David Morrow, a legendary rugby league pundit, passed away.
He was seventy-one. The NRL announced hours before Suncorp Stadium’s Origin III, that Morrow’s fight against brain cancer is over.
It was announced just last week that Morrow will be honored for his contributions to the game with an induction into the NRL Hall of Fame.
“David has been one of the great voices of the game – recognised throughout the country for his wit, his insight, and his knowledge,” Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys stated following Morrow’s demise.
“Throughout my athletic career, I had the pleasure of getting to know David, and he was a true champion in every sense of the word. It is a privilege and an honor for me to call him a friend.
Over the course of his 52-year career, Morrow covered eight Olympic Games, six Commonwealth Games, and rugby league for 44 years.
From 1980 to 2014, Morrow worked for the ABC as a radio and television pundit, bringing Saturday football to a nationwide audience on ABC television until 1996. In 2015, he became a member of 2GB’s rugby league commentary team for Continuous Call.
On Wednesday, Ray Hadley, a radio colleague and friend, paid tribute to Morrow.
Hadley stated on 2GB, “We will face State of Origin without a mate this afternoon when we arrive in Brisbane with a sad heart.”
But because of the tremendous work he has done over the past 50 years, his memory will live on, and we will be dedicating tonight’s game to him.
“David Morrow passed away, but he will always be remembered.”
Following a brain cancer diagnosis, Morrow retired in February. Hadley reiterated his opinion that Morrow was one of the most adaptable pundits in Australian television history.
“I’ve worked in broadcasting for a long time with a lot of people,” Hadley remarked.
As I stated last Saturday in the Sydney Morning Herald, I believe David Morrow to be the most adaptable sports pundit.
“There are 33 sports that we play, and he would have called almost all of them if he could have traveled to the Olympics with me on Tuesday.
“He could do track and field, swimming, and all the things other people couldn’t do, but he was at home calling the rugby, of course, and [he] was an excellent cricket commentator.”
