‘Surely not’: Merv Hughes pays tribute to Shane Warne at state funeral

Former teammate Merv Hughes has delivered a remarkable tribute to Shane Warne that included him doing 180km/h on a Melbourne freeway.

Merv Hughes speaks about Shane Warne at the State Memorial Service. Picture: Mark Stewart

Merv Hughes remembers Shane Warne in his own special way.

“Bogan. Dead set bogan,” he told fans, friends and family at the state funeral for the spin king at the MCG on Wednesday night.

Hughes, who spent time with Warne on and off the field, told a wild story about the late, great Australian that involved him driving 180km/h on a Melbourne freeway.

“He was fantastic and a very loyal friend and as good as he was on the cricket field, he was five times better off it,” Hughes said.

“Very loyal, if he said he was going to do something he would deliver.”

The story Hughes told began on a day Warne attended a fundraiser for Hughes’ daughter’s kindergarten.

“We were having a fundraiser for the kindergarten and my wife asked if I could ask Shane for a game of golf,” Hughes said.

Merv Hughes and his great mate Shane Warne.

“I auctioned off a game of golf. You don’t like asking Shane to do things like that … he said ‘yes’ and I said ‘What about a ride on a Ferrari as well?’ So there would be two prizes.

“We have the auction and it went well and raised a lot of money.

Hughes said he spoke with Warne the day before the game of golf was due to be played. Warne told him he had a function in Melbourne but would go from the golf course to the city.

Warne and Hughes would meet at the Hyatt on Collins Street.

Hughes, driving in a separate car, says he watched Warne drive off in a Ferrari “fishtailing off on the Tullamarine Freeway with this bloke”.

Hughes took a different, faster route, expecting to arrive before Warne.

“He is going around the Ring Road, over there West Gate Bridge, into town, meeting up at the Hyatt at the top of Collins Street and I (thought) he will be about 55 minutes and (we will get there in 20 minutes).

Merv Hughes' epic Shane Warne story. 😂🍻 #ShaneWarne | 9Gem pic.twitter.com/OOTsg48pB2

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“We get into the Hyatt and Warnie’s car is there. We figured surely not. There has to be two Ferraris.

“Walk upstairs and he is with the bloke who bought the auction item and they’re having a beer.”

Hughes said he asked the pair if it was their first beer. “It was their second drink,” Hughes said.

“I was thinking, ‘You’ve done well’. And he looked at me and said, ‘I’ve never done 180km/h on the Ring Road before’.”

Earlier, Warne’s father Keith delivered a touching tribute to his son.

“Your mother and I can’t imagine a life without you,” he said.

“You have been taken too soon and our hearts are broken. Thank you for all you did for us. And for being such a loving and caring son. Rest in peace, mate. Love you.”