- The once-popular but controversial show was axed in 2018
Former footy star Beau Ryan has revealed he would be open to the NRL Footy Show making a return – but only for a few weeks per year.
The former Wests Tigers and Cronulla star made the revelation on his Triple M radio show with colleagues Aaron Woods and Cat Lynch.
Ryan was one of the faces of the popular TV show in its heyday.
The show, originally hosted by Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin, had been on the air for over two decades before he was let go at the end of 2017.
Ryan was a part of the original Footy Show, and also the revamped version hosted by Erin Molan, which ended up being dumped due to low ratings.
Now he has revealed he’d be keen to see the program reinstated – as long as it’s only broadcast during the NRL finals series.
Beau Ryan (pictured left with Triple M colleagues Cat Lynch and Aaron Woods) is keen on bringing back the NRL Footy Show
The former NRL turned TV star has been married to wife Cara (both pictured) since 2012
Ryan (pictured) was one of the faces of the Nine network before moving to Channel Ten
‘I feel like there’s a market for it (the return of the show),’ Ryan said on Triple M.
‘But the thing about the market for it, is you gotta leave them (fans) wanting more.’
The former NRL player was most famous for his ‘Beau Knows’ segment that became one of the most popular parts of the show.
‘I reckon a finals series [with one show per week]. Four weeks of it until the grand finale,’ he added.
‘I think a network is crazy not to have a crack at it.’
The Footy Show was very polarising, with many loving it for its very laid back and casual nature.
Others had issues with program’s use of sexual and politically incorrect jokes.
The Footy Show was axed in 2018 after a season of poor ratings.
Ryan (pictured right with former colleagues Erin Molan, Paul Vautin and Darryl Brohman) played for the Wests Tigers and Cronulla Sharks
Ryan (pictured with former teammate and current Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall) became a fan favourite thanks in no small part to his time on the Footy Show
Former panel members have come under fire recently after it was revealed very few are keeping in contact with Mario Fenech following his sad dementia diagnosis.
The Footy Show first aired in 1994.
It became a hit program in the Thursday night timeslot and featured greats of the game such as Peter Sterling, Steve Roach and Matthew Johns.
However, it also came in for its fair share of controversy over skits like former cricket star Greg Ritchie’s turn as fictional Indian identity Mahatma Cote, which was considered racially and culturally insensitive.
