Footy commentator Yvonne Sampson has revealed she ‘loved’ a very forward comment former prime minister Bob Hawke directed at her following the death of Aussie cricket icon Richie Benaud in 2015.
In a wide-ranging podcast chat with Hello Sport co-hosts Tom Birmingham and Eddy Simpson, the Fox League presenter recalled meeting Hawke as Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports compiled a tribute piece to Benaud.
‘I met him [Hawke] in his office and he asked me, “What do you do with yourself?”‘ Sampson said.
‘I replied, “I’m a sports reporter, Mr Hawke”.
‘One of our producers said, “She’s got a big future, Mr Hawke.”‘
The PM’s instant response summed up his larrikin nature, with Hawke cheekily stating: ‘I don’t know what is in front of you, but you have a great behind.’
Footy commentator Yvonne Sampson has revealed an old-school comment former Prime Minister Bob Hawke directed at her in 2015
The Fox League presenter (pictured with husband Chris O’Keefe) recalled meeting the ex-PM as Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports compiled a tribute piece to Richie Benaud
After meeting Sampson, Hawke told her, ‘I don’t know what is in front of you, but you have a great behind’
Sampson, who started her media career on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with the Seven Network before eventually moving to Sydney in 2014 to link up with Nine, wasn’t offended.
She found Hawke’s old-school quip hilarious, declaring she ‘loved it’ and the compliment ‘put a bit of lead in my pencil’.
Sampson, a mother of two, went on to discuss her move from Channel Nine to Fox Sports in 2016.
‘My contract was about to finish, so I agreed in principle to leave after chatting with (Fox Sports Managing Director) Steve Crawley,’ she said.
‘(At the time) Channel Nine threatened gardening leave, so I had to hire a manager (George Mimis) and he sorted everything out.
‘I was sad to leave Nine, but it was the right move, Fox has been amazing.’
Sampson has shown her versatility on-screen over the past decade, be it anchoring State of Origin coverage or sit-down interviews with footy personalities on Fox League’s popular Face to Face program.
She is also happy to help young women looking for an opportunity in sports journalism, be it organising work experience or acting as a mentor.
The long-term Broncos fan married fellow Australian media identity Chris O’Keefe in 2018.
