What's New
BY Sarah Patterson June 27, 2026
What's New November 7, 2024
Ray Hadley announces retirement
Ray Hadley has announced this morning on 2GB in Sydney that he is retiring after more than four decades on radio providing talkback, sport commentary and championing country music.
Ray said:
“My own four children made many sacrifices for me over the years, allowing me to realise my ambitions, and I want to spend more time with them and my seven grandchildren. Sophie has been the most supporting, calming, loving and amazing wife – and she deserves a break too!”
Ray started on air in 1981 alongside Gary O’Callaghan on 2UE as a traffic reporter and by the following year he was calling Rugby League matches and horse races. The first State of Origin match next year would have been his 100th Origin call. He’s been part of 35 Rugby League Grand Finals, thousands of club games, a founding member of The Continuous Call Team, three Rugby World Cups and seven Olympic Games, including this year in Paris:
The Sydney Football Stadium honoured Hadley’s contribution to sports, unveiling earlier this year The Ray Hadley Commentary Box.
On March 4, 2002, The Ray Hadley Morning Show first went to air on 2GB. Ray has had 160 consecutive ratings wins in the time slot. He is also the most decorated radio host in Australian Commercial Radio Award (ACRA) history, with 35 awards and was inducted into the ACRA Hall of Fame in 2017. At the recent ACRAs, besides winning an award with the Continuous Call Team, he inducted his friend and sometimes radio rival Bob Rogers into the Hall of Fame.
He and Bob’s daughter Justy spoke afterwards to Radio Today about the friendship and Bob’s deserved place in the Hall of Fame:
In 2003 Ray was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), for his commitment to rugby league and fundraising efforts for charities. At the start of this year he also received the Country Music Capital Award at the Golden Guitar Awards, for his passionate support for the genre. The Ray Hadley Country Music Countdown has supported emerging and legendary talent in Australian country music across 573 episodes and 16 years.
Ray said:
“I’ve had the ride of my life at 2GB for more than 23 years, firstly under the ownership of John Singleton and more recently with Nine Entertainment and Nine Radio. I leave the network with me owing 2GB everything for my success and longevity. I wish all my colleagues continued success.”
Nine Radio’s Managing Director, Tom Malone said:
“We’ll likely never see another broadcaster of Ray’s versatility, longevity and ratings success. While the 2GB listeners will miss that familiar jingle and voice at 9am every day, I’m sure they wish Ray all the best in retirement with Sophie and the family.”
Friday, 13 December, 2024 will be Ray Hadley’s final day on air. Ray was contracted with the network until the end of 2025. The new host to fill those mighty boots on the 2GB Morning Program, and beyond with the network to be announced soon.
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson June 26, 2026
First it was John Laws announcing his retirement and now Ray Hadley is doing the same. The end of an era in Australian Radio.
I have listened to Ray for a long time in the mornings and on the Continuous Call Team and have enjoyed listening to him. I wish him all the best in Retirement, He will be sadly missed on the airwaves.
Happy retirement. Be interesting to see who would fill his shoes. My guess is they may move John Stanley from nights (Rates well) and have Mark Levi doing evenings.
@Aussiecam58 I’d assume Mark Levy and Luke Grant would be among the more likely successors (I believe both have been used as fill-ins for Ray for years now, maybe a decade+) but nonetheless agree that John Stanley would probably be good on the morning shift.
One suggestion I’ve heard is that Michael McLaren might be bumped up to mornings, but I can’t see that happening after just his first year on weekday afternoons!
And I’d definitely expect Chris O’Keefe to remain on 2GB Drive next year, especially with the impending departure of ABC Sydney drive stalwart Richard Glover providing an opportunity for the Nine talkback station to go up a bit in the ratings.
Whatever the case, isn’t it rather interesting how Ray announced his departure the day before John Laws presents his last ever show? Perhaps the Sydney media will still report on Lawsie tomorrow, but today at least he’s been well and truly overshadowed by Hadley’s departure announcement.
I also wouldn’t mind predicting that apart from the age and “wanting to spend more time with the family” factors, the fact Ray has had a couple of close shaves against FM music stations in the ratings this year (and I certainly think his departure has only increased the chances of 2GB losing its coveted #1 spot between 9am and midday next year) along with the prospect of going up against a reinvigorated 2SM, may have also triggered his retirement. Better to go out while still on top, than hang around too long as Lawsie arguably has.
Congratulations Ray Hadley for your immense contribution to Australian radio. You and John Laws have laid out the foundations for many others to follow and have set benchmarks for countless radio people to pursue. An end of an era indeed. Thank you for all that you’ve given and done.
-All country music buffs, including me
Need Chris Smith back ASAP to 2GB in this slot
Ray was and is a legend, he has helped so many people over the years and kept politicians and others honest.
Irreplaceable in my humble opinion
They should put Alan Jones on mornings because the ratings for 2GB have gone down massively since he left the station
Ray Hadley is one of the great commentators who has taught me everything I know about Rugby League. I wish him all the best in his spending retirement. Mark Levy is logical replacements to Lead the continuous school team in commentary and to host mornings on 2gb will be called mornings with Mark Levy
Interesting time to retire from 2GB when 2SM are looking for a replacement for John Laws.
Didn’t Ray replace John all those years ago ?