ADAM Hills is ready to unleash a secret on the UK – rugby league.
The comedian will front Channel 4’s coverage after Super League’s first ever free-to-air deal was agreed.
And even though he admits he is not an expert, the Australian – who plays for Warrington’s Physical Disability team – is prepared to show the country what he has loved for years.
Hills said: “When I first came to England and London, there wasn’t much chat about rugby league but the first director of The Last Leg after the Paralympics was from St Helens.
“When I mentioned rugby league, his face lit up and he said, ‘It’s the best game in the world.’
“That’s what I want to convey, the feeling that, ‘We’ve known about this secret for years. Now we’re letting other people into it.’”
South Sydney nut Hills will be joined by commentator Mark Wilson and touchline reporter Helen Skelton – who is married to Leeds’ Richie Myler – for Channel 4’s broadcasts, which start with Leeds v Warrington on Saturday.
And opening up the sport to people who do not know the 13-a-side code is the aim, much as it was with NFL in the 1980s and Italian football in the 1990s.
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It will also show the impact the clubs have on their communities, with them so close to the action, apologies may come.
Hills added: “We had a discussion about, ‘What if the fans start chanting really offensive songs because we can’t block it out, that’s how close we’re going to be.
“One of the suggestions was, ‘Should we make an announcement to the crowd before the game to the fans?’ That’s going to make sure they do it!
“It’s going to be me looking down the barrel of a lens saying, ‘I’m really sorry for what they’re singing,’ but that’s what rugby league’s about – we’re all in the same club.
“Rugby league isn’t just a sport, it’s a club that benefits and feeds off its communities. Hopefully that’s the way we’ll present – come on in, we’re inviting you into the club.
“I want to convey the joy I get from watching rugby league – and we’re thinking of doing a thing where we get celebrities who‘ve never experienced rugby league before to experience it.
“We also want closet rugby league fans to come out of that closet.”
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