7/17/24, 11:20 PM David Morrow (commentator) - Wikipedia

David Morrow (commentator)

David William Morrow OAM (5 July 1953 – 17 July 2024)
David Morrow (OAM)
was an Australian sports broadcaster/commentator, best
Born David William Morrow
known for his association with the Australian Broadcasting
5 July 1953
Corporation and 2GB.
Sydney, New South
In February 2024, it was announced that Morrow was ceasing Wales, Australia
rugby league calling due to a brain cancer diagnosis.[1] Died 17 July 2024 (aged
He died due to the cancer on 17 July 2024.[2][3] 71)
Occupation Sports broadcaster
Early life and career Employer(s) Australian
Broadcasting
Morrow was born on 5 July 1953, Sydney.[4] He grew up in the
Corporation, 2GB
Northern Tablelands towns of Walcha, Uralla, and Armidale
and was educated at The Armidale School.[5] Known for NRL Broadcasting,
race caller
Morrow started his broadcasting career at Kempsey in 1971 as
a general announcer with 2KM (now 2MC) and then became the New South Wales Mid North
Coast sports broadcaster.[5] He called local horse races and rugby league matches.[5] He completed
an accountancy degree at University of Sydney. In the mid-1970s, he worked as an accountant in
Bathurst and was a casual sports broadcaster with 2BS.[5]

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Morrow joined the ABC in 1980 and commenced calling Friday harness racing at Harold Park and
assisting the rugby league commentary team.[5] He ceased calling the harness racing in 1987.[5]

In 1985, Morrow became the ABC's number one rugby league radio commentator.[5] He called
Saturday rugby league matches on ABC television until the network ceased its coverage in 1996.[4]
He called NRL matches on radio with Warren Ryan for fourteen years until both departed in
2014.[6][7]

Morrow covered his first Olympic Games in 1984 and his first Commonwealth Games in 1986.
Morrow went to cover eight Olympic Games and six Commonwealth Games.[8][7] In 1990, Morrow
replaced Geoff Mahoney as the ABC's Sydney race caller. He also commentated on cricket, rugby
union, soccer and athletics.[5]

Other networks
In 1990, Morrow worked for Channel Ten and covered the 1990 Kangaroos tour of England.[5] In
1995 and 1996, Morrow called all the Perth-based Western Reds matches for Channel Nine during
the Super League War.[5]

Macquarie Radio Network

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Morrow joined Macquarie Radio Network in 2015 to call NRL matches. Due to illness, Morrow
finished calling in February 2024 – a career of calling first grade rugby league for forty-four
seasons.[9]

Controversies
In May 2013, Morrow was suspended by the ABC for a racist joke but made an apology and was
reinstated.[10] In May 2014, Morrow and Warren Ryan were stood down pending an investigation
into an alleged racist remark made by Ryan during a rugby league broadcast.[11] In July 2014, the
ABC stated that it "has reviewed Mr Morrow's responses to the investigation and accepts that he
does not condone or endorse terms that are offensive and racist." In releasing this statement, ABC
advised that Morrow would retire in November 2014.[12]

Awards
2005 – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the media as a sports broadcaster
and commentator, and to the community.[13]
2019 – National Rugby League Hall of Fame – Broadcast and Print Media[14]
2023 – Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Fame[15]
2024 – Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame as contributor[16]

References
1. McCracken, Tess (9 February 2024). "Legendary sports commentator David Morrow diagnosed
with brain cancer" (https://www.news.com.au/sport/legendary-sports-commentaor-david-morro
w-diagnosed-with-brain-cancer/news-story/a504c4925ffe49b6701e955378155156).
News.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
2. Jeffrey, Daniel (17 July 2024). "Broadcasting legend David Morrow dies aged 71 after brain
cancer fight" (https://www.9news.com.au/national/david-morrow-sports-commentator-dies-age-
71/a87af493-b649-4f0b-82d3-b8b8754a4bba). Nine News. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
3. Nicolussi, Christian (17 July 2024). "Legendary rugby league broadcaster David Morrow dies"
(https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/legendary-rugby-league-broadcaster-david-morrow-dies-202
40717-p5jug8.html). Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
4. "Great media personalities short-listed for Hall of Fame" (https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/08/0
6/great-media-personalities-short-listed-for-hall-of-fame/). National Rugby League. 6 August
2019. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
5. "Morrow David - ABC News" (https://www.abc.net.au/news/david-morrow/4320374).
www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
6. "SCG Media Hall of Honour" (https://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/media_hall_of_honour_
scg). www.sydneycricketground.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
7. "Grandstand broadcaster David Morrow retires after 34 years at ABC" (https://www.abc.net.au/
news/2014-11-30/grandstand-broadcaster-david-morrow-retires-after-34-years-at-ab/5929416).
ABC News. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
8. Patterson, Sarah (8 February 2024). "David 'Thirsty' Morrow to retire from the Continuous Call
Team" (https://radiotoday.com.au/david-thirsty-morrow-to-retire-from-the-continuous-call-tea
m/). Radio Today. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
9. "David Morrow retires from Continuous Call Team amidst brain cancer diagnosis" (https://radioi
nfo.com.au/news/david-morrow-retires-from-continuous-call-team-amidst-brain-cancer-diagnos
is/). radioinfo.com. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.

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10. "Morrow apologises for racist joke" (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-09/morrow-apologis

es-for-on-air-joke/4680066). ABC News. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
11. "Ryan and Morrow suspended over alleged racist remark" (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-
05-30/ryan-and-morrow-suspended-over-alleged-racist-remark/5489916). ABC News. 30 May
2014. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
12. Proszenko, Adrian (24 July 2014). "David Morrow to make brief return to ABC radio before
retiring in November" (https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/david-morrow-to-make-brief-return-to-
abc-radio-before-retiring-in-november-20140724-zwjxt.html). The Sydney Morning Herald.
Retrieved 10 February 2024.
13. "Medal of the Order of Australia - David William Morrow" (https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/
awards/1136262). It's An Honour. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
14. "David 'Thirsty' Morrow brought to tears by NRL Hall of Fame nomination" (https://www.2gb.co
m/david-thirsty-morrow-brought-to-tears-by-nrl-hall-of-fame-nomination/). 2GB. 7 August 2019.
Retrieved 10 February 2024.
15. "David Morrow announced as 28th inductee of the SCG Media Hall of Honour" (https://www.2g
b.com/david-morrow-announced-as-28th-inductee-of-the-scg-media-hall-of-honour/). 2GB. 9
July 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
16. " 'It was very emotional': Morrow inducted into Hall of Fame" (https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/0
7/12/it-was-very-emotional-morrow-inducted-to-hall-of-fame/). National Rugby League. 11 July
2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.

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