Gorden Tallis’ feud with the Brisbane Broncos has rumbled on as Fox Sports have named a theatre after the NRL icon.
Code Sports revealed Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley told Tallis the news on Wednesday as the broadcaster showcases its support for the pundit.
It comes following news last month that the Broncos had removed his name from an office meeting room and replaced it with NRLW legend Ali Brigginshaw.
It came after Tallis’ criticism of the Broncos and coach Michael Maguire.
But Fox chief Crawley was quick to deny their move was in any way a response to the Broncos’ decision.
He said: “This has nothing to do with the Brisbane Broncos.
“I’m a big fan of the Broncos. But we thought it was important to remind Gorden what we think of him here.
“He and Braith carry NRL360 for us. It’s the top-rating show on Kayo Sports every week and they do an amazing job.
“Gorden has a wife and kids in Brisbane, He comes down every week and works hard. It’s important for us to remind him of the esteem he is held in.”
Tallis, 52, who retired in 2004 after 160 games and three Grand Final victories with the Broncos, joins an illustrious list of sporting greats to have a room named after them at Fox Sports towers in Artamon.
Others to have been honoured include Mal Meninga, Clive Churchill, Allan Border and Mark Skaife.
In response to the Broncos’ decision to remove his name from their HQ, Tallis told Triple M: “You feel sorry for the people involved. Adam Reynolds, Ali Brigginshaw and the like, but it’s footy and we move on.
“It was a normal week when I get back home, I’m Dad and (son) Billy pulls me into line.
“That didn’t worry me one bit. I said it on Triple M, they’ll never take away the memories and the camaraderie I’ve got with the guys I played there with.
“The greatest accolade that our family ever got was the street name named after our father in North Queensland and the Hall of Fame, so that’s the highest honour. As long as they don’t take that away, we’re OK.”
