Broadcaster Ray Hadley dumped by Channel Nine as a rugby league commentator

Nine dumps Ray Hadley as a rugby league commentator after four decades of calling top-level footy

• Veteran commentator Ray Hadley not part of Nine’s NRL coverage in 2020
• Network opted to go with three main callers instead of four, axing Hadley
• 2GB morning host recently stepped down from station’s Continuous Call team 

By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:57 GMT, 14 March 2020 | Updated: 23:05 GMT, 14 March 2020

Veteran commentator Ray Hadley has been given the boot from Channel Nine’s rugby league coverage. 

The network has decided to go with three main commentators and not use Hadley as a regular back caller for Ray Warren this season.

The 2GB morning host recently stepped down from the radio station’s top-rating Continuous Call coverage this season citing family reasons but had still planned to call games for Channel Nine. 

The network will use Brisbane-based commentator Peter Psaltis instead of Hadley, who has commentated the game for more than four decades.

Mr Hadley declined to comment on the snub when contacted by the Sunday Telegraph.

Ray Hadley (pictured) will not be part of Channel Nine’s rugby league coverage this season

Nine’s newly-appointed head of sport Brett Williams said Hadley was not part of the network’s plans in 2020, despite being under contract. 

‘We’ve got four callers and we don’t need four. We’re happy to go with three,’ Mr Williams said. 

Warren and Matt Thompson will be the main commentators alongside Psaltis, who will call NRL games in Queensland.

This is Warren’s 54th season of calling rugby league in his 28th year with Channel Nine.

Hadley, pictured with fiancee Sophie Baird, is not part of Channel Nine’s plans in 2020

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for further comment.

Hadley will still call State of Origin and the NRL grand final for 2GB. 

He and rugby league immortal Bob Fulton recently announced they were both stepping down from 2GB’s Continuous Call coverage, ending a 32-year partnership.

‘We started together and we made a pact that we would leave together,’ Hadley said at the time. 

‘We’ve both decided now is the right time.

‘I want to spend more time with my grandchildren.’

The Continuous Call team is now headed by Mark Levy, who recently assured listeners the essence of the show will remain, despite the departures of Hadley and Fulton.

Channel Nine has gone with three callers instead of four, giving Hadley (pictured) the boot

‘We all know they’re the real reason the show’s been so successful,’ Levy said.

‘I’ll be forever grateful for their support and guidance.

‘I’ve been inundated with messages and emails about what will change in 2020 and the answer is, nothing!’

It comes as Hadley, 65, and fellow 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones were ordered into self-isolation to stop them being infected with the deadly coronavirus. 

Hadley will broadcast his show from his Dural home in Sydney’s north-west. 

The veteran broadcaster received an eye-watering pay rise last year to take his salary to a hefty $4million and is contacted with the station until 2024.

Hadley was a back up caller for veteran commentator Ray Warren (pictured with wife Cher)

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