LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In a sport where every second player was once named Ray, the changing demographics of Australian rugby league have presented a challenge when it comes to pronouncing the names of Māori and Pasifika players.
Commentators have long struggled with these names, much to the amusement of Kiwi spectators.
However, one sports writer, Stephen Gallagher, has taken it upon himself to fill this linguistic void.
He has created a comprehensive pronunciation guide, including audio and phonetic pronunciations for all 510 players in the NRL's top-30 squads.
While Gallagher admits the guide may not be perfect, it is a significant improvement compared to the often mangled pronunciations heard on game days.
With nearly 50% of athletes in the NRL and NRLW having Māori and Pasifika heritage, it is crucial for the code to keep up with the changing demographics of its player base.
As Gallagher puts it, "You sit on the couch and think you could do a better job than them, but when the game's going 100 miles an hour, it can be difficult to get people's names in there at high pace."