‘Hurt and disturbed’: Ray Warren’s family plead for ring return after home invasion
Ray Warren’s family say they are “very hurt and disturbed” after the legendary broadcaster’s NRL Hall of Fame ring was stolen from his family home in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Warren, who earlier this month confirmed he had shelved retirement plans to call another season, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, the first broadcaster to receive the honour.
But in a post to social media on Sunday, his son Mark confirmed the precious memento had been stolen in a home invasion which also saw a wallet and car keys taken as well as Warren’s home office ransacked.
Warren described the ring as “irreplaceable” and confirmed his home was accessed via a key to the laundry door.
“It’s scary,” Warren told Nine Radio. “I’m still a bit upset over it, only because you slept through it all and you’ve got invaders in your house.
“Then you start looking and find what they’ve taken, to be honest with you it seems they only took three sets of car keys, an empty wallet and the Hall of Fame ring the NRL gave me 18 months ago.
The voice of rugby league Ray Warren at his Hall of Fame induction.Credit:Getty
“It is irreplaceable. I was so honoured and humbled when I was announced I was the first of the media to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s not the money value of it, it’s just the fact I can look at and think, ‘well, this is lovely I can be among all those great names that have been part of rugby league since 1908’.”
Warren’s daughter Holly and her son were at home at the time of the intrusion while Ray and his wife Cher were upstairs asleep. Nobody was hurt in the incident and NSW Police are investigating.
“I also feel a sense of helplessness, that this scum, could take a treasured family piece Dad’s @nrl Hall Of Fame Ring that night, so special on so many levels to us,” Mark posted on Instagram.
“Very hurt and disturbed but to these cowards please know that with all our combined networks, all areas, along with the @nswpolice & @nrl the focus will come your way.
“Be assured of one certainty, that Karma comes with gravity when you knock on our family door. Mostly though, thank you my Lord our family were not harmed.”
In a statement, NSW Police said: “Officers attached to The Hills Police Area Command were called to a home on George Mobbs Drive, Castle Hill, following reports of a break and enter in the early hours of Saturday 27 February 2021.
“Police have been told the offenders entered the home between 1.30am and 4am before stealing a number of items including a handbag, keys and a commemorative ring.
“Officers established a crime scene and commenced an investigation. Inquiries are continuing.”
Warren is due to return to the commentary box for the opening round of the NRL season next week and admitted after last year’s end-of-season State of Origin series he wasn’t sure if he had called his last match.
He broadcast Queensland’s series-deciding victory from the Nine Entertainment Co studios after being unable to secure a permit to travel to Brisbane for the Suncorp Stadium showdown. It was the first match he has ever called from a television.
“I worry about going one yard too far,” Warren said. “When you’ve been around for 55 years you’re one step closer to making a fool of yourself and you don’t want that to happen. I’m scared of retirement and I don’t know what it would be like.”
Adam Pengilly is a Sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.