Radio station 2GB will significantly reduce the airtime of its Continuous Call Team (CCT) rugby league coverage next season, marking a major shift in its National Rugby League (NRL) broadcast approach after nearly four decades. The changes will see a drastic cutback in pre-game discussions and banter that have historically been a hallmark of the program.

Launched by Ray Hadley in 1987, the CCT has been a longstanding fixture on 2GB and Brisbane’s 4BC, traditionally airing on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 1 p.m. However, from next season, the Saturday broadcast will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., providing only a brief 30-minute pre-game segment before the first 5:30 p.m. game. The evening will also include the 7:35 p.m. match commentary, effectively limiting the show to live game calls. Sunday’s program will begin at 4 p.m., just five minutes before the scheduled 4:05 p.m. kickoff. This revision leaves little room for the extensive banter and camaraderie that had defined the program during the era of commentators such as Darryl Brohman, Bob Fulton, Peter Frilingos, Ray Price, Steve Roach, and John Gibbs.

While the Friday night show from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. is expected to continue as normal, closely tied with the Friday Night Footy telecast starting at 7:45 p.m., the sweeping changes to the weekend schedule suggest a strategic pivot.

2GB, owned by the Laundy family’s Tapt Media, is repositioning the CCT as part of a broader digital transformation aimed at engaging audiences through new platforms. The station plans to introduce a “Live Watch Along” product on YouTube, where commentators including Mark Geyer, Mark Riddell, and Josh Morris will provide real-time reactions, commentary, and banter alongside live matches. This format is designed to reflect contemporary audience habits, allowing fans to engage with the game and commentators across multiple digital touchpoints.

The recent media statement from 2GB did not mention longtime team members such as Darryl Brohman or Neil Breen and also omitted anchor Mark Levy, who is reportedly set to call at least one game each weekend. Industry insiders speculate that these moves, combined with the significant reduction in CCT broadcast hours, signal concerns about declining ratings and cost pressures. The NRL radio rights, which 2GB currently holds, are due for renewal after the 2027 season, fueling questions about the station’s future involvement in live game broadcasts.

“This would seem a reaction to falling ratings over the past two years and cost-cutting,” one insider observed, noting that the CCT maintained strong ratings dominance for more than three decades—even during periods when 2GB did not hold broadcast rights.

In a related development at Tapt Media, 2SM abruptly canceled its long-running sports talk show Talkin’ Sport after 24 years on air. Hosts including Graeme Hughes and his co-presenters were informed of the cancellation shortly before a scheduled broadcast, with no opportunity given for a formal farewell. The rotating panel had featured Brett Papworth, Gavin Robertson, Eric Grothe, and Mark Carroll. Station management is reportedly framing the decision as part of broader cost-cutting measures.