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.

[quote="Bullseye"]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".

Don’t forget “they’ll be celebrating in John Joyners chip shop tonight”

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'?