His father-in-law had been a member of the 1972 New Zealand eight that won gold at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

[7] Murray first went to the Maadi Cup, New Zealand's premier school rowing regatta, in 1997, but did not achieve anything at Lake Karapiro.

[1] In late December 2011 Murray set a new world record on an indoor rowing machine.

[17] At the 2012 London Olympic Games Murray and teammate Hamish Bond took six seconds off the world record to 6:08.5 in their heat for the men's coxless pair.

In the Olympic final Murray and Bond surged into the lead after the 500 metre mark to win the gold medal in 6:16.65 by open water.

After the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, in which Murray and Bond successfully defended their coxless pairs title, Murray underwent minor knee surgery and announced that he would not be available for international competitions in 2017, whilst Bond announced in November 2016 that he would take a break from rowing.

[19] In the 2013 New Year Honours, Murray was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rowing.

It is the sport's highest honour and is awarded within five years of the athlete's retirement, acknowledging an exceptional rowing career and exemplary sportsmanship.