He’s the voice of rugby league and the staple of Channel Nine’s NRL coverage but the network will need to find a replacement with Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren announcing 2016 is more than likely his last season behind the microphone.
Hailing from Junee, a small country town near Wagga Wagga, Warren got his first media gig at 2LF in Young, the cherry capital of New South Wales.
It was those early commentary gigs, initially as a race caller that Warren honed his skills and developed the level of excitement that endeared him to rugby league fans from as early as 1966.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE RAY ‘RABS’ WARREN COMMENTARY MOMENTS? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW
Half a century on and Warren believes it’s the right time to bow out.
“In fact, I’d be happy to get through the year, to be honest,” Warren told Fairfax media.
“I’ve had some bad health in the past 12 months and had too many anaesthetics, maybe it’s trying to tell me something,” he said.
“I’ve had the prostate problem, hernias and God knows what operated on. You’re in hospital with all the footballers in the off season.”
Warren joined the Nine Network in 1988 after parting ways with Channel Ten as their chief commentator.
Since his time at Nine he’s become the undisputed voice of the game.
Warren’s likely final year at Nine will be a strange one with the network essentially competing for viewers against pay television with Foxtel to broadcast every game live with their own commentary team.
Channel Nine, though, still retains exclusive rights to the biggest games including the State of Origin series where Warren, as always, will have the full attention of more than two million Australians.
Tony Burke
Guest
Rays comment last night Rabbitohs v Sharks when Sam Burges fell on the sharks player face :- "Fee, Fie. Foe. Fum I smell the bum of an Englishman". A Ray Warren classic. Channel 9 you have the best callers in the game. Here in NRL starved South Australia my wife and I can`t wait for Thursday. Friday and Sunday. I am an ex Salford fan. My Dad took me to my first RL game in 1945 at the Willows. The game sure has changed over the years. If dad came back what a shock he would get with the speed and skill that we have today. Ray, do you remember the late Eddy Wareing (think that`s how its spelt) he was a great caller of the game, funny too with his comments. Look forward to the rest of the season AND Wednesday night. Cheers fellas keep up the good work. from Tony & Christa.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
About time. Ray along with Gus continued to talk too much rubbish instead on concentrating the game. Rabs cannot call the correct player while Gus dribbles too much. I'm sick and tired of Gus's 'No no no no no' rubbish like if I had to yell at the TV for some reason. The sooner Gus leaves Commentary, the better. But on the other side, 50 years of commentary is proof beyond dispute.
George
Guest
I'm with you. It's good that the only show we'll be forced to watch on this channel is the cricket. I suppose it's a good excuse for Rabs to finally stop even bothering to memorise any players names from the lowly teams (ie. teams other than those from Sydney and the Broncos).
Steve
Guest
Can't he bring forward his retirement a year? So sick of listening to his supposedly funny rambling with Gus. If we could get rid of him and Hadley at the same time it would be a dream come true.
steveng
Roar Rookie
What about Frank Hyde? He was my favourite and of course Dazza Eastlake was the greatest with his bellowing voice and loads of excitement and calling the game with sheer passion!!!
Jimmmy
Guest
I agree totally JH . Voss, smith anyone but Hadley. I actually think Rabs was good in his day but just like some players he has gone on way past his use by date. I wish him well but we need new blood.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Your point of Rabs not watching any games unless he is calling rings so true. Last year, well past the midpoint of the season he called the first Raiders game on nine and admitted he didn't know who the players were. The NRL does not need a "voice of league", it just needs competent commentators. Anyway, some might say Rabs is the "voice of swimming".
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
And real HD.
Patrick
Guest
"the referee's gunna point to the spot." - ray Hadley every game.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Not Andrew Webster are you?
Western fuglie
Guest
Thanks for your snap review on Hadley Jackson, it's the best one I've herd apart from my mates one but he suffers Tourettes
andrew
Guest
First of all one doesn't wish Warren ill health. But as for the news of him finishing - I will believe it when it happens. I know he has left Nine now but Crawley was looking to move him out back in 2007. i know because i had a meeting with him about the topic of developing a new no2 commentator so that Vossy could replace him - but obviously since then a lot changed. Warren stopped trying years ago. He clearly doesn't prepare or watch any games unless he is calling them so has no knowledge on the previous achievements and skills of any players unless he is reading the media kit he is provided with or David Middleton points something out for him. With all due respect Mr Warren, please head off and enjoy your retirement which should have started 10 years ago. And during retirement do us all a favour and look up the difference between "irony" and "coincidence"... it would be better late than never....
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Exactly. Which might make the decision for me.
pjm
Roar Rookie
No ads in the game though, that's where it counts.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
I would have given up on Foxsports if they had got Rabs (as rumored elsewhere). Should have retired years ago. He fumbles through a commentary now.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Deadset, if Hadley takes over, I will willingly pay an overpriced monthly subscription to an ethically dubious corporation's pay TV station - that still has ads, unbelievably. That is how much Hadley is a stain on the game. Plus, it will be a moral/ pyrrhic victory to hand over my hard-earned to help line Andrew Voss's pay-packet, given the way that Hadley carried on in relation to him. That's not even taking into account the yawning chasm between the calling quality of he and Voss. Hadley's only there because of his radio show and the fact that everyone’s too scared of the repercussions should they start pointing what is obvious to many people with a pair of eyes and a brain. And you have to wonder about the game's image - we hear a lot about upholding the game's integrity when it comes to player behaviour...so what about extending that same criteria to the so-called "voice of the game"? Have a go at Hadley's history. He's intimidated his own family, he's intimidated his colleagues, he's intimidated his subordinates and he's intimidated his rivals - all of which is well on the public record. He’s been on both sides a legal action numerous times too. Is that who we want as the Voice of Rugby League? This bloke?
Pepper Jack
Guest
Hadley won't be taking over, he loves his ego getting stroked too much on 2GB Warren Smith will more then likely take over, with Thompson the #2. Voss will become head caller on Fox
MAX
Guest
The pronunciation of Polynesian players names in a game call is a difficult assignment.
Norad
Guest
Rabs to the rah rahs. Cop the tip. #NRLincrisis.
johnnyball
Guest
GO! should of kept Voss but no, had to keep Gould's security blanket and kicking horse. Will that ridiculous attempt at comedy during a match now be gone? Will make free to air even more pathetic now to turn everybody to pay tv I guess.