Quote: Ganson's Optician "Scored a World Cup winning try, led Dewsbury to a Championship win, led the way for Brits to play down under with a record breaking transfer, introduced the concept of set plays to Australia, converted a train into a museum and took it all round Australia, helped countless amateur clubs and charities, opened a museum in the George Hotel out of his own pocket all just off the top of my head. Is that enough for you?'"
No, not really, because not much of that is anything to do with forwarding the game at all.
Stevo's try was superbly set up by Sullivan & Lockwood, it secured the draw which we needed, it has however no bearing on the game nor has improved it through that try, nor has leading Dewsbury to a championship win, nor has his alledged bringing set plays to Australia.
The Heritage centre/Museum managed to get into financial difficulties for various reasons, I applaud his efforts but hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things, certainly not a big enough deal that fans went flocking to it but whatever a good effort.
Countless amatuer clubs & charities, rugby charities? I wouldn't know about him personally dipping into his pocket but I've given money to various rugby clubs (pro & amatuer) & rugby charities plus given plenty of hours as a volunteer & dipping into my own pocket to help my own club so does that mean I've contributed to the game in a notable way, no, not really because many hundreds/thousands do the same week in, week out.
I respect that he played the game at the highest level, I respect the fact he is enthusiastic about the sport but in reality he has done nothing to forward the sport of any note, in fact after watching his inadequate/embaressing 'discussion' with Stuart Barnes on the League V Union switching, it was cringeworthy at best and made him look like a buffoon at worst.
His 'commentary' is more like inane musings, it's a total put off for pretty much everyone but we have little choice other than to switch to a local radio station or mute it which is a double edged sword.
There is no real 'commentary' in the real sense though Hemmings is just about okay though never really did a commentating apprentice in the true fashion and was really just a sports reporter for Radio Merseyside.
I'd rather have someone from one of the regional stations whom actually can describe the game properly with a modern 'Stevo' summerising in between a la Brian Noble.