Legendary NRL caller Ray Warren inducted in Suncorp Stadium Hall of Fame alongside media titans

Legendary NRL caller Ray Warren delivered an iconic anecdote as he joined Queensland media luminaries in the Suncorp Stadium Hall of Fame. See every inductee.

A late legend, two outstanding rugby league journalists and the game’s most iconic voice have been included in Suncorp Stadium’s media Hall of Fame.

The late rugby union, swimming and Olympic writer Wayne Smith, former Rugby League Week Queensland editor Tony Durkin, former journalist and Test referee Bernie Pramberg and Channel 9 icon Ray Warren were inducted in a moving ceremony at Suncorp on Monday.

Each story had a unique flavour.

Smith was rightfully lauded as the man responsible for the Brisbane Olympics after he wrote a column saying Brisbane should put in for the 2032 Games then followed up by ringing a group of Mayors to make sure the push became a shove.

Smith was renowned for being animated and emotional in the press box and his wife Robin quipped how she gave fellow journalist Jim Morton red and yellow cards to flash in front of Wayne if he became too animated.

Robyn Sanders (for Wayne Smith), Bernie Pramberg and Tony Durkin at the Media Hall of Fame inductees ceremony at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Richard Walker

Pramberg had a reputation as a scrupulously fair and talented whistleblower greatly admired by the likes of Wayne Bennett, Tommy Raudonjkis and John Lang and that same sense of fair play was evident in his distinguished writing career with The Daily Sun and The Courier-Mail.

“I very much appreciate this honour because when you start your job you do it to the best of your ability … you don’t seek recognition and anything that comes is a bonus,’’ Pramberg said.

“The media landscape has changed dramatically but I must say I enjoyed every day of my 40 years in the industry.’’

A privilege to see 3 great friends in journalism welcomed into the Suncorp Stadium Media Hall of Fame #SuncorpStadium@couriermail#RLWpic.twitter.com/7HVuRBNQ8R

— Jim Tucker (@HulaBulaJim) July 15, 2024

Pramberg, who first visited Suncorp Stadium (then Lang Park) in 1961, took pleasure from the fact that as a boy he used to listen to renowned broadcaster George Lovejoy’s radio calls and now the two would have their photos on the same wall of fame outside the Suncorp press box.

Pramberg’s mateships in the industry run deep and as evidenced by the presence of outstanding sports scribes David Falkenmire, Jim Tucker and Bart Sinclair at the function. The trio joined Pramberg in Fortitude Valley in August, 1982, when Rupert Murdoch’s Daily Sun opened its doors to take on The Courier-Mail in an exhilarating era for Brisbane media.

The induction of Channel 9 icon Warren was a ground breaker because he becomes the first NSW based media identity to be included.

NRL Hall of Famer Ray Warren. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images

Warren, who has a chronic fear of flying and often drove from Sydney to Brisbane when he called State of Origin games, did not attend the function but said one thing he genuinely tried to do in calling football was to be impartial. This unprecented recognition is testimony to the fact he achieved his goal.

“I am thankful and proud,’’ Warren said via a taped message. “For a kid who dreamed of being commentator all his life, from a little town called Junee, the son of a railway fettler and a mother who gave birth to seven kids and worked at the Commonwealth Bank in her spare time …. this is an utterly overwhelming occasion.’’

Warren said the first night he worked at Suncorp a security guard asked him for a pass he did not have and then said “Are you Darrell Eastlake?’’ and Warren said “yes I am’’ which prompted the security guard to say “I love your work.’’