Ray Hadley
Encyclopedia
Raymond Morris Hadley OAM
(born 27 September 1954) is an Australian talkback radio broadcaster. He presents 2GB
Sydney's morning show, and leads the Continuous Call Team
, a rugby league
-based talkback radio panel program.
.
He decided at a young age to become a sports broadcaster, but reports being questioned by his family and friends whenever his ambitions were brought up. After completing his Higher School Certificate in 1972, he tried unsuccessfully to gain a job in sports broadcasting. He soon found work in auctioneering, and after getting his auctioneer's licence, was an auctioneer for ten years.
He soon quit auctioneering to become a taxi driver, so that he could spend his weekends getting casual work as a race broadcaster. By 1980, he was calling the greyhound races at Appin, Bulli and Nowra.
In 2010, Tim Elliott (Sydney Morning Herald) described him as the "...right wing.... brawler of the airwaves."
in Sydney to pick up news director Mark Collier, who gave him casual work at the station. Within a month, he was presenting traffic reports for Gary O'Callaghan's breakfast program, and did on-air promotions for various 2UE programs. He eventually landed up as an understudy race caller, behind Des Hoysted
and John Tapp.
In 1987, Hadley was chosen to head up 2UE's Rugby League coverage: The Continuous Call Team
. The station had ratings victories 10 out of the 13 years 2UE had the rights to cover the game during his tenure.In 1994, he was the first league broadcaster since Frank Hyde
to attract 200,000 listeners per quarter hour. During that time, he was also understudy and fill-in presenter for morning show presenter John Laws
.
In 1999, 2UE lost the rights to the National Rugby League
to 2GB. Faced with a difficult challenge to retain listeners, 2UE asked Hadley to present a rugby league program without access to the actual game. Despite this hurdle, the renamed Talking League Team won every rating period during 2000 and 2001. At times 2GB complained that the frequent "updates" given on the show extended to near real time commentary, which 2UE denied.
During his time at 2UE, Ray also broadcast at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was commentating on Cathy Freeman
's memorable 400m race, where she had won gold. Freeman had later heard the replay of the race, and said that Ray's call made it sound better than she thought it was.
came to 2GB in April 2002 Ray accepted an offer to present the morning show as well.
His talkback show started as a traditionally local, community and state-based current affairs oriented - but over the past two years he has extended his program to networks stations in regional NSW, Queensland and the ACT.
His favourite music genre is country and western (both traditional and modern) - especially new releases and some old favourites but would occasionally play nostalgic 50's 60's and 70's radio-friendly pop hits. Hadley's opening theme is "Murrumbidgee" by one of his favourite country groups, The Wolverines, who are also great mates, while the closing theme is the world famous country instrumental "Last Date
" from renowned country pianist Floyd Cramer
.
In 2009 Hadley started broadcasting to a wider audience. His program from 9am to midday is also broadcast to stations across Rural NSW, Queensland and parts of Victoria and through Canberra station 2CC. Those stations are part of the Southern Cross network owned by Macquarie Bank Media and Capital Radio and are some of the stations which also broadcast the Continuous Call Team
.
While Hadley achieved a new milestone in May 2009 when his 2GB morning show ratings reached 19.1% (the best figure for a morning show since John Laws topped 20% in the early 1980s, and back then there were no FM stations in the Sydney market), he bettered it two years later when in May 2011 he became the highest ever listened to radio announcer in Australian radio, commanding an unprecedented 20.1%.
Hadley won an accolade at the 2006 ACRAs (also known as the RAWARDS) for "Best Current Affairs Presenter". He won that award again 2009 and became the first radio broadcaster to win both that award and best sports commentator. He has won 20 major ACRA Radio awards since 1987.
with his radio and rugby league colleague Steve "Blocker" Roach from 1994 to 1998. Ray made a one-off appearance on The Footy Show in 2005 as part of a forum to discuss brawling and antagonism between Bulldogs supporters at Telstra Stadium during a game against the Brisbane Broncos. Ray also branched out into TV commercials and for 17 years was spruiking the popular menswear establishment Lowes.
During 2010, he had appeared on the Matty Johns Show on the Seven Network, a NRL focoused programme hosted by Matthew Johns
.
Also in 2010, Hadley was signed by Sky News Australia
to present a weekly current affairs programme entitled Hadley!
. The programme aired on Wednesday nights. He resigned from Sky News Australia
after only 4 episodes reportedly due to 'differences' and staff did not want to work with him.
In October 2011, Hadley was signed up by Channel Nine to commentate on the 2011 Rugby World Cup
semi-final match between the Wallabies
and the All Blacks
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 27 September 1954) is an Australian talkback radio broadcaster. He presents 2GB
2GB
2GB is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia broadcasting on 873 kHz, AM. It is one of Australia's most popular talk-back radio stations, and is the number one station in Sydney.-History:The station commenced broadcasting in August 1926...
Sydney's morning show, and leads the Continuous Call Team
Continuous Call Team
The Continuous Call Team is an Australian radio sports program, covering the news and live games of the National Rugby League. It is produced and broadcast by 2GB Sydney, and is relayed to stations in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and Papua New Guinea.The team have...
, a rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
-based talkback radio panel program.
Early Life
Hadley was born in Paddington and grew in up in Dundas Valley in the western suburbs of Sydney but spent a great deal of time with his grandparents in a small village called Eungai Rail on the mid north coast of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
He decided at a young age to become a sports broadcaster, but reports being questioned by his family and friends whenever his ambitions were brought up. After completing his Higher School Certificate in 1972, he tried unsuccessfully to gain a job in sports broadcasting. He soon found work in auctioneering, and after getting his auctioneer's licence, was an auctioneer for ten years.
He soon quit auctioneering to become a taxi driver, so that he could spend his weekends getting casual work as a race broadcaster. By 1980, he was calling the greyhound races at Appin, Bulli and Nowra.
In 2010, Tim Elliott (Sydney Morning Herald) described him as the "...right wing.... brawler of the airwaves."
2UE
One night, while driving his taxi, he was called to Radio 2UE2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
in Sydney to pick up news director Mark Collier, who gave him casual work at the station. Within a month, he was presenting traffic reports for Gary O'Callaghan's breakfast program, and did on-air promotions for various 2UE programs. He eventually landed up as an understudy race caller, behind Des Hoysted
Des Hoysted
Des Hoysted was an Australian radio broadcaster and horse racing identity. He was a racecaller for 51 years in what is widely regarded as the golden era of the Australian turf....
and John Tapp.
In 1987, Hadley was chosen to head up 2UE's Rugby League coverage: The Continuous Call Team
Continuous Call Team
The Continuous Call Team is an Australian radio sports program, covering the news and live games of the National Rugby League. It is produced and broadcast by 2GB Sydney, and is relayed to stations in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and Papua New Guinea.The team have...
. The station had ratings victories 10 out of the 13 years 2UE had the rights to cover the game during his tenure.In 1994, he was the first league broadcaster since Frank Hyde
Frank Hyde
Frank Hyde, MBE, OAM, was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and radio caller. A New South Wales representative three-quarter, Hyde played his club football in Sydney for NSWRFL Premiership clubs Newtown, Balmain and North Sydney...
to attract 200,000 listeners per quarter hour. During that time, he was also understudy and fill-in presenter for morning show presenter John Laws
John Laws
Richard John Sinclair "John" Laws, CBE , an Australian radio presenter, sometimes known as Lawsie, was from the 1970s until his retirement in 2007, the host of a hugely successful morning radio program, which mixed music with interviews, opinion, live advertising readings and listener talkback...
.
In 1999, 2UE lost the rights to the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
to 2GB. Faced with a difficult challenge to retain listeners, 2UE asked Hadley to present a rugby league program without access to the actual game. Despite this hurdle, the renamed Talking League Team won every rating period during 2000 and 2001. At times 2GB complained that the frequent "updates" given on the show extended to near real time commentary, which 2UE denied.
During his time at 2UE, Ray also broadcast at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was commentating on Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman
Catherine Astrid Salome "Cathy" Freeman, OAM is former Australian sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. She became the Olympic champion for the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics, at which she lit the Olympic Flame.Freeman was the first ever Aboriginal...
's memorable 400m race, where she had won gold. Freeman had later heard the replay of the race, and said that Ray's call made it sound better than she thought it was.
2GB
In December 2001, Hadley joined 2GB to present the weekend rugby league coverage but when fellow 2UE presenter Alan JonesAlan Jones (radio broadcaster)
Alan Belford Jones AO is an Australian radio broadcaster, former rugby union and rugby league coach and administrator.Jones hosts Sydney's most popular breakfast radio program, on radio station 2GB...
came to 2GB in April 2002 Ray accepted an offer to present the morning show as well.
His talkback show started as a traditionally local, community and state-based current affairs oriented - but over the past two years he has extended his program to networks stations in regional NSW, Queensland and the ACT.
His favourite music genre is country and western (both traditional and modern) - especially new releases and some old favourites but would occasionally play nostalgic 50's 60's and 70's radio-friendly pop hits. Hadley's opening theme is "Murrumbidgee" by one of his favourite country groups, The Wolverines, who are also great mates, while the closing theme is the world famous country instrumental "Last Date
Last Date (song)
"Last Date" is a 1960 instrumental written and performed by Floyd Cramer. "Last Date" peaked at number 11 on the country chart and peaked at number two on the Hot 100.-Chart performance:-Cover versions:...
" from renowned country pianist Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the "Nashville sound." He popularized the "slip note" piano style where an out-of-tune note slides effortlessly into the correct note...
.
In 2009 Hadley started broadcasting to a wider audience. His program from 9am to midday is also broadcast to stations across Rural NSW, Queensland and parts of Victoria and through Canberra station 2CC. Those stations are part of the Southern Cross network owned by Macquarie Bank Media and Capital Radio and are some of the stations which also broadcast the Continuous Call Team
Continuous Call Team
The Continuous Call Team is an Australian radio sports program, covering the news and live games of the National Rugby League. It is produced and broadcast by 2GB Sydney, and is relayed to stations in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and Papua New Guinea.The team have...
.
While Hadley achieved a new milestone in May 2009 when his 2GB morning show ratings reached 19.1% (the best figure for a morning show since John Laws topped 20% in the early 1980s, and back then there were no FM stations in the Sydney market), he bettered it two years later when in May 2011 he became the highest ever listened to radio announcer in Australian radio, commanding an unprecedented 20.1%.
Awards
He has been named the best Radio Sports Broadcaster at the "Rawards" for the 8 out of the past 11 years, and was awarded an Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday 2002 Honours List for services to rugby league (as a broadcaster) and the community, through fundraising initiatives for charitable organisations.Hadley won an accolade at the 2006 ACRAs (also known as the RAWARDS) for "Best Current Affairs Presenter". He won that award again 2009 and became the first radio broadcaster to win both that award and best sports commentator. He has won 20 major ACRA Radio awards since 1987.
Television
After initially commencing as a sports reporter on Channel 7, Ray was recruited to Channel 9 by having his profile catapulted onto the small screen as part of The Footy ShowThe NRL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award-winning Australian sports variety television programme, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates. Following the success of the AFL program of the same name, the Nine Network quickly developed a version for the rugby league market. The rugby league version has...
with his radio and rugby league colleague Steve "Blocker" Roach from 1994 to 1998. Ray made a one-off appearance on The Footy Show in 2005 as part of a forum to discuss brawling and antagonism between Bulldogs supporters at Telstra Stadium during a game against the Brisbane Broncos. Ray also branched out into TV commercials and for 17 years was spruiking the popular menswear establishment Lowes.
During 2010, he had appeared on the Matty Johns Show on the Seven Network, a NRL focoused programme hosted by Matthew Johns
Matthew Johns
Matthew Johns is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former professional player...
.
Also in 2010, Hadley was signed by Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia is an Australian 24 hour cable and satellite news channel available in 2.5 million homes on Foxtel, Austar, Optus Television and Neighbourhood Cable subscription platforms....
to present a weekly current affairs programme entitled Hadley!
Hadley!
Hadley! was a short lived Australian talk show which aired on the Australian subscription television news channel Sky News Australia and was hosted by commentator Ray Hadley who discussed current political and social issues with guests....
. The programme aired on Wednesday nights. He resigned from Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia
Sky News Australia is an Australian 24 hour cable and satellite news channel available in 2.5 million homes on Foxtel, Austar, Optus Television and Neighbourhood Cable subscription platforms....
after only 4 episodes reportedly due to 'differences' and staff did not want to work with him.
In October 2011, Hadley was signed up by Channel Nine to commentate on the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2011 Rugby World Cup
The 2011 Rugby World Cup was the seventh Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. The International Rugby Board selected New Zealand as the host country in preference to Japan and South Africa at a meeting in Dublin on 17 November 2005...
semi-final match between the Wallabies
Wallabies
A wallaby is the informal name for any of about thirty species of Australian animal.Wallaby may also refer to:* Wallaby ammunition carrier, a variant of the Canadian Ram tank* Wallaby , Japanese fantasy manga...
and the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
.