Latest news with #Paul'Fatty'Vautin
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why commentary legend Fatty Vautin won't return to the microphone
For the first time in three decades, Paul 'Fatty' Vautin watched State of Origin from the comfort of his couch, casting aside an illustrious tenure as one of rugby league's most endearing media personalities. But when asked if he would miss the aura, the feeling of calling one of sport's greatest spectacles, he revealed his final season on the microphone told him he would not. Why? Because the former Queensland Maroons coach was unsure at times what he was analysing. 'After 33 years, I thought last year was the perfect time to finish up. I didn't want to turn into the crusty old bloke on the panel who's always talking about how it was better in the '80s – and it was better in the '80s,' Vautin said. 'But at the moment, with the way the rules are going, everyone is confused. One week they're targeting head-highs, the next week they're targeting play the balls, the following week it's something else. Loading 'I really feel for the referees, I feel they're a bit confused. They're just doing their best.' Officiating is far from blame for the Queensland Maroons' loss in game one of the 2025 series. Their ill-discipline at times plagued them, some cheap penalties from Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Pat Carrigan and Harry Grant carting the Blues down field too frequently. NSW didn't need much help in that area, running for 124 more post-contact metres and 30 more tackle busts than their rivals courtesy of a dominant forward pack, while wingers Brian To'o and Zac Lomax passed 200 metres each to get their sets flowing.
The Age
a day ago
- Sport
- The Age
Why commentary legend Fatty Vautin won't return to the microphone
For the first time in three decades, Paul 'Fatty' Vautin watched State of Origin from the comfort of his couch, casting aside an illustrious tenure as one of rugby league's most endearing media personalities. But when asked if he would miss the aura, the feeling of calling one of sport's greatest spectacles, he revealed his final season on the microphone told him he would not. Why? Because the former Queensland Maroons coach was unsure at times what he was analysing. 'After 33 years, I thought last year was the perfect time to finish up. I didn't want to turn into the crusty old bloke on the panel who's always talking about how it was better in the '80s – and it was better in the '80s,' Vautin said. 'But at the moment, with the way the rules are going, everyone is confused. One week they're targeting head-highs, the next week they're targeting play the balls, the following week it's something else. Loading 'I really feel for the referees, I feel they're a bit confused. They're just doing their best.' Officiating is far from blame for the Queensland Maroons' loss in game one of the 2025 series. Their ill-discipline at times plagued them, some cheap penalties from Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Pat Carrigan and Harry Grant carting the Blues down field too frequently. NSW didn't need much help in that area, running for 124 more post-contact metres and 30 more tackle busts than their rivals courtesy of a dominant forward pack, while wingers Brian To'o and Zac Lomax passed 200 metres each to get their sets flowing.
