Moneyball - The Business of Sport
Jun 16, 2026 · 34 min · 9 segments
State of Origin is Australia's biggest television event. And there is huge pressure for the broadcast team, especially the play-by-play commentator. More than four million Australians tune in…
Scott KeenanHost
When you sit down to watch State of Origin, you see the players, you see the fans in the stands, and you see the big hits that become a big part of Origin and Rugby League folklore in this country.
But what you won't see are the hundreds of people who are working behind the scenes to bring it to you on the TV.
For most Rugby League fans, State of Origin isn't just a game, it is a mega event, and it is literally the biggest show on Australian TV each year.
So what does it actually take to put it on air? And how do you prepare to call the biggest game in the country? Let's find out as we go inside Channel Nine's State of Origin coverage.
Every year it dominates television ratings with over four million people watching each of the three matches.
It captures national attention, one of the few TV events that still does that, and it creates sporting moments that become part of our culture.
And while we spend plenty of time talking about what happens on the field and the players and the coaches, we rarely talk about the broadcast itself, the people who are responsible for turning this football game into a national event.
So I've got a really special guest today that's going to take us inside Channel Nine's State of Origin coverage.
He also calls swimming, the Olympics, and he has a front row seat to the biggest sporting events in the country, including State of Origin.
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