Fox Reporter James Hooper Sacked

[lsz]

A gentle reminder of the scuttle around him at the start of this season



Hooper missing in action in Vegas

The culture at Fox Sports is again in question after their chief rugby league reporter, James Hooper, failed to appear on any of their programs during the NRL’s season-opening weekend in Las Vegas.

Hooper made the trip to Vegas, but then became the invisible man as far as work was concerned. Hooper failed to appear on the programs he was scheduled to be on, including NRL 360, where he has a regular gig.

Hooper also did not file his regular column from Las Vegas.

I asked Hooper about his behaviour and how he ended up with a cut on his head. He did not offer an explanation and would not comment. This is a particular problem for Fox and its management because this is not the first time Hooper has struggled to meet his commitments in Vegas.

This column revealed that on a promotional trip with the NRL in December 2023 Hooper missed a flight and at least one other of his scheduled work appearances where a fellow News Corp journalist covered for him doing crosses for Fox Sports. On this occasion, his place on NRL 360 was taken by senior reporter Brent Read.

The fact Hooper had previously failed to meet his responsibilities in Vegas but was still sent on this most recent trip to the US brings the management of the company into question. It also comes after the public demise of Paul Kent, when it was clear he was struggling with issues in his personal life.

It has never been made clear what Fox Sports management did to ensure Kent was getting the necessary support away from the bright lights of the camera. Kent refused to discuss News Corp when interviewed in this column last week.

 

[Hertera]

Fox sports and particularly Steve Crawley need to be called out they swept Kent's issues under the carpet for years also this clown Hooper was known as a drunk who behaves like a tough guy and harasses others yet he wrote column after column judging players behaviour and appeared on 360 as a judge and executioner over players careers.

I hear the happiest people are other journos one in particular being Carayannis.

Time to drain the fox swamp now with new owners.

 

[Brookie1973]

Geez, the podcast circuit is starting to look very crowded.

 

[Jay Eagle]

Now just need to get rid of Rothtool

 

[Highflier]

I wonder if MMM will flick him as well
I think he is on Saturday and Sunday with Dobbo and Talis i think
To be doing that in this day and age at 47yo,,,, that is phkng dumb

 

[Frogz]

I wonder if MMM will flick him as well
I think he is on Saturday and Sunday with Dobbo and Talis i think
To be doing that in this day and age at 47yo,,,, that is phkng dumb

Gone from MMM also, I believe.

 

[Sheikheagle]

Now just need to get rid of Rothtool

Nah he has been hired as a comic and is quite funny 😆

 

[MadMarcus]

Now just need to get rid of Rothtool

He doesn’t drink does he?

 

[Hertera]

He doesn’t drink does he?

His own bath water

 

[wedgetail eagle]

Looks like they'll need to find another jurno for Wed nights on 360 now.
He always added his take on another jurno's breaking story.
Maybe Hoop's can meet up with Kenty for a couple of quiet ones somewhere...lol.

They could form a support group under the Rozelle tree of knowledge. 😉

 

[Eagle 1]

Now just need to get rid of Rothtool

Leave Buzz alone, he's old school and entertaining.

 

[47MVEagle]

I remember when Hooper & Kent bullied Anthony Maroon on his Sunday Triple M radio show to the point Maroon walked off mid-air & Kent was fired for it.

In the build up on that day’s show, Maroon was trying to keep things light but started threatening to throw each of Kent & Hooper under the bus if they didn’t back off.

He kept asking Hooper why he (Maroon) had to pick him up every Sunday morning to bring him into to Triple M for the show, very heavily implying that Hooper had lost his license for similar back then.

 

[wombatgc]

.253!
I’m surprised he even found his car, let alone start it.

 

[Uk eagle]

Wonder if he's still got that supercilious smirk on his face.

 

[Mals]

Good. I can't stand Hooper. Total piece of shxt.

Ease up. I’ve known James for 25 years and that’s not my experience.

Does he have a problem with alcohol - yes that is obvious and he’s hit rock bottom now.

Hopefully, this will be the reality check that he can’t touch alcohol ever again.

 

[Peter C]

He doesn’t drink does he?

Not as much as he USED to, or so he says, you only have to look at his red cheeks and nose to tell that he used to really hit it.

 

[madmax]

Now just need to get rid of Rothtool

Anasta!

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Ease up. I’ve known James for 25 years and that’s not my experience.

Does he have a problem with alcohol - yes that is obvious and he’s hit rock bottom now.

Hopefully, this will be the reality check that he can’t touch alcohol ever again.

Appreciate that info although I'd say he's lucky he has avoided hitting actual rock bottom - by getting caught. Rock bottom would be if he kept driving and killed someone.

 

[Mals]

Appreciate that info although I'd say he's lucky he has avoided hitting actual rock bottom - by getting caught. Rock bottom would be if he kept driving and killed someone.

True killing someone while DUI would be horrific but this act also has huge repercussions on his life going forward… The damage to his wife and kids (his wife is a respected journalist) and the fallout from the loss of his job, the car insurer won’t pay costs for all the vehicle damage, loss of his license etc etc.

 

[Chunkytuna]

True killing someone while DUI would be horrific but this act also has huge repercussions on his life going forward… The damage to his wife and kids (his wife is a respected journalist) and the fallout from the loss of his job, the car insurer won’t pay costs for all the vehicle damage, loss of his license etc etc.

Agree that it’s easy to pile on when something like this happens without thinking of the repercussions. Having said that, he has no one to blame other than himself. I feel particularly for his wife and kids - as you pointed out. Hopefully he gets the help he needs to get back on track.