- Paul Vautin announced his retirement from Channel 9
- He says he will never work another day in his life.
- Details the moment he wanted to leave the NRL
NRL funnyman Paul Vautin has revealed he will never work another day in his life after announcing his retirement and ending a 33-year television career on Channel 9.
Footy fans had hoped the Larrikin commentator would continue working in other media after his shock announcement, but the NRL icon has now ruled him out.
‘I will never work again. I’ve finished now. “I’m not looking for a job,” the Manly big man told SEN radio on Tuesday.
‘I don’t want to do anything. No radio, no podcasts. I don’t want to do anything. I’m happy.’
Vautin, who lives on the Gold Coast, says he feels very happy just spending time at home relaxing.
“I can spend a whole day alone and be happy with myself,” he said.
Football legend Paul Vautin says he will never work another day in his life
Vautin says he will not do radio, podcasts or any other type of media
‘Sometimes I read, go for a walk or mow the lawn. I’m very happy in my own company.’
Vautin was the face of popular sports talk show The Footy Show for the best part of 24 years before being unceremoniously fired in 2017 after ratings declined.
He revealed the exact moment he knew it was time to quit his job.
‘Something changed this year. I’d be driving in three hours of traffic on a Friday afternoon and I’d be like, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing?’ said.
“In the end I felt like I’d rather be at home watching football on a Friday night than working on it.
“I still love the game immensely, but I thought, ‘You know what I think I’m done with?'”
“There was one particular moment when the Brisbane Broncos were playing the Roosters on a Friday night at Suncorp and look, it was a pretty good game, I was commentating with Joey and we were having a good time.
“Then, 20 minutes into the second half, I was looking at the field and said, ‘Oh my God, I’m so bored.’
Vautin, who played 204 games for Manly and represented his state and country in rugby league, described his time on television as an absolute privilege.
“I drove home thinking wow, that had never happened before and I knew it was the beginning of the end.”
Vautin said SMH that it was a privilege to work with so many talented people throughout his career at Channel 9.
“I still love Nine and all the great people there, and I still love the game, it really gave me everything,” he said.
“I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been to play at the level I did.” I thought when I got to Sydney I would spend a few years in the reserve grade and then probably come home. Instead, I got to play with some of the game’s greats who I can now call friends.
‘And then to think that somehow I had a media career that lasted so long. “I am very grateful for all the people and my family who have helped me along the way.”