Issac Luke calls out commentators for incorrectly pronouncing 'Māori' during All Stars broadcast

Former New Zealand and Māori representative Issac Luke said he felt compelled to watch last Saturday's All Stars match «on mute» after Fox Sports commentator Greg Alexander repeatedly mispronounced 'Māori'. 

Luke was among many people to call out Fox Sports and Channel Nine's commentary boxes, along with the ground announcer, on social media for incorrectly addressing the men's and women's Māori players.

Although it was not all personnel in the commentary, with Andrew Voss and Billy Slater saying Māori correctly, the Rabbitohs premiership winner said it was noticeable enough to make him and his family «furious» while watching the match.

«It was pretty disturbing,» Luke said.

«I almost watched it on mute.

»Me, my mum and brother, and I'm sure many other people were too, getting more and more furious as the game went on.

«I think what also hurt was the fact that Brandy (Greg Alexander) played a couple of seasons with the Auckland Warriors. He would've been around people pronouncing it correctly.

»There needs to be more respect shown, especially towards that game.

«I get they [sport commentators and on-air personalities] may stumble over players' names sometimes and they won't always be able to get it right, but especially with the word Māori, there didn't seem to be any effort there from certain people.»

Alexander, who ran out for the Auckland Warriors from 1995-96, was remorseful after hearing of his wrongdoing and said during his time playing and since transitioning into sports commentary, he has never been corrected or told his pronunciation of Māori was disrespectful. 

«I'm sorry that Issac and others feel hurt from how I was pronouncing the name,» Alexander said.

«At no time would I purposely disrespect either culture, but I