swirling criticism directed at referee Ashley Klein following Queensland's nail-biting win on Wednesday night in Perth. There have been calls for Klein to be stripped of officiating duties for the State of Origin series decider with NRL commentators left up in arms over a one-sided penalty count in the Maroons' favour during Game 2 at Optus Stadium. On the back of the penalty avalanche, Queensland charged to a 26-6 half time lead before holding on for a famous victory, setting up a decider back in Sydney. Former NSW players Jarryd Hayne and Jamie Soward were among the commentators to be left gobsmacked that the penalty count stood 8-0 in Queensland's favour at half time. The count ended 10-2. However, Johns on Thursday dropped a brutal truth that the penalty count was justified. 'Us New South Welshman, most people will point to that and go look at that, but I tell you what, we were f***ing undisciplined,' he said on the Backstage with Cooper and Matty Johns podcast. 'That's it. Don't blame the referee. We were undisciplined.' However, it was the cheap nature of some of the six-again ruck infringement penalties that caught the eye of other commentators on Wednesday night. Hayne took to X in the first half, posting: 'This is why Origin is the greatest game in this country!!! Regardless of the pressure teams face, it is the team spirit that truly matters. 'Ps 7-0 pen count. Did some individuals attempt to influence the referees to force a decider?' Former NSW playmaker Soward wrote: 'That will do me. Ash doing his best to get in the way here.' According to the popular 'Oracle' profile on X, it was the first time in Origin history that a team was awarded the first nine penalties of a match. There was no doubt the Blues didn't help themselves with poor discipline but such a lopsided penalty count is rare in Origin with penalties usually only blown for blatant transgressions. Queensland were questioned over meeting with the referee before the first game, so it remains to be seen if they had another chat prior to game two in Perth. Blues skipper Isaah Yeo was pictured in a tense exchange with Klein during the match, presumably about the penalty count. Daley was blunt when asked what he thought of the penalty count. 'I can't tell you what I honestly think, so I'm not going to,' Daley said. Yeo believes there were a number of penalties that were warranted against the Blues, but he believes the 50/50s went against them. 'There's certainly a few that we were shooting ourselves in the foot with and they were just penalties,' Yeo said. 'Other ones are 50-50. Some nights you get them, some nights you don't. So what you can't do is you can't go drop the ball early in the next set early in the tackle count when you've got the ball. 'So obviously I'd like that to be a bit more even, but we were our own worst enemy at times as well.' However, the biggest enemy for NSW was Zac Lomax's boot. NSW scored five tries to Queensland's four, but the Eels star hit the posts twice and converted just one two of his five shots on goal. That's what proved the difference, at least in the eyes of some. For others, Klein's whistle is being viewed as Queensland's man of the match. Leading NRL reporter Dean Ritchie wrote on X: 'Well, well, well. Never thought I'd see the perfect Origin team. Penalties: Qld 8 NSW 0.' He pointed out NSW had to wait 45 minutes to be awarded their first penalty and then went on to score shortly after. Aussie sports broadcaster Adam Hawse wrote on X: 'Klein's whistle will give us all nightmares, but Blues were own worst enemy in first half. Poor discipline. Poor handling. No control. 'I think Ashley Klein's streak of 11 Origins in a row has come to an end.'
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Given a directive': Stunning claims of NRL intervention that helps QLD in Origin 2
Matty Johns says he's got "no doubt" that referee Ashley Klein has been "given a directive" to let State of Origin 2 flow more - and it could be a huge advantage for Queensland. Game 1 copped a lot of flak for being a boring and dull affair, with journalist David Riccio declaring it the closest Origin game to NRL standard in a number of years. Klein was heavily involved in the early stages of Origin 1 in Brisbane, blowing a number of penalties that affected the flow of the game. Many agreed that the series opener lacked the usual atmosphere and hype of an Origin game, and there's fears the spectacle could be ruined again in Perth. And that's why Johns believes the NRL has ordered Klein to put the whistle away and let the second game of the series flow more. With the Perth Bears set to enter the competition in 2027 and the NRL desperate to win over the West Australian public, they can't afford a repeat of what we saw in Game 1. "This is a really important game for rugby league with the Perth Bears coming in, so we want this to be as good as rugby league can be," Johns said on the 'Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns' podcast on Monday. "I reckon the referee has been given a bit of a directive. Less penalties and let the game flow more." Johns, who played four State of Origin games for NSW, reckons it will play directly into Queensland's hands. The Maroons have been dominated in the middle for the last three Origin games, and the NSW forward pack was miles better in Game 1. But if the referee lets them get away with more in the ruck, it will help limit the Blues' attacking weapons. "It suits Queensland because they will multiply the pressure on the referee," he said. "They'll lie in the ruck, they'll stand a half a metre offside, they'll rush our playmakers." Johns' son Cooper said the Maroons players can "set the standard for the whole game" by flouting the rules from the get-go. And Matty added: "He's been told to blow less penalties. The bloke who's going to have the most pressure on him in this game is the referee. I've got no doubt he's been given a directive - and they won't admit to it - but it's a directive from the top." Speaking last week, leading journalist Riccio said the NRL will be desperate to avoid a repeat of Game 1. In days gone by, the referees would tend to put the whistle away in Origin games and officiate very differently to NRL level. But with more scrutiny than ever before - especially around foul play - that has changed. But Riccio and Johns both believe we could see a throwback to yesteryear with the way Origin 2 is officiated. "The NRL need to be careful with State of Origin, because what we saw in Origin 1 was the closest thing we've seen to an NRL game," Riccio said on SEN radio. "The media build-up and promotion is critical to the hype and excitement before the game, but it's become so boring and so vanilla. "We can't allow Game 2 to unfold the way the first one did. This game has to be an absolute spectacle to win over the West Australian public." RELATED: NRL fans react after Broncos sign forward from Melbourne Storm Fresh calls for NRL competition to be suspended as Panthers dudded Johns added: "If this is a dour and low-key game it will really be alarming. Queensland will come out blazing and they're going to have to let a little bit of stuff go (the referees). Unless it's something obvious, just let the players decide it."
