Axed NRL Footy Show veteran Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin predicted co-star Erin Molan’s rise to fame, previously hinting she could one day take his job.
Ironically, Mr Vautin joked in an 2015 interview that the bubbly blonde was a ‘real talent’ and that he would have to watch his back.
It came as the Nine Network called it quits on their long-running rugby league show, with Ms Molan set to receive her own one-hour program.
Axed NRL Footy Show veteran Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin (left) predicted co-star Erin Molan’s (right) rise to fame, previously hinting she could one day take his job
‘I have noticed in the last three years she (Erin) has moved from being part-time, to being right down the end of the panel… So I think the writing is on the wall for me,’ he told News.com.au two years ago.
The 58-year-old heaped praise on Ms Molan in the interview, stating she was a ‘real fan’ of the sport and could hold her own among her fellow panellists.
‘She has worked hard to get where she is and she deserves to be there,’ Mr Vautin said.
Ms Molan first joined the NRL Footy show in 2012, before becoming a full-time host alongside Beau Ryan in 2015.
Renowned as one of Australian TV’s longest serving hosts, Paul Vautin, began his run on the show in 1994 with Peter Sterling.
The popular sports show had won a record 11 Logie Awards for Best Sports Program, but had been suffering dwindling ratings after an average of just 80,000 people switched on this year.
Ironically, Mr Vautin joked in an 2015 interview with News Limited that the bubbly blonde was a ‘real talent’ and that ‘the writing is on the wall for me’
It comes as reports emerged Monday that the Nine Network had called it quits on their long-running rugby league show, with Ms Molan (second from left) set to receive her own one-hour program
The cancellation comes in the wake of Lisa Wilkinson’s departure from the Today show Monday, after hosting the popular morning show for 10 years.
She had reportedly been seeking to be paid a salary on par with co-host karl Stefanovic, with contract negotiations with Channel Nine falling through.
Meanwhile, a new lineup of NRL shows is said to be taking the Footy Show’s place and will directly oppose Fox Sports’ Sunday-Monday-Thursday schedule, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Nine will be showing 23 live Thursday night games from next season, which reportedly helped executives make the decision to cut the Footy Show.
The costs of producing a live sporting event, as well as a two hour sports variety program on the same night, was reportedly the driving force behind the decision.
Mr Vautin’s contract runs out at the end of next year and he is expected to feature more prominently in the commentators’ box during the 2018 season.
Mr Vautin (right) had previously heaped praise on Ms Molan (left), stating she was a ‘real fan’ of the sport and could hold her own among her fellow panellists
The NRL Footy Show has won a record 11 Logie Awards for Best Sports Program, but had been suffering dwindling ratings after an average of just 80,000 people switched on this year (pictured L-R are hosts Darryl Brohman, Beau Ryan, Erin Molan and Paul Vautin)