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Underdogs weekend heralds sign-off from sporting voices

Updated: Dennis Cometti signs off broadcasting career and Ray "Rabs" Warren has fans wanting more.

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It was a weekend when two ‘underdogs’ won the AFL and NRL Grand Finals.

Western Bulldogs broke a 61 year drought to topple Sydney, and Cronulla Sharks scored their first ever Grand Final win in their 50 year history. Emotional stuff all round.

Updated: And it also signalled the switch-off for legendary broadcasting commentator, Dennis Cometti while Ray “Rabs” Warren says he is yet to decide if he will return for 2017.

Commetti was given an on-air sign-off from Bruce McAvaney, thanking him for entertaining millions of Australians. Cometti joined ABC in 1972 as a sports commentator, before joining Seven in 1986. He switched to Nine from 2002 -2006 before returning to Seven in 2007.

He commentated seventeen Grand Finals and remains the only television broadcaster to have spanned the entire duration of the AFL national competition.

Ray “Rabs” Warren began commentating TV sport for TEN in 1974. Often referred to as “The Voice of Rugby League” he recently indicated this could have been his last Grand Final. “Rabs” recently said a decision is yet to be made for 2017.

Nine confirms he is still under contract.

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NB: Please note an earlier report was based on a previous WWOS article.

11 Responses

  1. The best thing about Commetti (apart from the fact that he could really commentate) was his classic funny comments. He could pull the most hilarious analogies off the top of his head. I would love to see more of them on the AAMI thank you ads.

  3. So sad about Cometti, what a true gent. When I think we’re left with BT and Carey, I could cry. And it’s no use escaping to Foxtel, Eddie is lurking

  5. They are both the best of the best. Besides the fact they speak so well, they know the game is the centre of attention and not themselves, which some commentators I’m sure fail to realise.

    As an AFL fan I’m greatly concerned by the trend to employ ex footballers because of who they were and not because they make good commentators. With Dennis now gone and Bruce probably not far away, it may not be long before we have grand finals called by people who speak as well as Jonathan Brown and what a sad day that will be!

    You will most definitely be missed Dennis and Ray, but enjoy watching from the sidelines for many years to come.

  7. Two classic voices who both represent their respective codes with passion. I don’t watch much league, but admit I do love the voice of Ray Warren and always imagine him calling an AFL game or two. He even did a nice shout-out last night to the Western Bulldogs – great stuff

  8. I know at the start of this season Warren said he would be happy to get through this season and it signaled the end.. But in previous interviews he stated that he would finish up at the end of the current broadcast deal which at the time was the end of the 2017 season. I’ll be disappointed if he finished lastnight and there was no mention of it during the broadcast.

  9. No mention of warren finishing last night during the broadcast that I heard. There was yelling by Richard Wilkins and Peter Sterling called the Sharks erect, but i didn’t hear anything about warren finishing up.

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