Legendary rugby league commentator Ray Warren has called time on a spectacular career calling games.
The 78-year-old announced the news a week before the first State of Origin game of 2022.
He has called 99 Origin games but won’t call another. He also called 45 NRL grand finals, with last year’s decider between Penrith and South Sydney his last event.
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“It’s been easy leaving the commentary box, but each time I came back I knew I was getting closer to making a making a fool of myself,” Warren told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“After I called last year’s grand final between Penrith and Souths, I walked out feeling like I’d done a good job. I knew after that game it was my last.”
Warren – hailing from Junee in NSW’s Riverina – began his radio career at Radio 2LF in Young, alongside fellow legend Ken Sutcliffe in 1966.
He transitioned into television in 1974 with Channel 10, then joined Nine in 1988.
He called the Rugby League World Cup that year, kickstarting one of the great careers in the game. He also called three Melbourne Cups, and a number of major swimming events including Olympic Games.
Warren was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2019, and has a bronze statue in his home town of Junee.
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In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
“Ray Warren has been the captain of our commentary team here at Channel 9 for over 30 years,” Phil Gould said.
“He has been a leader, a mentor, a friend, a confidant, to all of us. Every one of us who had the privilege to work with this great mate is deeply indebted to him for the direction, care and time he afforded us all.
“The greatest moments in our sport, the greatest moments in individual player careers, the greatest moments in the history of our clubs, have been captured through the eyes, the emotion, and of course the unmistakable voice that is Ray Warren.
“He will be remembered as the greatest of all time.”
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