Chiming In - Steve Gillis, Player Manager

Jordan Rankin was only 16 years old and still at school when he got the call-up to make his NRL debut for the Titans.

He became the third youngest player in the game’s history to debut.

On the day of the game, the Gold Coast halfback stuck to his normal routine which included donning his school uniform and heading off for classes.

Looking back, Rankin’s journey has been truly remarkable, having had stints with the Gold Coast, Hull, Doncaster, Wests Tigers, Huddersfield, Castleford and Parramatta - where he captain coac...

Phil “Buzz” Rothfield has spent 50 years as one of rugby league’s most recognisable voices.

After stepping away from newspapers, television, radio and podcasts, Buzz returns for a special episode of Chiming In to explain why he retired, what he misses, and what he really thinks of the NRL season so far.

In this episode, Buzz opens up on the pressure of working seven days a week in rugby league media, life after NRL 360, and why breaking stories is still hard to let go.

He also gives his unfiltered views on And...

Michael “Mouse" Jenkinson is a highly decorated yet extremely humble Bondi Lifeguard.

On December 14 last year, the man they nicknamed “Mouse” was about to complete a normal day of work at the beach with his colleagues when he two gunman started firing high powered rifles at innocent people.

Fifteen people lost their lives and many more would have, if not for the courage of countless people like Jenkinson who ran towards danger - not away from it. Aside from the precious lives lost, as many as 40 people were wounded.

In this e...

New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George has waited patiently for his club to become a major force in the NRL.

Now riding near the top of the competition ladder and respected and feared by its rivals, George confidently predicts this is the year of the Wahs.

And if they do eventually capture their first NRL title, George is entitled - more than most - to celebrate the achievement.

It was George who steered the Club through covid, fought for his players rights and ensured the safety and well being of...

Craig Field could be considered one of the most polarising figures in rugby league.

The diminutive halfback was told he was to small to ever play NRL yet went onto to play in 183 games - representing South Sydney, Manly and the Wests Tigers.

Fast forward to today and Field is putting his life back together after being sentenced to 10 years jail for the manslaughter of a man following a fight outside the Kingscliff Hotel on July 15, 2012.

In this episode of Chiming In, Field talks candidly about the day his life...

He’s regarded one of the kindest, most humble and hard working people in rugby league.

Jason Clark is the first to admit he wasn’t the most gifted individual yet he boasts an NRL premiership and English Challenge Cup trophy among his finest achievements.

After a stellar 10 year stint with the Rabbitohs, Clark packed up the family and moved to England before putting the finishing touches on his career playing First Division in France.

Today, the former South Sydney lock forward, has returned to where it all began and now...

Eddie Jones is one of the most polarising coaches world rugby. He has been head coach of three international rugby union teams - Australia, England and Japan. It’s a unique notch in his belt.

But it’s his love for rugby league which often catches people by surprise.

Growing up in La Perouse, Jones was an avid South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter and played rugby league as a youngster. One season as a kid, Jones went and watched every Souths game - home and away.

And while a switch of code...

Every youngster who laces a boot, dreams of debuting in the NRL and forging a career in the big time.

While so many fail to make the cut, there is an incredible amount of players who debuted yet only ever play just ONE game.

South Sydney’s Mick Bernie is one such player but he wouldn’t swap his moment for anything. And while Michael Buettner boats a truckload of NRL appearances, he too fits the one game wonder category after making one-off appearances for NSW and Australia.

With the help...

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Start

00:04 - Highlights

04:20 - Fiji Flag  

05:30 - Storm losing players  

09:25 - Storm lost their bite?  

11:42 - Golden Boot winner  

15:02 - Injuries as a kid  

21:52 - Tigers player swap  

25:17 - Origin debut  

26:43 - Best ever Hooker?  

29:04 - Social media danger  

31:05 - Craig Bellamy  

33:45 - Storm army camp  

38:53 - AFL vs NRL  

40:30 - Captaincy  

43:07 - Grand Finals  

49:01 - Hobbies  

54:47 - Advice for kids  

56:05 - Rapid fire question...

Talented halfback Sean O’Sullivan fits the saying “rugby league journeyman” better than most.

At just 27 years of age, O’Sullivan has played NRL for six clubs - Roosters, Broncos, Warriors, Panthers, Dolphins and now the Bulldogs.

A hard working and skilful player, O’Sullivan has had to overcome multiple setbacks to make it to the top.

O’Sullivan is the son of leading recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan and has been around the game since he can remember. His knowledge is undeniable. His passion second to none.

In this epis...

Ken Callander is an Australian national treasure.

The legendary media personality warmed the hearts of millions of Aussies while successfully forging a career in print, television and the radio industry.

In this episode of Chiming In, Kenny shares some hilarious stories about his rise to fame from humble beginnings.

Highly respected, innovative and with a wicked sense of humour, Kenny reflects on numerous short stories which will entertain you from start to finish.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Start

00:04 - Highlights

04:08 – First memories of th...

At just 21-years-old, Max Jorgensen has already played 20 Test matches for the Wallabies.

Chased by NRL clubs, the talented youngster recently committed to Australian Rugby for five years.

Only two players - Michael Hooper and Loti Tuqiri - have previously signed similar long term deals.

Jorgensen’s decision to pledge his allegiance to rugby is just the beginning. 

In the episode of Chiming in, Jorgensen talks about his love for the game, his desire to help Australian Rugby become super successful and the reason why he turned his...

Cam McInnes is a rugby league warrior.

Often photographed at the end of a match will a bloody face and missing teeth, the NSW State of Origin representative concession 2026 will be his swan song at the club.

And with a premiership window well and truly at Cronulla, McInnes is hoping to go out on a high.

Soon to return from reconstructive knee surgery, McInnes speaks openly about the recovery process, his plans for the future and why this could be the Year of the Shark.

He tells...

Shane Richardson stepped down at Wests Tigers CEO in December last year - just as the Club was finally finding its feet.

There were fears the highly regarded league official might have been lost to the game forever.

In this exclusive interview - his first since stepping aside - Richardson opens up on his love for the Tigers fanatical fans, his desire to get back into the game, why Benji Marshall is the right man to take the Club forward and why the NRL should buy the English Super League.

...

He’s considered one of the most feared yet respected front rowers in modern day rugby league.

Jared Waerea-Hargraves is the highest capped Sydney Rooster and boasts three premiership rings.

Last season, he left the NRL for a swan song in the English Super League and came up trumps - winning the Challenge Cup, League Leaders Shield and the Premiership.

In his first ever podcast appearance, JWH exclusively shares the highlights of an amazing career and reveals what drives him to success. He also shares how he turned his back on...

We're back for season two of Chiming In with a bang!

James Hooper tells all in this candid sit down interview with Chimes. He is extremely open and honest about his battles with alcoholism, his sacking from Fox, his 'love, hate' relationship with his father, finding ways to put money on the table, and gives us an exciting update!

We hope you enjoy.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Start

02:00 - The car crash

10:00 - Getting fired from Fox

13:54 - Finding work

16:50 - Getting...

Seven years of torment finally put to bed

AFTER seven long years, St George Illawarra star Jack Debelin has finally tasted justice.

Last week’s sentencing of the lead detective who oversaw the rape allegation case against him was convicted of perjury after lying to the court while giving evidence.

In this episode of Chiming In, Debelin speaks for the very first time.

He shares his fears and frustration throughout the trial process and the relief he felt when the charges were finally dismissed.

He...

As a teenager the talented journalist could be found sitting on the hill whenever the St George Dragons had a home game at Kogarah Oval.

After falling in love with the game, Pitt reveals how she navigated a pathway into the media and hasn’t looked back.

Highly respected and well liked, Lara Pitt has become a household name in journalism since linking with Fox Sports almost 20 years ago.

In this episode of Chiming In, she shares her journey, her plans for the future and what it’s like working in w...

Every rugby league player has a story but few have overcome more humble beginnings than dashing try scoring winger Ricky Walford.

Born and raised in Western NSW, Walford became a household name in the 1980s, plying his trade with Eastern Suburbs, North Sydney and St George.

In this episode of Chiming In, Walford talks openly about a his journey after being raised on a mission before finding his way to the bright lights of Sydney.

The way he articulates the challenges he overcame to get to the top will inspire...

Brad Clyde can’t hide his excitement as his beloved Canberra Raiders storm towards their first premiership since 1994.

The former champion lock forward knows better than most what it takes to win a competition.

Rated as one of the best players of all time, Clyde burst onto the rugby league scene in the late 1980s before becoming a household name through the 1990s.

He played in three grand finals and was awarded the Clive Churchill medal on two occasions. He played a key role in Canberra’s 1989 grand final win over...

Bob McCarthy is considered one of the greatest rugby league players of all time.

He’s captained Australia, won premierships for Souths and was made a Member of the British Empire for his services to the sport.

In this episode of Chiming In, McCarthy shares stories of the Rabbitohs’ glory days where he played alongside greats like John Sattler, John O’Neill, Mike Cleary and Eric Simms.

He also speaks openly about the day he and his wife Judy almost lost their lives in the Black Summer bushfires in 2020.

...

Todd Carney was once the undisputed Bad Boy of the NRL.

Constantly in trouble with police, sacked by clubs and deregistered by the game - Carney struggled with an alcohol addiction and constantly found trouble.

But things have changed.

Two and a half years ago, the former Dally M Winner decided he needed help and checked himself into rehab in a desperate bid to save his relationship with partner Susie.

Today Todd Carney is living a healthy and happy life - giving back to the game and...

Jada Taylor announced herself to the rugby league world on June 23, 2022 when she ran from try line to try line to score a game breaking try for NSW against Queensland in an Under 19s match.

If you haven’t seen it - you should google it.

Millions of fans viewed the try both here and abroad - even movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson acknowledged her achievement.

FanaticsTV viewers might have already met Jada Taylor on Kenty Blitz, Footy For Real or Fox Sports where she is making a name fo...

Tommy Herschell is fast becoming one of the best known names in Australian sport. And he hasn’t had to make a tackle, sink a putt or wield the willow to catch the headlines.

The founder of a charity called Findyafeet - Tommy and his team run school, sporting and community based workshops for people young and old.

It provides a platform for people to tell their story, the skills to own their stuff and the tools to shift culture that’s been holding them back from speaking up for far too long.

Bob Tate is one of Sydney’s best known publicans - you name it, he’s seen it.

In the 1990s Tate owned and ran the Clovelly Hotel, deep in the heart of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. 

Rugby league, union, cricket, AFL and surf lifesaving stars would flock there - making it one of the best known sporting pubs in the country. Jockeys, trainers and bookmakers would also frequent the establishment.

In this episode of Chiming In, Tate shares countless yarns about the sports men and women who often walked a fine...

Frank Ponissi is regarded the best general manager of footy on the business.

After dreaming of becoming an nrl player and later hoping to become a head coach, Ponissi’s journey took him into administration and he’s made every post a winner. Ponissi’s journey took him all over the world until I’m 2007 the Melbourne storm came knocking and he’s never looked back.

In this episode of chiming in - you will hear how the ponissi and Craig Bellamy combination is unbreakable. He talks of his intentions for the storm to continu...

Nik Kosef is a rugby league warhorse.

No player in the history of the game has undergone four knee reconstructions - yet somehow the kid from Cobar kept climbing off the canvass.

In this revealing interview on Chiming In, Kosef takes the blame for Manly’s grand final loss to Newcastle in 1997 - and explains why he shoulders the burden for the loss.

It’s been an amazing roller coaster ride for the international back rower who hid his love of rugby league from his father when he was a chil...

He’s played, coached and is now considered one of the game’s best administrators.

Between all that, the man they call Gus has juggled a hugely successful media career.

So what makes Gus tick?

In this episode of Chiming In, Gould opens up on his journey, the highs and lows and shares some secrets of his success.

Hopefully you will learn something about Gus that you never knew before.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Weidler has been a rugby league journalist and television reporter for almost 40 years.

It’s been a crazy journey which has seen him experience plenty of highs and lows in the industry.

Recruited by Channel 9 chief David Gyngell, Weidler changed the way rugby league news was reported on TV - earning himself a reputation as hard nosed reporter who constantly broke big news stories.

In a very revealing and honest assessment of his career, Weidler explains what makes a good story, how he has made some enemies and what dr...

Former International Brett White almost walked away from the game he loved before his professional career began.

The powerful front rower embarked on his first pre-season with the Melbourne Storm 2005 when he and his team-mates were enrolled in a brutal army camp.

Exhausted and hallucinating, White admits he went searching for coach Craig Bellamy in the middle of the night to tell him the sport wasn’t for him.

In this episode of Chiming In, White shares how he managed to recover and go on to win two premierships with th...

Two of the game’s most powerful player agents Steve Gillis and David Riolo go toe to toe in a cutting and raw-edged debate about the world they live in.

The veteran agents - with almost 60 years experience in the industry between them - share their secrets, what it’s like working as an agent, the highs and the lows and the key to their success.

It’s a not to be missed episode of Chiming In which will give you an insight into player managers and the lives they lead.

The...

Former Canterbury centre Ben Harris holds a unique record in rugby league having won back to back premierships in two hemispheres.

He is the only player in the game’s history to have done this - winning the 2004 NRL premiership with Canterbury and the English Super League the following year with Bradford.

After growing up on a dairy farm and finding his way to Sydney, Ben shares his experience of debuting as an 18-year-old, winning his first championship as a 20-year-old and then heading to play in England at age 21.

In...

Sean Garlick has that Midas touch.

He’s worked as an actor, a professional rugby league player, a police officer, a sports commentator and now runs a hugely successful business - Garlo’s Pies.

Hard work and good fortune has seen Sean Garlick succeed beyond his wildest expectations.

In this episode of Chiming In, the former South Sydney and Roosters skipper, shares the secrets of his success - including how he stumbled into an acting career and almost became a jockey instead of a footy star.

He also...

Ashton Sims boasts an imposing record, having played 368 professional games of rugby league.

Sims represented five clubs - St George Illawarra, Brisbane, North Queensland, Warrington and Toronto Canada during a 17 year career.

He debuted as an 18 year old, played for Country and Fiji and was regarded a hard working and imposing forward with a great off-load.

In this episode of Chiming In, Sims shares stories of his upbringing, how former Australian great Craig Young befriended and mentored him as a teenager, how Mick Cronin showed him the right path to...

Max King was born to play rugby league. His great-grandfather, grandfather and dad all played first grade footy.

King's dream of following in their footsteps didn’t go to plan. In fact, it appeared all-but certain his career had come to a halt at the end of 2021 when an Achilles tendon injury failed to respond to treatment.

Frustrated and without a Club, King explains how he was ready to retire until Canterbury’s Phil Gould threw him a life-line and the rest is history.

King has now arrived as NSW Stat...

Currently the second highest point scorer in the history of the game, Reynolds has some big decisions to make regarding his future as clubs circle to lure him away from the Brisbane broncos

In this episode of chiming in - the premiership winning halfback talks about his future, his desire to coach in the NRL and what he considers to be the best day of his footballing career. It will surprise you.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Start

01:26 - Adam's fashion label

02:30 - New deal or retirement?

9:28...

Few strength and conditioners can boast a resume as long or impressive as Ron Palmer.

The former Balmain rugby league player, found a career as a trainer shortly after retiring from football.

With over 50 years experience in rugby league, no-one knows sport like Palmer.

In this podcast he shares his highs and lows, secrets to success and talks about what every individual needs to do to get healthy.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Start

01:16 - Strength and Conditioning & self care

05:30 - Playing for Balmain<...

Greg Florimo is regarded one of the North Sydney Bears finest servants.

Having played a record 285 games for the Club, Florimo has been instrumental in North Sydney’s push for re-entering the NRL in partnership with a new Perth franchise.

Until now, the former NSW and Australian representative has been guarded about sharing his thoughts on the Bears potential re-instatement but today’s decision by the NRL Commission’s to rubber stamp their resurrection has opened the door for Florimo to finally celebrate.

Florimo speaks exclusively about the journey, the frustr...

Laurie Daley is one of the most highly regarded people in rugby league.

Daley is three time premiership winner, a former Nsw and Australian captain and one of the most competitive and dynamic players in the game’s history.

But the champion Canberra Raiders legend has unfinished business - that being ensuring NSW continues to shine at State Of Origin Combat

In this revealing interview, Daley talks about why he wanted to return at Blues coach, his plans his beloved State and his burning ambition to ensure an Origin whitewash.

Tarryn Aiken is regarded as the best female rugby league player in the World.

Recently named the Golden Boot Winner, Aiken has dominated at NRLW and representative level for the past few seasons.

But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the 25-year-old Queensland representative with Aiken having to overcome family tragedy to achieve all her goals.

In this episode of Chiming In, the champion five-eighth shares her high and lows, achievements and setbacks and reveals what got her through some of her most challenging moments.

Hosted on...