Ray Warren - thoughts?

Sylvia Saint

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Thread starter #1
He's just about my favourite commentator ever in any sport, but I was surprised to see on another forum that a lot of hardcore league fans want him gone.
 

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Hicham

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#2
Those against Rabs usually argue the following:

- He's getting noticably senile. Gets players mixed up during the call, etc.

- His renowned ****fests over certain players/teams. A typical passage from Rabbits during a Knights game may read as follows:

"10 metres out from the line. Perry gets up and plays it, Buderus fires it across to Mullen, Mullen dummies, switches the direction of play, gets it away to Aaannnndrew... Annnnnnnndreeeeeewwwwwwwwwww, ohhhhhhhhhh org-yyyyaassssmic cyyut out pass from Annnnnnnnndreeeewwwwww to Carney, Carney scores in corner! Ohhh stuff that Irish jibberer though, it was Annnnddrreeww who set it up, give him the points! Ooooohhhh Annnnnnndreeewwwwwww what a ball! How goooood is this fellow?! Matty Johns on the sideline...."

"Yeah look Rabbits, now let me tell ya..."

"Hold the phone Matthew, your brother's just made me smudge the front of me jocks as he lines up this kick. Deadset, how good is he at setting up the conversion? Fantyastic to watch. Great stuff!"

On the other hand, his style and expression is suited to the game quite well and, let's face it, he's been the voice of Rugby League in Australia for some time now. Generally, I love Rabs just as much as the next bloke. Although he's not immune to coming out with crap on occassion.
 
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#3
Rabs is past it. He constantly stuffs things up now. It's even at the point where the other commentators sheepishly correct him.

Time for someone else to step up.. probably Vossy.
 

I_LUV_AFL

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#5
My thoughts: I don't mind Ray Warren but it has to be time to get rid of Fatty Vautin soon. Andrew Voss is great, Gus Gould is getting more annoying every broadcast, Sterlo has changed and is not as good as he used to be, the Chief is passionate, Matty Johns is funny but I think Benji Marshall is a future commentator/rugby league celebrity.
 

Ronin

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#6
Rabs is clearly the best commentator in Australia when he has to 'raise his voice' both in League and Swimming. That said, I agree that he is slipping with incorrect calls during games and concentrating too much on his favourite players.

Without going off topic, the most exciting caller IMO, was Darrell Eastlake in the eighties SOO games. He would absolutely lose it. I even recall CH9 sending him to the Manchester Comm Games to call the weightlifting. They never had someone yelling like that before, and apparently Prince Charles complained. They put him in a soundproof booth at the back, but they could still hear him through the glass! :D
 

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#7
:thumbsdown:

Rabs has to go. Here are my reasons:

* Has no idea who the players are and gets the wrong most of the time
* Spends half of the time plugging Ch 9 shows or sponsors
* Instead of calling the game, plugs the next game (e.g promotes the Sunday game endlessly during Friday night)
* Goes into hysterics when some players just touch the ball
* Has to give one story from 30 years ago per coverage

Mind you, the rest of the 9 team are just as bad. I only enjoy Sterling because of his analysis of the game.
 

Bourky23

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#8
Thorpe!!!! Hackett!!!! Hackett & Thorpe theres nothing in it!!! there goin stroke for stroke!!!
 

Warwick

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#10
Hicham said:
"10 metres out from the line. Perry gets up and plays it, Buderus fires it across to Mullen, Mullen dummies, switches the direction of play, gets it away to Aaannnndrew... Annnnnnnndreeeeeewwwwwwwwwww, ohhhhhhhhhh org-yyyyaassssmic cyyut out pass from Annnnnnnnndreeeewwwwww to Carney, Carney scores in corner! Ohhh stuff that Irish jibberer though, it was Annnnddrreeww who set it up, give him the points! Ooooohhhh Annnnnnndreeewwwwwww what a ball! How goooood is this fellow?! Matty Johns on the sideline...."
That is a perfect summary!! :D

I have always like Rabbits but I thought he had become senile this year (with forgetting players names etc). Although, this article explains that: http://svc002.wic102cx.server-web.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/3420/Default.aspx
 

mracer

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#11
Hicham said:
Those against Rabs usually argue the following:

- He's getting noticably senile. Gets players mixed up during the call, etc.

- His renowned ****fests over certain players/teams. A typical passage from Rabbits during a Knights game may read as follows:

"10 metres out from the line. Perry gets up and plays it, Buderus fires it across to Mullen, Mullen dummies, switches the direction of play, gets it away to Aaannnndrew... Annnnnnnndreeeeeewwwwwwwwwww, ohhhhhhhhhh org-yyyyaassssmic cyyut out pass from Annnnnnnnndreeeewwwwww to Carney, Carney scores in corner! Ohhh stuff that Irish jibberer though, it was Annnnddrreeww who set it up, give him the points! Ooooohhhh Annnnnnndreeewwwwwww what a ball! How goooood is this fellow?! Matty Johns on the sideline...."

"Yeah look Rabbits, now let me tell ya..."

"Hold the phone Matthew, your brother's just made me smudge the front of me jocks as he lines up this kick. Deadset, how good is he at setting up the conversion? Fantyastic to watch. Great stuff!"

On the other hand, his style and expression is suited to the game quite well and, let's face it, he's been the voice of Rugby League in Australia for some time now. Generally, I love Rabs just as much as the next bloke. Although he's not immune to coming out with crap on occassion.
SOOOO hearing you dude! Channel 9's commentary team is shocking. Matty Johns is the only one worth his salt. Vossy got in at the right time.

The best league commentator in Australia in IMHO is Andy Raymond on Fox - cant stand Braybrook.

I wish 9 would employ Eddie Hemmings - the English Super League guy - he's awesome!
 

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Warwick

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#12
Tutaki said:
My thoughts: I don't mind Ray Warren but it has to be time to get rid of Fatty Vautin soon. Andrew Voss is great, Gus Gould is getting more annoying every broadcast, Sterlo has changed and is not as good as he used to be, the Chief is passionate, Matty Johns is funny but I think Benji Marshall is a future commentator/rugby league celebrity.
:eek: I can't believe you said that!! Benji is absolutely hopeless. If i wanted a poorly articulated, grammatically incorrect cliche, i would head straight to the Marshall house.

He is crap. The sooner he gets on the field the better for all concerned.
 

Buddy

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#13
Warwick said:
:eek: I can't believe you said that!! Benji is absolutely hopeless. If i wanted a poorly articulated, grammatically incorrect cliche, i would head straight to the Marshall house.

He is crap. The sooner he gets on the field the better for all concerned.
Agreed. The only thing Benji offers is an idea of what the players are thinking at particular times during the matches. That said, Matty Johns does a pretty good job at scoping that as well.
 

Hicham

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#14
SOOOO hearing you dude! Channel 9's commentary team is shocking. Matty Johns is the only one worth his salt. Vossy got in at the right time.

The best league commentator in Australia in IMHO is Andy Raymond on Fox - cant stand Braybrook.

I wish 9 would employ Eddie Hemmings - the English Super League guy - he's awesome!
Eddie Hemmings :D

Although his bias is terribly shocking during internationals, he and Stevo are good for a laugh all the same. Straight talkers who appear free of the agendas that drive the commentry of some of their Australian counterparts.
 
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#15
RW is a bit windy but is far easier to stomach calling the NRL than he is the swimming. While many Aussie sports fans prefer one eyed, jingoistic bluster when watching our athletes compete, those not suffering the inferiority complex of the small nation citizen are left to cringe at RW's hysterical screaming. He stops just short of a rendition of the insufferable " AUSSIE..AUSSIE..AUSSIE..OI..OI..OI".
 

Plogs

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#16
I will never forget his comment in the early nineties on grand final day... "this is the game that stops the nation"
Nearly fell off my chair.
 
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