Shane Warne’s poker night circle remember loyal, generous mate

Shane Warne’s group of friends who regularly held poker nights have remembered their loyal, generous mate — and share insight into the spin king’s “man cave” and musical talents.

When Shane Warne was staying in Melbourne the cricket legend would regularly organise and host a poker night at his ‘man cave’.

Shane Warne’s close circle of mates have remembered him as loyal, generous and fiercely protective of his music playlist.

When Warne was in Melbourne he would regularly organise and host a poker night at his ‘man cave’ featuring great friends including his son Jackson, brother Jason, Aaron Hamill, Tony Hachem, James Hachem, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Steven Baker, Adrian Pante, Luke Tunnecliffe, Campbell Brown, Jason Tomlinson, Chris Jones, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.

“He’d have pizzas and put the footy or cricket on and Warnie would always be in charge of the music,’’ Brown said.

“He’d have Ed Sheeran on, Bruce Springsteen and no one else could go near it. We’d play poker til the early hours and these nights were legendary.

“They’d been going for about 20 years. There were about 15 of us in a WhatsApp group and the banter was magnificent.

“The poker crew will miss him as much as anyone.”

Shane Warne was ‘fiercely protective’ of his music playlist’s on the poker nights he hosted.

Many of the group caught up on Saturday to share stories and memories.

Warne’s father Keith, brother Jason and long-time PA Helen Nolan also dropped in, along with other close mates Brendon Goddard and Sam Newman.

Former St Kilda player Baker said he saw Warne just about every day and had three overseas trips planned with him this year.

They intended to spend a week in Portsea on a fitness trip when Warne returned from Thailand.

“We’d usually go on a poker trip to Vegas, usually 10 of us, and we were literally texting that day as Shane was organising it,’’ Baker said.

Shane Warne's poker group.

“He was the ringleader of our poker nights and also in getting bad beats. He was pretty competitive.

“I recently took up golf and we planned to play our first game this Friday. He really started to get into fitness so it was very bad timing.

“He wanted to start winding things back, but he was a workaholic. He really just wanted to spend time with his kids.”

Tunnecliffe said Warne’s care for his people knew no bounds.

“He was the glue that held our poker group together and he was the first to organise our catch ups,’’ he said.

“People saw him as a great sportsperson, but what people didn’t see was how good a father he was. His children idolised him and they were his absolute world.”

Shane Warne hosted many of his poker nights in the ‘man cave’ of his Melbourne home.

“People also didn’t realise what a sharp business mind he had. For someone who achieved everything in sport, he always had a saying — good manners don’t cost a thing.

“Shane was the most loyal person and all of his mates knew that at any point they could count on him for support in anything.”

Hachem said he and his brother Joe were shattered by Warne’s sudden passing and regarded each other as family.

“We felt the Warne family and the Hachem family were like one,’’ Tony said.

“He was a superstar human being with a big heart. He loved the Shane Warne Foundation and he loved to help kids.”

Shane Warne's poker group included his son and brother.

Hachem said Warne was looking forward to settling in a property he’d bought in Portsea which he was about to start developing into the ultimate home for him and his kids with everything he ever wanted.

“We had a saying among the boys that if Warnie gives his tick that was it, you’re in,’’ Hachem said.

“He never got to have a 50th and I wanted to surprise him with a party with his close mates on a boat.

“He wanted to take time off to spend it with his kids. He was just so loyal and generous and was the first to help me with my poker events.

“He was one in a billion and the world is a darker place for not having him in it.”

Originally published as Shane Warne’s poker night circle remember loyal, generous mate