NRL 360 new co-host Yvonne Sampson to take over after Ben Ikin’s exit
Ben Ikin’s shock departure from NRL 360 has opened up the door for one of Australia’s most talented hosts to join Paul Kent on the popular sports show.
Yvonne Sampson has promised there will not be any sort of NRL-type crackdown on heated exchanges when she steps up as the new co-host of NRL 360.
Instead, Sampson will encourage the animated conversations which have become a trademark of the thee-time a week rugby league panel show.
Sampson will officially replace inaugural host Ben Ikin to partner Paul Kent on the desk from Monday night. The face of Fox League is ready to enter the lion’s den when the likes of Kent, Phil Rothfield, Lara Pitt, Paul Crawley, Ray Hadley, James Hooper, Benji Marshall and James Graham go head to head while discussing the news of the day.
Sampson joined Fox League in 2017 to head-up its match day coverage.
“You’ve got to let them go at it,” said Sampson, who has filled in for Ikin previously. “I’m not afraid of the conflict, I’m comfortable with it. I feel like it’s my job to make sure we stay on topic and we have a discussion where people are hearing differences of opinions. If you’re hearing something which resonates with you then I’ve done my job.
“It can get heated. I want it to get heated but I’m not going to be the one involved in a slanging match. Ben Ikin is one of the most incredible minds in rugby league. We lose so much. I’ll do my best to keep up with the pace of the show and how robust it can get.
“It’s an incredible opportunity and I have loved the show since it started. We are going to keep that hard-edge the show is known for.”
Ikin quit the post he held for the past decade last week to become Brisbane Broncos’ head of football.
Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley discovered Sampson when she was working in regional television, bringing her to Channel 9 in Brisbane. She then moved to work at Channel 9 in Sydney before following Crawley to Fox Sports.
Crawley said Sampson was a natural choice.
“Ben is very hard to replace,” Crawley said. “He is recognised as a voice of reason, youngest ever Origin player, played for Australia and you’d have to walk a long way to find someone that doesn’t like Ben Ikin and Vonnie is the same. I watch people’s reactions to Vonnie and she is one of the very few prominent television people who isn’t criticised. I’m sure there has been some critical comment here and there – that’s life. She is very well accepted and that’s because of the way she presents herself on television. There is no tokenism. She is as authentic as there is. She’s earnt a place in the top bracket of Australian sportscasters.
“This is a big gig NRL 360 – it’s the show for rugby league people. I’m not talking about just pay television but free to air and radio. There is no better rugby league show for the purists and people who live and know the game than NRL 360.”
Her chemistry with Kent will come naturally. The duo – who live in neighbouring suburbs – celebrated Sampson’s appointment and undertook a planning session over lunch in the inner-West on Friday.
Kent said the pair already have a close bond.
“It might surprise a few people but we are actually very good friends, get on great and socialise together,” Kent said. “The chemistry is there before we even start. I can’t wait to work with her, she’s the best in the business and understands the show.
“Buzz (Rothfield) sent in his audition tape, it was a close call but Vonnie got the nod in a photo finish.”
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