Fatty Vautin Bows Out: A Legend’s Honest Goodbye to NRL Commentary
Alright, let’s talk about something that's been making waves in the rugby league world—Paul “Fatty” Vautin, the iconic Queenslander, the footy funnyman, and a long-time staple of Channel 9’s NRL coverage, has officially said goodbye to the commentary box. And not just with a simple sign-off—he’s opened up about why he doesn’t miss it at all.
For the first time in more than 30 years, Fatty watched the State of Origin from his lounge room, not from behind a microphone. No makeup chair, no commentary booth—just the couch and the TV. And honestly? He says it felt right. According to him, the game has changed so much, he barely recognises what he’s analysing anymore.
Now, let’s be real—Fatty is no stranger to speaking his mind, and he didn’t hold back here either. One of his biggest frustrations? The rules. One week it’s all about high tackles, the next it’s play-the-ball infringements, and then suddenly everyone’s debating offside calls again. He’s not alone—players, fans, even the referees seem confused.
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And don’t get him started on the six-again rule. He reckons it’s one of the most irritating things in today’s game because no one actually knows what the infringements are for. Even on the broadcast, it just pops up saying “ruck infringement”—but what does that even mean when there are hundreds of possible infractions? That ambiguity, he says, has become a blight on the game.
But Vautin’s not all doom and gloom. He acknowledges how far the game has come—physically, commercially, and athletically. Players today are bigger, faster, stronger, and the league is thriving financially. He even gave props to Peter V’landys for steering the NRL into a successful modern era. But still, it’s the rule inconsistencies and the dreaded Bunker decisions that drove him mad.
He’s also weighed in on the crackdown on high shots, saying while protection is important, the game itself is a brutal, high-contact sport. As someone who played for 14 years and took his fair share of knocks to the head—some accidental, some not—he thinks the current approach sometimes lacks common sense. He’s particularly frustrated when accidental head knocks are treated like foul play, and suspects some players are milking penalties because they know they’ll get rewarded for staying down. And you know what? He reckons some coaches are encouraging it—and maybe rightly so under the current system.
At the end of the day, Fatty’s stepping away not because he stopped loving the game. Far from it. He’s immensely proud of his journey—from a tough-as-nails player to a media figure who shaped how millions of Australians enjoyed their footy. But he didn’t want to become the cranky old bloke on the panel going on about “how it was better in the ’80s”—even if, in his opinion, it was better in the ’80s.
And that’s Fatty for you—honest, passionate, and completely authentic. He’s left behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten, and while he might be off the air, he’ll always be part of rugby league’s heart and soul.
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