I agree that of the Ch9 league commentators, Sterling is the best by several miles, but Rabs has his very good points. He is not a commentator, he is a caller. His job is to describe the action to people who mostly know very little about the few intricacies of league. Heis also a very good promoter of the game. His calls of league are all done as if the game in progress is one of the most exciting and meaningfull of the season. Mostly the games he calls are both meaningless and drab, drabness being the essence of 75% of league games. The other 25% are very exciting. Listening to Rabs calls you can't tell the difference.
I would be very surprised if he were to do the Rugby calls, but if he did he would do a very good job, and he would promote the game to the very best of his considerable ability. Unlike Dan Crowley, he wouldnt criticise the standard of games or players unnecessarily and unceasingly. This may be a little dishonest, butit is the way games are promoted. The reason bogans think that league is the worlds best game, played by supermen is because they are repeatedly told so and therefore they watch it slavishly. Ch 9s coverage of swimming is a case in point to demonstrate their ability nto promote as they cover a sport.
Whoever 9 get to cover the Rugby willbe expected to very supportive of the code. I doubt that Crowley will be a part of their coverage.