Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Ray Warren’s retirement call, Wendell Sailor puts MMM on hold

SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH: Ray Warren is sitting out the first six rounds of the NRL season, but has opened up on the decision that has left him ‘tortured’.

Channel 9 NRL Launch in Sydney tonight. Pictured is Ray Warren.

Broadcast legend Ray Warren says his birth certificate suggests it’s time to retire. Yet at the same time he says he is “tortured” by the enormity of the decision.

The 78-year-old Channel 9 commentator and NRL Hall-of-Famer has been wrestling with the decision on his future for several months.

We reported three weeks ago that Rabs would not call in the first six rounds of the comp.

“I actually asked them not to put me on the roster,” Warren said. “I need more time and Channel 9 understands the enormity of my decision. They’ve been very generous and told me to take my time.”

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Ray Warren isn’t ready to hang up the microphone just yet.

Warren has called 99 State of Origin games and been the voice of rugby league for more than four decades.

“I’m tortured by it (the decision),” he said. “I’m full of fear. I’d hate to wake up one day and think I’ve made the wrong call.

“You can’t jump out then jump back in. And I don’t want to undo or damage anything good that I’ve done over a long period of time.

“Honestly I’m not trying to do a Cameron Smith and keep them guessing. I’m still thinking about it.”

Through the years... Ray Warren has been a mainstay at Channel 9

Warren with NRL Immortal Andrew Johns.

With Warren in limbo, Nine is using Matt Thompson and Brisbane-based Peter Psaltis to call Thursday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

They are solid callers but stepping into the Nine commentary box is like batting after Bradman.

“It’s been a long time,” Warren said. “I started impersonating Ken Howard and calling marbles 70 years ago as a little kid. And these days it takes a lot out of me.

“Do I call some club games? Or there’s an option of just doing Origin.

“I’m telling you the absolute truth and that is I honestly don’t know.”

SAINT

You won’t normally find a politician as a Sunday Saint but Sports Minister Stuart Ayres deserves praise for stepping in to overrule the Venues NSW plan to name a grandstand Garrison at the new Sydney Football Stadium after the British Army from the 1850s. Common sense has prevailed and a stand will be named after Indigenous sporting icon and rugby league Immortal Artie Beetson.

Arthur Beetson is going to have a stand at the Sydney Football Stadium named after him.

SINNER

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge’s disgraceful verbal attack on a reporter in Melbourne. There are NRL coaches who would feel the same way about certain media types but have the manners and decency to sort it out behind closed doors.

SHOOSH

What more can go wrong at the SCG? The drama over grandstand names, complaints over the long queues for food and drinks and now players cranky about what is apparently a rock-hard surface on the cricket pitch area. The issue has been raised by the Newcastle Knights and discussed in the football department at NRL headquarters.

SHOOSH

Which not-long-retired NRL star was spotted leaving his expensive four-wheel drive at a motor vehicle pawn shop in Sydney’s west last week?

SHOOSH

The NRL has apologised to St George Illawarra officials for a refereeing blunder that cost the Dragons’ NRLW side an upset win over three-time premiers the Broncos last week. The Broncos won 22-18 but were awarded a try from a blatant off-side. If it had happened in a men’s game, we’d have been reading about it for days.

Fos Sports voiceover specialist Matt Nable. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

SPOTTED

The voiceover guru of Fox Sports Matt Nable, celebrating his 50th birthday at Piato restaurant in McMahons Point with the likes of Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, Benny Elias, Craig Field and NRL 360 host Paul Kent.

SPOTTED

The AFL celebrated the return of fans after Covid with $2 pies for all fans at the Collingwood v St Kilda blockbuster at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

SPOTTED

You know basketball in Australia is doing well when the global chair of Tesla Robyn Denholm buys a 30 per cent share of the Sydney Kings and Sydney Flames. It valued the Kings at around $35 million.

SPOTTED

Supercoach Craig Bellamy is so highly regarded in AFL-mad Melbourne that even Richmond’s AFL leadership group called into Storm headquarters last week to pick up some tips from the 500-game legend.

* * * * *

WENDELL Sailor has taken time off work at Triple M while his son Tristan fights sexual assault charges in Wollongong Court.

The former Kangaroos and Wallabies superstar is the co-host of Triple M’s drive show but has understandably made his son’s case the priority.

“I’m really thankful the station has given the time off,” Sailor said, “It’s important I’m there to support Tristan.”

Because of Covid Wendell has had to watch from a live video in an area adjacent to the courtroom.

Tristan Sailor has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

* * * * *

There is nothing like a good stoush in commercial television. The latest is the seven network planning an assault on Channel 10’s ratings monopoly on Melbourne Cup day this year.

Straight after the race that stops a nation at Flemington on Channel 10, Seven will begin a live broadcast from Randwick to cover Sydney’s new $2 million race, The Big Dance.

The race will start 30 minutes after the Melbourne Cup with Seven’s chief executive James Warburton looking for a huge lead in to the 6pm news.

* * * * *

Former rugby league star Craig Field. Picture: Dean Ritchie

Recently released from prison, former NRL star Craig Field is working hard to restore his reputation.

Last week Field attended a fundraiser for the Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club and spoke honestly and remorsefully about his actions that led to his conviction of manslaughter.

Many guests at the function were taken aback by Field’s presentation.

Field is keen to continue to share his story – particularly with young people – and is hopeful other sport-related bodies will work with him in the future.

* * * * *

THE 1984 murder of trainer George Brown and the links to racing’s Fine Cotton scandal will be exposed on a fascinating edition of Crime Investigation Australia on Channel 7 at 8.30pm tonight.

The Graham McNeice-produced show features interviews with legendary bookmakers, trainers, old Sydney racing chief steward John ‘Sheriff’ Schreck and jockey Guy Philpot, who breaks down in revealing the devastating effect the scandal had on his life.

The show is the result of McNeice’s painstaking 10-year research.

* * * * *

The NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley flew to Perth last week with Freddy Fittler, Craig Wing and Greg Inglis for a State of Origin media launch alongside WA’s deputy premier – but almost missed the event.

After an early-morning flight across the continent that arrived just an hour before the press conference, Annesley was delayed at Perth airport without the correct entry documentation.

He ultimately made a last-minute entrance to the function after completing the required paperwork to the satisfaction of border authorities.

Then it was straight back to the airport for a return flight to complete the nine-hour round trip, both ways in economy class.

* * * * *

South Sydney winger Alex Johnston has written a children’s book.

Every NRL player is encouraged to think about life after football, and South Sydney flyer Alex Johnston is no different.

The Rabbitohs winger and dux of his old high school wants to become an author.

Johnston took advantage of the Covid lockdowns in recent years to pen a children’s book and also create a rugby league board game.

Both are near completion and the Rabbitohs try scoring machine is now looking to secure a publisher to finish his project.

“Lockdown wasn’t much fun for anyone but I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing,” he said. “The book is Indigenous-themed and tells the story of several characters who come together to form a footy team.

“There’s a goanna, a crocodile and kangaroo involved and everyone I’ve shown it to thinks it’s great.

“Hopefully a publisher will get behind both projects as I’d love to see them come to fruition.”

Johnston’s writing talent comes as no surprise.

He was dux of Endeavour Sports High and he is also well known for his hilarious posts on TikTok, where he has had more than five million views.

Sonny Bill Williams has invited old Bulldogs warhorse Geoff Robinson to his fight against Barry Hall on Wednesday night.

Robinson is battling throat cancer and will climb out of his sick bed to be at ringside with his great mate, billionaire publican and Bulldogs sponsor Arthur Laundy.

SBW became friends the Canterbury legend when he first arrived at Belmore back in 2003. He recently visited Robinson at his home in Sydney’s west.

There has been a huge plunge on Hall with corporate bookmakers to win the fight. The former AFL star has been backed in from $2.70 to $1.85 in the last few days.

* * * * *

There is no question about the Pay TV future of Tim Tszyu’s brother Nikita, who kicked off his professional career with an impressive second-round knockout over Aaron Stahl.

It turns out the ratings for the fight were the highest ever on Fox Sports for a non-pay event. Nikita’s next fight will be in Newcastle in May.

* * * * *

Three time boxing world champion Jeff Fenech will provide never before seen insight into some of his most dramatic fights as part of a new series on Fox Sports.

Fenech – The Lost Tapes – will premiere this Sunday with Main Event’s Ben Damon joining Fenech to relive some of his most thrilling fights including the controversial draw with Azumah Nelson 1991. “I still get asked once a week about that fight against Azumah in Las Vegas so it’s good to be finally able to set the record straight and show fans out there what really happened” Fenech said.

* * * * *

Blake Ferguson has returned home from Japan in time to celebrate his 32nd birthday with his family.

The former NRL star, who was arrested in Japan in January for possession of cocaine, landed back in Sydney on Friday night.

Japanese police returned his passport after a court appearance last week.

A judge ruled Ferguson’s 29 days behind bars following his arrest was a sufficient penalty.

His manager Sam Ayoub says he will seek interest from NRL clubs next week.

Although the Parramatta Eels have lost wingers Sean Russell and Haze Dunster for significant periods it is unlikely they will turn to the former Blues Origin winger.

Originally published as Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Ray Warren’s retirement call, Wendell Sailor puts MMM on hold