EXCLUSIVE: Beloved Sports Presenter Matt White Makes Shocking Comeback to Channel 7 After Five-Year Hiatus – And He’s ‘Ready to Rumble’!
- Respected host Matt White, 55, is returning to Channel 7 in 2026 after a five-year break from TV
- The sports presenter will fill in for Mel McLaughlin on January 18 and lead the network’s rugby league coverage
- White’s comeback comes as Channel 7 is tipped to bid for the next NRL TV rights deal, set to kick in in 2028
- The presenter has been running a farm with his wife on NSW’s mid north coast, but is eager to get back to live TV
Matt White is making a sensational comeback to Channel 7, returning to the airwaves in 2026 after a five-year hiatus. The respected sports presenter, 55, will fill in for Mel McLaughlin on January 18 and take the reins of the network’s rugby league coverage, including the Rugby League World Cup later in the year.
‘I’m pumped, ready to rumble, it is time to come back,’ White told the Daily Telegraph, clearly thrilled to be returning to his roots. ‘The chance to do what I love, which is live TV again, is something that I don’t take for granted.’
White’s return to Channel 7 comes amid reports the network is pushing to make a bid for the next NRL TV rights deal, which will kick in when the current deal expires at the end of 2027. The presenter’s comeback is a major coup for the network, which is also tipped to be involved in the next NRL deal, alongside Fox Sports, Channel 9, and a streaming service.
But White’s journey back to TV hasn’t been without its challenges. After finishing up at Channel 10 in 2020, he took a break from television and worked in radio at SEN mornings. ‘It has been a rollercoaster … both exhilarating and scary,’ he said of his time working in radio. ‘It is never boring and I guess as somebody who likes to challenge themselves, that’s exactly what I have done.’
White’s departure from SEN came amid a raft of changes announced by the radio station late last year. SEN boss Craig Hutchison paid tribute to White’s ‘outstanding contribution’ to the station, saying his ‘professionalism and passion have helped shape SEN Sydney into what it is today.’
Now, White is set to bring his expertise and enthusiasm back to Channel 7, and fans couldn’t be more thrilled. ‘To be honest, sometimes it is not a bad thing being a little bit off Broadway in our game,’ he said, hinting at his excitement to be back in the spotlight.