Whole attitude of Eddie is wrong - always seeking to 'talk up' everything. Shouldn't criticize enthusiasm, right? Well, no, because it becomes tedious and desperate-sounding. Stop banging on about the 'greatest game' and all that. That's for other people to decide. Someone banging on about it doesn't change anyone's opinion - at the very best, all you're doing is preaching to the converted. If I switched on (say) an Ice Hockey game I'd be far more interested in commentary that explained what was going on (and NOT in a patronizing "for those of you new to game" manner, just straightforward commentary aimed at regular fans - if I liked the spectacle it wouldn't bother me that I might need a few months to understand the nuances of what the EXPERT commentators were going on about). What WOULD really turn me off would be a commentator making a ton of unfunny in-jokes interspersed with banging on about how amazing the thing was that I was watching.

They are too comfortable and as a result, there's too much Partridge-esque banter; it's positively cringeworthy. O'Connor is a likeable chap, but adds no value, Eddie still doesn't know what he's talking about after god knows how many years as the face of the game, and Clarke has adopted a pseudo-intellectual persona that doesn't suit him at all - particularly when it slips due to his obvious Wigan bias. Cummins is there, apparently, to justify all the errors that the referee makes or, in rare cases when the evidence is overwhelming, to admit that it was an incorrect decision. And while all this weird interpersonal stuff is going on, the game unfolds, often without being called.

Carney and Wells should form the basis of an entirely new team - and please don't wheel out the usual suspects to supplement them; bring in some younger, articulate players to comment on the game with some basis in the reality of its modern form; we've heard enough of John Kear's anecdotes or how many times Barry Mac got sent to Red Hall, to last us a lifetime.

Last night's pathetic effort should be enough to let Sky Sports know that it's run its course - it was amateur and embarrassing; and I don't mean the Saints performance.

It's funny how Cummins never spoke to anyone when he was in charge of referees now he is trying to justify them all the time when the commentary should be about the match, now it would be good if Mr Ganson "Head of Referees" , that statement itself is joke and part of the reasons why we are having these discussions, would come public and explain why the 2 St George players were not sinbinned at least, but no the silence is deafening.

Thats an insult to Mr Partridge

Keep Carney & Wells & bin the rest, Start looking around other sports for a good comantator. Who says you have to be an expert in the sport? Eddie cetainly has got away with it for years. We could always look to some of the local radio stations Craig Murdoch on Humberside might work but at least try somthing as a lot of us are getting fed up with the same old formular.

i actually like cummings, he is there primarily to explain or give his version on calls that might not seem to be straightforward, the problem is, Eddie, in particular, asks him about everything he thinks is slightly contentious.
if he is just asked to clarify, from an officials POV why a particular penalty was given when it's not clear cut then it's fine, he usually gives a straight honest answer, but they try and involve him in debates and arguments which you feel he is uncomfortable with, i find it interesting sometimes when he explains certain rulings and decisions but without all the hysterics going on.

as for the rest, i agree about "tez" as passionate as he is he is mundane and rather cliched, "baz" on the other hand is quite insightful sometimes without overdoing it ala cullen, he also throws the odd witty remark in, but terry and barry together is like listening to 2 mates having banter in a pub.
Wells and Carney are superb and they should be the faces and voices of RL on SKY

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Yes spot on!!
They never stop and think how flippin patronising it sounds,flogging the worn out slogan. This is the whole thrust of this thread like we are all dense and have to be taught rote fashion, and just in case we didn't get it the first time rugby league "the greatest game".By the way it's Rugby Crowe' Sky and Eddie sold leagues birthright to Russel who flew in specially in his copter just for us.Remember Richard Branson fleeting love affair with league makes me cringe,personally I couldn't give a chuff about maximus Rugby league is not judged by its 'a'list celebs or the sky psychophants who turned it into the crowe club championship,it's judged by its 'a'game.God I cringe at the obsequious antics of sky.

Yes, I totally agree abut Carney and Wells and I have a gut feeling they will be surreptitiously moved upstairs step by step in a painless coup d'etat send Eddie and Stevo into the fields of elysium.
There is something about sport commentators especially league that has to have this ubiquitous parochial bl00dy need to quip,be jocular,aka Barry macs red hall revised and as you said about kear but the rest do it as well anecdote -a-thon.
It is infuriating and annoying while data,Eddie and whoever have a tedious in laugh ignorant of the thousands of sky viewers.

Despite what everyone's says, Russel Crowe is one of the biggest film stars off all time, and the fact he loves our game and shouts about it is a good thing, and the fact he snubbed the oscars for RL.

Surprised Eddie never mentioned it.

And as an result, nine million listeners on Radio 2 heard Chris Evans talk about the game this morning. That's the first time I have ever heard RL mentioned on the radio unprompted or outside of the sports bulletin.

I like the Sky team and know a lot of others who do. But there's no point me expanding on that as I'll only be shouted down by those who can't see past their own preferences.