Ray Hadley

Ray Hadley (born 27 September 1954) is an Australian radio presenter. He presents 2GB Sydney's morning show, and leads the Continuous Call Team, a rugby league commentating team.

Related Topics:
27 September - 1954 - 2GB - Sydney - Continuous Call Team - Rugby league

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He grew up 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 Wales.

Related Topics:
Eungai Rail - New South Wales

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He decided at a young age to become a sports broadcaster, but was 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 license, he was a auctioneer for 8 years.

Related Topics:
Higher School Certificate - 1972 - Auctioneering

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He soon quit auctionnering and became a taxi driver, so 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.

Related Topics:
1980 - Greyhound - Appin - Bulli - Nowra

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Fate would soon intervene, and one night he was called to Radio 2UE in Sydney to pick up news director Mark Collier, who gave him casual work at the station.

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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.

Related Topics:
Des Hoysted - John Tapp

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In 1987, Ray was chosen to head up 2UE's Rugby League coverage. He would lead the station to ratings victories 10 out of the 13 years 2UE had the rights to cover the game. In 1994, he was the first league broadcaster since Frank Hyde to attract 200,000 listeners per quarter hour.

Related Topics:
1987 - 1994 - Frank Hyde

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During that time, he was also understudy and fill-in presenter for morning show presenter John Laws.

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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, or to their reporters at the ground. Despite this hurdle, the Talking League Team won every rating period between 2000 and 2001, leaving industry indsiders bewildered.

Related Topics:
1999 - 2000 - 2001

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In 2002, Ray joined fellow 2UE presenter Alan Jones over at 2GB, and was chosen to present their morning show. In addition, the Talking League team was also brought over to 2GB to present their league broadcasts. He has just been just as successful at 2GB, leading 2GB to the honour of being the top-rating AM station in Sydney.

Related Topics:
2002 - Alan Jones - AM

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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.

Related Topics:
2000 Sydney Olympics - Cathy Freeman

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Other career highlights include the 1992, 1996 and 2004 Olympics, the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, 14 rugby league grand finals, 36 State of Origin games, three Australian Kangaroo tours, the 1991 Rugby World Cup in the UK, and two Wallabies European tours.

Related Topics:
1992 - 1996 - 2004 - Olympics - 2003 Rugby World Cup - State of Origin - Australian Kangaroo - 1991 Rugby World Cup - Wallabies

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He has been named the best Radio Sports Broadcaster at the "Rawards" for the 5 out of the past 10 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 initatives for charitable organizations.

Related Topics:
Rawards - Medal of the Order of Australia - Queen's Birthday - 2002 - Honours List

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Ray lives in the north-west of Sydney with his wife and four children.

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