Ray Warren reveals Gould and Vautin’s commentary box antics

Ray Warren has been blown away by the coverage of his retirement, and taken time to share some of the untold secrets of the NRL commentary box.

Rugby League legendary caller of over 55 years, Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren, has revealed he was astonished by the coverage the announcement of his retirement on Wednesday had received.

“I was just reading the papers and I’m blown away and almost embarrassed by the coverage this has got.

“I didn’t realise I had made such a mark.

“I appreciate all the kind words, I am still trying to read the text messages coming through all the time,” the famous Australian commentator told Ben Fordham on 2GB on Thursday morning.

The Wide World of Sports caller shared his thoughts on working with some of the icons of the NRL commentary box.

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Ray Warren has hung up his microphone. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“He (Paul Vautin) didn’t mind making it fairly obvious that he followed Queensland, I had to temper him a couple of times but he loves it, he just loves them.”

“He (Phil Gould) is a freak really, he spends more time looking at his telephone and communicating with the outside world.

“I don’t know who he is communicating with but he’s obviously talking about the disappointment of a performance by somebody or exchanging his view point on a ruling from a referee which has happened about 20 minutes ago,” the “Voice of Rugby League” said.

He continued: “But then he’s got the microphone there and he comes in and puts his point of view and normally he’s right.

“It was a real learning curve for me to watch somebody commentating at the same time as texting, whoever it was, or taking text messages.”

Rabs also reflected on his time commentating 99 NRL State of Origin clashes, alongside Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin.

Rugby league commentator Phil Gould.

“We used to get accused of being a biased NSW commentary team and I used to say to Fatty, how can they say that when you outwardly are so pro-Queensland it’s not funny.

“He added that touch of humour.

“He understands the electronic medium and the means to entertain, at the end of the day,” said Warren.

Rabs also told the story of a memorable prank pulled on him by “the boys” in the commentary box, where his lip-ribbon microphone one night was stuffed with old sandwiches.

“Some of the things they’ve done to me,” he said.

The caller also recounted the moment Hall of Famer Susie O’Neill achieved a world record result in the pool.

“That (Susie O’Neill’s world record in the pool) was probably as emotional as I can get.”

“She’s probably one of the loveliest people I’ve met in sport.”

‘Rabbits’ as he is fondly called, said he would still be sticking around the network.

“I need to emphasise that they (Channel 9) will still be involving me in whatever they want me to do.

“I’ve got a lifetime contract with the network and that was a great honour they bestowed upon me last year,” he said.

‘RABS’ RETIRES SHORT OF UNTOUCHABLE RUGBY LEAGUE RECORD

– By David Riccio

In the end, it is the tributes from the sporting champions he called to victory and defeat that proves why Ray Warren is one of Australia’s greatest sports commentators of all-time.

Warren, 78, announced on Wednesday that after 55 years, he was hanging up the binoculars and turning off the microphone.

“I have decided my time in the commentary box is over,” Warren said.

“I will miss calling immensely but I think it’s time to move on with my 80th birthday only 12 months away.”

The legendary broadcaster has called full-time just one game shy of reaching 100 State of Origin matches inside the commentary box.

Six days before the State of Origin series-opener between NSW and Queensland, the man affectionately known by colleagues and fans as “Rabs” had nothing left to give.

“It was time and it’s my call to step away,’’ an emotional Warren told The Daily Telegraph.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done, which is, from humble beginnings as a kid from the bush (Junee)...and I didn’t want to ruin the many thousand memories I have by going too long.

Ray Warren was inducted into the rugby league hall of fame in 2019. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

“The proudest thing I have is that I dreamed of being a sports commentator when I was six, and I managed to do it.’’

Warren said he knew after calling last year’s grand final between Penrith and South Sydney that his time was up.

“I just needed to spend time watching like a normal viewer this season to be certain – and I am,’’ Warren said.

Warren’s departure from the commentary box will leave a gaping hole in Australian sports broadcasting.

‘NO ONE TO RIVAL HIM’: HADLEY’S PLAN TO KEEP RABS ON THE MIC

Friday night footy will never sound the same.

He has been the voice inside lounge rooms across the country for more than 40-years, captivating rugby league, horse racing and Olympic sports fans with his voice box with gears that could shift effortlessly from soft and respectful to booming and commanding of your attention to not-dare look-away from the TV.

The tributes didn’t take long to begin when Warren went public with his “sad” decision yesterday.

NRL clubs took turns posting famous “Rabs” calls on social media.

Queensland legend Wally Lewis was involved in many of the moments Warren called during the early days of Origin.

Thank you and good luck to one of the greats of sport. Enjoy retirement Rabs! My tribute toon for @telegraph_sport@couriermail@NRLonNine#rabs@BuzzRothfield@craddock_cmailpic.twitter.com/2AroVoStqH

— Scott Bailey (@BooBaileyTele) June 1, 2022

I worked with Ray Warren for 18 years at @wwos@NRLonNine. I cherished every season. Rabs made the sport we love, better. #raywarren

— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) June 1, 2022

The tributes are flowing for retired commentator Ray Warren - as they should: "He's the best rugby league caller since electronic media began in 1920.'' @dailytelegraphhttps://t.co/cSwQA0M20t

— David Riccio (@DaveRic1) June 1, 2022

In retirement, he had the privilege of sharing a commentary box with a man who has long been regarded as the doyen of rugby league commentators.

“I still remember the one when Mark Coyne scored (1994 State of Origin match) – ‘that’s not a try, that’s a miracle’,” Lewis said.

“Moments like that can only be put forward by the best in the business.

“He was good to get advice from. He used to be quite determined in his advice – he used to say you will be doing it differently to what I will.

“Tell them how the players will feel, what their reaction will be, how they will respond. I will tell the people what they can see.”

“No one did it better and the question now for the Nine Network is who will become their voice of rugby league.

“There are some very big shoes to be filled.’’

Ray Warren was known as the voice of rugby league. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Fox League commentator Andrew Voss – who spent time as Warren’s understudy at Channel 9 for almost two decades – praised the Hall of Fame broadcaster.

“I cherished every season,” Voss tweeted.

“Rabs made the sport we love better.”

Fellow Fox League commentator Dan Ginnane described Warren as the “greatest there was (and the) greatest there ever will be.”

Long-term Channel 9 colleague Phil Gould described Warren as the “captain of our commentary team”.

“He has been a leader, a mentor, a friend, a confidant to all of us,” Gould told The Daily Telegraph.

“Everyone 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.

Ray Warren at the old Sydney Football Stadium.

“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 unmistakeable voice that is Ray Warren.

“He will be remembered as the greatest of all time.”

Warren’s career without parallel stemmed from modest beginnings in the south-central New South Wales town of Junee, where he honed his skills as a boy before getting his start in radio in 1966 alongside Ken Sutcliffe.

Warren made his way into TV in 1974 with Channel 10 before joining Channel 9 in 1988 to call the Rugby League World Cup Final, setting out on an incredible career in rugby league commentary that led to him being titled as “The voice of rugby league” and honoured in the NRL Hall of Fame in 2019.

Originally published as Ray Warren reveals Gould and Vautin’s commentary box antics