I don't mind the ex players doing the preamble or half time chat.
It's the in game commentating that annoys me. They just chat nonsense, sound incredibly dull and have no charisma or enthusiasm.

The most amazing play could happen and the comment would be " how's that then? " .

Robbie Paul can do one. Brain and mouth seem to be disconnected. Talks ten to the dozen and adds nothing to anyone's understanding.

Jonathan Davies probably past it now but he's a recognisable figure for non RL fans in the audience. Those people are a bit thin on the ground - what's Kevin Sinfield up to?

Agree with you. Jonathan Davies is the only member of the entire commentary team who has any credibility/cut through with a national audience. He was also a genuinely world class performer (the try he scored against the Aussies at Wembley in 94 is right up there with best I've ever seen) in league and union. He might have had his best days pre Superleague, but he's genuinely been there and done it. Got to be careful what you wish for. JJB might be lurking in the wings. On a different theme I was pleased to read that an Ashes series looks likely to be played in England in 25. It's been far, far too long.

I don't mind Noble - but Davies is outdated and way out of sync with the modern game

Noble just reads from his book of clichés whether they fit the situation or not, he's like a broken record 'for our viewers at home, its called a test match because it tests every facet (loves that word) of the game',

Think all commentators and pundits outstay their welcome at some point (apart from true greats like Richie Benaud). You can tell when someone produces a Bingo sheet of their sayings. Stevo was a classic case.

People used to moan like mad about Eddie Waring and Ray French being out of touch and a bit "northern music hall" but the players who those blokes commentated on held them in great respect. We have moved on a long way from the days of the "up and under" and "the 6ft 4, sixteen stone, former Blackbrook AMATEUR player".

It's a difficult job as you need to inform, educate and entertain. Catering for a terrestrial free to air TV audience with massively varying levels of understanding is a challenge too. Too much jargon and technical talk will turn off the average sports fan and too many cliches will annoy Seth and anyone else that wants a bit of insight. It's a balancing act.

I'm sure the Bradford players will be full of 'vigor' after a preseason with Noble.

The "big boppers" will be ready.

The informed viewer can pick holes galore in a lot of the commentary. They certainly can with Davies; I can't abide his nasal ramblings. But for the casual viewer, who these games need to attract, they don't generally know their butt from a wing forward. So if Davies says something it must be accurate as he was a great player, albeit his contribution was massively overstated. I get it on other sports from friends and family who have little idea of the sport. They just repeat what they have heard in commentary or read it in the gutter press. So we do need informed, educated and well-known figures to present and keep other media interested.

Some Davies bingo:

"hee shot out of the line there!" "Where's the dummeee runnner?" "Very pooooor defence".

Ray French:

"I did my pre season training on Blackpool beach!" "boots like carpet slipppers these days". "has he got the legs to go all the way?" fnarr

My favourite Frenchism was "and he's thur", which he used to describe routine barge overs and length of the field cup winning efforts alike. All said and done, I can't say today's replay obsessed controversy monkeys have taken RL commentary forward.

And the classic "I played with his Dad".

The comment about Paul Anderson being left in the 'growing bag' as a youngster stuck with me.

And was it French who liked a good 'raw-boned front row forward'?

University of Leeds alumnus as well

Tempted to mute the game and watch in blissful silence

Nsemba is looking good early on

If the tackle on Bateman warrants 10 mins, it was a forceful shot to the head according to Kendall, then player saftey would demand Bateman needs an HIA, surely?

Sounds more like ref fed up of repeat hits to the head on the border of being a penalty and his warning was ignored.

Deffo the softest of the high hits so far

As for HiA do international have different rules ?

Don't know, but surely protocols should be universal given the rationale around player safety. The risks don't change depending on whether the game is domestic or international. So, this being RL, they probably are different, yes.

Welsby's defence in this game

Clark non too impressed with it either it seems.

Farnworth, though... When was the last time England had the best centre in world? The best since prime Senior.

We've had a few good ones (Senior, Connolly, Newlove, Schofield) since I've been watching the game, but I don't think any of them could truly claim to be the best in the world. Farnworth has that acknowledged from his peers in the NRL. You'd have to say that makes him probably the best British centre since the days of Neil Fox.