NRL news, updates: Rugby league icon Ray Warren's sad revelation about retirement as he slightly opens door ajar to return under one condition
Rugby league icon Ray Warren has revealed he is not handling retirement well and has thought about coming out of retirement if he could call from his own loungeroom.
Warren, 82, retired in 2021 after calling 99 State of Origin games and 45 NRL Grand Finals and resisted calls for him to come out of retirement to call one final Origin game last year.
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Known as the 'voice of rugby league', Warren's retirement in 2021 saddened the sporting world, namely fans of rugby league, and ever since there have been murmurs he could be convinced to make a return calling major events such as the NRL Grand Final or State of Origin.
And on Monday, in a stunning revelation Warren said he had given it some thought as he opened up about why he decided to retire in the first place.
'I am not handling it (my retirement) all that well to be honest,' Warren told 2GB's Mark Levy.
You can listen to Ray Warren open up about his retirement in the player above.
Ray Warren says retiring felt like cutting off his arm. Image: Getty
'Leaving what I was doing was like cutting off my arm. (But) I was 78 when I gave it away, so I didn't have much longer to go.'
Warren also floated the idea that he could call a game from home, but fears it may tarnish his legacy.
'It is flattering (that people want him to come out of retirement) and I guess I love it deep down, but I don't think they realised I was 78 when I gave it away and I didn't want to undo all the good I might have done,' Warren said.
'That's the long and the short of it (why he retired). But now I sit down and think I might be able to do a call from home.'
Thurston wins first Golden Point Grand Final
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Thurston wins first Golden Point Grand Final
more field... more goal as the Cowboys won their first NRL title.
Johnathon Thurston kicked the winning... ... more
Games being called from TV or radio studios thousands of kilometres away from the venue has been something that has become increasingly popular in mainstream media since Covid.
For many games in various sports, commentators no longer call from the grounds, instead preferring offices where they can access more angles.
So if Warren was open to returning, it would be possible for him to finally call his 100th State of Origin game or make a special appearance from the comfort of his own home.
It would also be something that would undoubtedly attract even more viewers, with the commentating legend adored by the rugby league world.
Ray Warren is a rugby league icon. Picture. Phil Hillyard
Ray Warren in his element. Picture. Phil Hillyard
Is it likely that Ray Warren comes out of retirement?
The chances of it happening are slim.
When Warren was cornered about potentially calling an Origin match in 2024, he promptly shut it down.
'I'd rule that out (a commentary return) almost without any thought at all,' Warren said on Triple M.
'I had a great career – 55 years. At the end of 2021, I decided that that would do me, why would I take that risk of undoing whatever good I might have done.'
But never say never, NRL fans can at least dare to dream.
Originally published as 'Not handling it well': Rugby league icon Ray Warren's sad revelation about retirement
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