Legendary footy commentator Ray Warren finally answers calls for him to come out of retirement and cover his 100th State of Origin game
- Ray Warren will not be brought out of retirement to cover the 100th Origin game
- Described the wild rumors in a Triple M interview as ‘absolute scuttlebutt’
- Warren, 80, last called an Origin match for Channel 9 in 2021
Respected commentator Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren has responded to calls to come out of retirement and cover his 100th State of Origin match – but unfortunately the news is not good for rugby league fans.
Warren, 80, last called an Origin clash in 2021, and rumors are swirling that he was keen to host a century of matches.
The man himself – who has also covered 45 NRL Grand Finals – angrily brushed aside the speculation.
“It’s definitely a hit,” Warren continued Triple M’s Flan, Ali & Spida show from the Gold Coast on Wednesday.
“I never, ever said I would agree to play another game of Origin. Someone took the liberty on social media to absolutely misquote me and that made things a little awkward for me, but that’s the way it is.
Respected commentator Ray ‘Rabbits’ Warren has responded to calls to retire from covering his 100th State of Origin game
Warren, 80, said the rumors were ‘absolutely nonsense’ and he remains happily retired (pictured left, as he was inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame in 2019)
‘I’m really annoyed by people who write absolute nonsense.’
The ‘Voice of Rugby League’ also confirmed he will remain happily retired before tipping Michael Maguire’s Blues to win the 2024 series.
“No, I would rule that out almost without any thought,” he said.
“I’ve had a great career – 55 years. At the end of 2021, I decided this would help me… why would I risk undoing all the good I had done?
“I’ll be 81 early next month… I got out while I was doing pretty well.”
Warren called his first game Origin for Channel 9 in 1989 and quickly became a constant on TV screens every year during the three interstate clashes.
In 2019, Warren was inducted into the National Rugby League Hall of Fame for his continued services to the sport.
Warren also covered swimming, tennis and horse racing in his career, winning legions of sports fans along the way.