Celebrities pay tribute to ‘loyal’, ‘special’ Shane Warne
Sporting greats and celebrities have paid tribute to Shane Warne on the eve of his public memorial, remembering the cricket legend above all as a loyal, caring friend.
Confidential
Don't miss out on the headlines from Confidential. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Stars of sports, media, entertainment and more have paid tribute to cricket legend Shane Warne on the eve of his public memorial.
Eddie McGuire
“The magic part about Shane Warne was that he sprinkled his gold dust everywhere he went. He didn’t become a hermit, he brought his friends into everything in life.”
Dannii Minogue
“He was just very concerned about people being happy and him being able to help create that joy or that smile and spread that sunshine.”
Campbell Brown
“He was extremely loyal to his mates and an unbelievably generous person with his time and he was always there to help. You never had a bad night in his company.”
Tony Hachem
“I loved him as a person and he won over everyone with his love for his family and kids. Super loyal and loved his friends, he adored them.”
Steven Baker
“He became my best mate and when you’re seeing someone every day, my life was revolving around him. He just wanted to spend time with his children.”
Mark Howard
“He was one of the most generous, kind and well-mannered people I have ever met. He was incredibly loyal to his friends but the thing that I loved about him is we’d leave a game of cricket and 15 people would ask for a selfie or an autograph and ask him for a selfie and he would not only do it, he would ask them whether they enjoyed the cricket or played cricket.
He’d give them a minute of his time and you’d turn around and look at that person as he walked off and their whole day or month or year was made because Warnie had a chat to them. It was so special.”
Nick Riewoldt
“The text messages and the love of footy … we had some pretty awesome times when Shane would come into the club and he would speak about his sports mind and how he approached the game. I always knew he was passionate but it wasn’t until I retired and watched games with him live at the ground (that I saw) just how passionate and how hard he could go. He was a fan.”
Greg Norman
“Warnie, I will forever hear the words on our last phone call recently. They will be carried with me, mate, for all time to come. I will miss you, as will everyone who had the pleasure to know you.”
Nathan Buckley
“I get the sense that Warnie really lived — unapologetically. I admire him as much for that as his sporting talent. For all his successes, his trials and tribulations what was abundantly apparent was the big heart he wore on his sleeve. Perfectly imperfect.”
Sam Newman
“If they had the sport of cricket in America, he’d be as big as anyone on the planet. He was just the most competitive and driven man I’ve ever met and that’s why he turned out to be the star he is … was.”
Damien Fleming
“Once in a lifetime cricketer. Charisma. Leg spinner with a fast bowler’s mentality. Hollywood-type lifestyle. Way too young.”
Damien Martyn
“I’m sad, devastated and I feel the loss of a great mate. But I choose to smile, be happy and remember the good times.”
Russell Crowe
“Genius player, grand company, loyal friend.”
Mark Taylor
“Shane Warne was fun and exciting to be around, whether on or off the cricket pitch. Always made life interesting both for himself and for the people around him.”
Merv Hughes
“He liked listening to Meat Loaf and Abba … his choice of music wasn’t great and he drank Midori lemonade and he was just a rare breed. The word you’d use to describe him is special.”
Matthew Hayden
“Without any doubt in my mind, Australia’s greatest ever cricketer.”
“Warnie had this special aura on and off the cricket field, which was so infectious. He was a joy to be around. His athletic performances on the cricket field will go down in history as a true undisputed great of the game. The beloved MCG he made his own every summer on Boxing Day will always be remembered. He was solely responsible for a generation following in his footsteps and rolling out a few leg spinners.”
Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher, from Channel 7’s The Front Bar
“We are a show made by fans for the fans, and no one was more loved by the fans than the great Shane Warne. We look forward to sitting in his stand at the MCG for years to come and remembering the greatest sporting entertainer we have ever seen.”
Justin Langer
“He was hardcore tough, a hardcore competitor. Larrikin. Rock star.
Aaron Finch
“He changed sport in Australia to a point because he became a global superstar. Legend on and off the field.”
Magda Szubanski
“I knew him more just as a kind of phenomenon. There’s plenty of other cricketers but their names wouldn’t have even penetrated my consciousness.”
Ian Healy
“He was passionate to get the job done with his group of mates. He was very loyal and it’s very difficult to be this with all those qualities as a superstar, but he was really fun to be with.”
Ricky Ponting
“Forget about what he did on the field, the star power that he brought to the game, the game was always better when Warnie was a part of it. And we’re going to notice that pretty soon. People will notice that with his commentary not being there.”
Glenn Maxwell
“I idolised him and had newspaper clippings on my wall.”
Glenn McGrath
“As players and as friends we used to watch him and he lived this incredible and extraordinary life and we just lived it and enjoyed it by listening to his stories.”
Elton John
“Shane was a magical bowler and such huge fun.”
Ed Sheeran
“Shane was the kindest heart, and always went above and beyond to make people feel welcome and special. Such a gentleman. He gave so many hours and years of his life to bring joy to others, and was such an amazing friend to me.”
Elizabeth Hurley
“It seems too cruel that all the people who loved him will never have another Lion hug, but our memories will live forever. RIP Lionheart, with love your Luna.”
Shaun Graf
“‘He always put up a bit of a shield when he was in public. But in the changeroom, he was Shane Warne the larrikin. That was the place he loved most, that was the place he was safe, and he would tell us some stories. That is one of the things that I am going to miss most.”
James Brayshaw
“I first met Warnie in 1987. It was 35 years ago, I’ll never forget it. We were playing in a second XI game. He was this bogan from Moorabbin, he had the mullet, the earrings, he had a Nissan Skyline. He invited me to come and sit in his car and he had the fluffy dice off the rearview mirror. He said ‘I want you to come and listen to my $5000 stereo system’.”
Brendan Fevola
“He touched so many lives. It wasn’t just his cricket, it was his off-field stuff. So many people could relate to it and I stuffed up a lot in my life. I learnt off Shane, you just own up to it and then people can’t have a crack at you.”
Hugh Jackman
“I’m grateful to have known him, and to have witnessed his once in a generation talent”
Eddie Perfect
“He was smart, funny, warm and generous. I don’t want to say goodbye; there was so much more life to come. Others may try, but they will never shine like Shane.”
Stephen Quartermain
“Flippers, Zooters, Leg Breaks, Toppies, Googlies. Thanks Warnie for making these household words for all cricket lovers … and thanks for the endless summers of entertainment”.
Lauren Phillips
“It is so unfair he has left this world so young. He was unapologetically a quintessential Aussie bloke and we’re going to miss him.”
Andy Lee
“He opened so many doors for me to the sport I loved and we shared a lot of yarns playing another sport we both loved. Forever grateful.”
Ann Peacock
“A most wonderful friend who put his children first, the love for his whole family, an incredible cricketer and importantly a man who dedicated so much time and love to raising millions for children in need. Your wonderful smile, your laugh, your caring, you will be so greatly missed.”
Anthony Callea
“A father, an icon, a philanthropist, a friend, a party boy, a gentleman. It was and will always be an honour to have known you.”
Aaron Hamill
“He was terrific, for me, personally, he’s got such a strong leadership and culture about him. He often used to talk about seizing the moment and that’s how he attacked life.”
BT’s not-so-subtle dig at Fox Footy over nickname ban
Brian Taylor has ensured footy’s media wars are still simmering as he and the Channel 7 graphics department poked fun at rival Fox Footy.
‘The perfect time’: Melb designer Effie Kats reveals pregnancy
Renowned Melbourne designer Effie Kats, known for dressing celebrities like Bec Judd and Dannii Minogue, is expecting her first child with husband James Cerolini.