Wide World of Sports’ James Bracey to be temporary NRL Footy Show host

Nine has announced The NRL Footy Show will hit the road when regular host Erin Molan goes on maternity leave in mid-May.

Wide World of Sports host James Bracey will host the show from the ground after Thursday Night Football, while Parramatta legend Peter Sterling will fill in as host of the Sunday Footy Show.

Both changes will be in place from mid-May until Molan returns from maternity leave later in the year.

Molan says she’s excited about the next few weeks as she prepares to become a mum, “Sean and I are so excited to meet our baby. We can’t wait!

“We just hope Bub is polite enough to come before or at least in between State of Origin matches!”

Bracey, who anchors the Wide World of Sports coverage of the NRL as well as Sports Sunday and 100% Footy, will take over The Footy Show on Thursday nights.

“Erin does such a fantastic job in her role as host, and I hope I can be a good bench player until she’s ready to return,” Bracey said.

Bracey said it was an honour to be selected to host the long-running program.

“The Footy Show has a rich history of success over its quarter of a century on the air.

“Erin does such a fantastic job in her role as host, and I hope I can add something off the bench until she’s fit and ready to return.”