Chiming In - Steve Gillis, Player Manager

Come inside the world of player agent and Chiming In presenter Steve Gillis as he gives us a bird’s-eye view into the deals, drama and decision-making behind the NRL player market.

Having worked in rugby league as a journalist and player agent for almost 45 years, Chimes brings his trademark honesty and insight to Part 2 of this wide-ranging conversation.

In this episode, Chimes breaks down Penrith’s player-market outlook, Tolutau Koula’s future at Manly, Melbourne’s expected bounce-back and whether Cronulla’s premiership window is closing.

Plus, he explains the realities of Super League money, what went wrong at the Wests Tigers, Phil Gould’s role at the Bulldogs, the possibility of R360 returning, Laurie Daley’s Origin pressure, third-party deals, notional value and how agents support players through crises.

It’s raw, revealing and a fascinating insight into how the rugby league player market really works.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Coming Up
00:45 — Intro
01:30 — Penrith’s November Player-Market Outlook
03:10 — Tolutau Koula, Manly and Anthony Seibold
06:12 — Melbourne Storm’s Rebuild
07:30 — Is Cronulla’s Premiership Window Closing?
09:05 — Cameron McInnes and the Reality of Super League Money
10:35 — What Went Wrong at Wests Tigers?
11:40 — Bulldogs, Phil Gould and Roster Changes
13:20 — R360: Can the Rebel Competition Return?
15:16 — Laurie Daley, Origin Pressure and the Media
17:59 — Unsigned Players and Contract Pressure
20:03 — Adam Ritson’s Remarkable Story
25:03 — Should the NRL Invest in Super League?
28:40 — Las Vegas, Global Round and NRL Expansion
30:38 — Third-Party Deals Explained
32:58 — Notional Value and Salary-Cap Scrutiny
35:46 — What It Takes to Become an NRL Player Agent
39:20 — How Agents Handle Player Crises
42:14 — Steve on Podcasting, Media and the Future
47:04 — Wrap-Up
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Come inside the world of player agent and Chiming In presenter Steve Gillis as he gives us a bird’s-eye view into the deals, thrills and spills he’s overseen this season.
Having worked in rugby league as a journalist and player agent for almost 45 years, Chimes knows the ins and outs of the game as well as anyone.

In this episode of Chiming In, he gives us an inside look at Sam Walker’s future, how Adam Reynolds’ send-off was bungled, what’s next for Josh Papalii, and why the Dragons’ Couchman twins put their negotiations on hold.

Plus, Chimes unpacks PNG’s recruitment plans, the Perth expansion challenge, player retirement funds, the coach market, and why smart recruitment is the key to sustained NRL success.

It’s raw, revealing and a fascinating insight into how a player agent goes about his business.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Intro
01:49 — Adam Reynolds’ Retirement and Brisbane Exit
06:50 — Sam Walker’s Roosters Future
17:01 — Hugo Savala’s Roosters Loyalty
18:53 — DCE’s Career Crossroads
19:48 — PNG’s Recruitment Plans: Alex Johnston & Zac Lomax
26:41 — Alex Johnston’s South Sydney Exit That Never Happened
28:54 — Perth’s Marquee Player Challenge
31:10 — Can the NRL Sustain a 20th Team?
34:21 — Preparing Players for Retirement
36:07 — How the NRL Retirement Fund Works
40:56 — How Player Agents Find and Sign Talent
42:48 — Dane Gagai’s Move to Brisbane
44:46 — How Clubs Land Marquee Players: Ben Hunt
46:25 — Why the Couchman Twins Paused Negotiations
50:43 — Dean Young’s Coaching Journey
55:28 — Do NRL Coaches Need Agents?
59:56 — Should the NRL Add a Second New Zealand Team?
60:55 — Parramatta’s Recruitment Challenge
62:24 — Scott Drinkwater’s Cowboys Exit
65:35 — Brisbane, Madge McGuire & the Broncos’ Future
68:50 — Newcastle’s Turnaround
69:50 — Justin Holbrook’s Coaching Revival
70:27 — Are the Dolphins the Expansion Blueprint?
71:38 — Titans Recruitment, Roster Management & Penrith’s Dynasty
73:51 — Wrap-Up
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Inside Jai’s Journey.

South Sydney CEO Blake Solly has been front and centre since news of Jai Arrow’s battle with Motor Neurone Disease began.

In this episode of Chiming In, Solly shares insight into Jai’s courage and the way he has inspirationally lifted his teammates this season.

He also reveals how coach Wayne Bennett was instrumental in ensuring Arrow was credited with 100 NRL games for the Bunnies — and how Souths pitched the idea to the NRL.

But there’s more. Solly openly discusses:
- The signing of Payne Haas
- The futures of Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell
- Why the NRL should invest in Super League
- The new CBA
- Wayne Bennett’s use-by date
- Souths legend Nathan Merritt and his battle with cancer
- South Sydney’s premiership chances

It’s a must-watch episode for every rugby league fan — not just
Rabbitohs supporters.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro: Inside Jai’s Journey
1:45 - Jai Arrow’s MND Diagnosis & the Rugby League Community’s Response
6:00 - Jai’s 100-Game Milestone & the Emotional Gold Coast Tribute
9:30 - Payne Haas: How Souths Got the Deal Done
14:00 - Why the NRL Should Invest in Super League
17:30 - Wayne Bennett’s Role in Jai Arrow’s 100th NRL Game
20:00 - Souths’ Culture, Facilities & Building a Lasting Club
26:00 - Souths Cares, Nathan Merritt & Supporting Former Players
30:00 - Does Wayne Bennett Have a Use-By Date?
32:00 - Cody Walker & Latrell Mitchell’s Futures
34:00 - NRL Expansion and Funding Club Pathways
38:00 - Can South Sydney Win the Premiership?
40:00 - The New CBA and Player Payments
46:00 - Why Financially Strong Clubs Matter
48:00 - Souths’ Stance on Gambling Sponsorships
50:00 - Making Rugby League More Accessible for Kids
52:00 - John Sutton’s Ongoing Role at Souths
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Tim Gilbert has covered two Olympics, US golf majors, the Commonwealth Games and 11 years producing the Sunday Footy Show — but he started out earning nine grand a year at a tiny radio station in Goulburn, and very nearly lost the job in his first few months.

Gilbert takes us from his early days growing up as one of six kids in Guildford, through a thousand dollars' worth of job applications that finally landed him a start at 2GN, to the night he slept through his alarm and left the Goulburn rural news off the air for nine minutes. He shares stories from three decades in Sydney media — stripping off on the Today Show, playing schoolboy rugby league alongside Greg Alexander, and the chaos of live TV crosses gone wrong.

There are big names throughout too: a Kerry Packer safari-suit blow-up, a first-class seat next to a food-averse Tony Greig on the way home from covering cricket in India, and the story behind Beanies for Brain Cancer, born from the loss of his Channel 9 colleague Matt Calendar. Gilbert also opens up on leaving Nine "in the most public fashion" and why he has no regrets about any of it.

In this episode of Chiming In, Tim Gilbert looks back on a career that took him from a country radio booth to some of the biggest stages in sport and media.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
01:36 - Welcome: Tim Gilbert joins Chiming In
02:04 - A career across the Today Show, Olympics and more
03:06 - Growing up half-Lebanese in Guildford, one of six kids
04:26 - A thousand dollars applying for radio jobs
05:06 - Landing his first gig at 2GN Goulburn
06:25 - The night he slept through the rural news
18:57 - Radio and TV bloopers, and taking his shirt off on the Today Show
20:22 - Playing schoolboy rugby league, and missing "the tackle"
21:54 - Eleven years producing the Sunday Footy Show
23:09 - Reading the news, and the chaos of live crosses
24:48 - Coat and tie above the desk, thongs below
32:08 - Covering cricket in India, and the "cream rises to the top" upgrade
39:19 - Kerry Packer, and the origin of Beanies for Brain Cancer
40:44 - A love of Sound of Music and Willy Wonka
43:03 - Life now: Lead Story, NSWRL and life after Nine
44:37 - Leaving Nine in the most public fashion
45:33 - No regrets along the way
46:13 - Wrap-up
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Dave Trodden runs one of Australian sport's biggest and least understood organisations — the New South Wales Rugby League turns over more than $50 million a year, oversees 126,000 players across 700 clubs, and controls every competition in the state bar the NRL and NRLW.

Trodden takes us inside the business of Origin: why Matt King was the right call to succeed Laurie Daley, whether Ivan Cleary has put his hand up for a future crack at the job, and why he expects Origin player payments to eventually double. He also opens up on protecting referees after a wave of public controversy, why bush footy is in far better shape than people think, and the extraordinary economic value the game's 40,000 volunteers add each year.

It's not all boardroom talk, either — Trodden shares the story of falling in love with rugby league at Balmain's famous 1969 grand final upset, how he ended up on the Wests Tigers board almost by accident during the fractious merger years, and becoming chairman in time for the club's fairytale premiership win in 2005.

In this episode of Chiming In, Dave Trodden gives a rare inside look at how the game is really run, from grassroots to Origin.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
01:25 - Welcome: NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden joins Chiming In
02:14 - What people get wrong about the NSWRL
02:54 - The Blues as one of Australia's biggest sporting brands
03:48 - Matt King's appointment as Origin coach
05:01 - Did Ivan Cleary put his hand up?
10:41 - Why a club coach can't also coach Origin
11:57 - Will Origin players push for a bigger pay packet?
13:39 - A Monday morning inside NSWRL headquarters
19:51 - Protecting referees, and the Tamworth suspension controversy
21:01 - Is bush footy really dying?
23:28 - Visiting Junee with Laurie Daley
24:12 - Getting retired players back into country footy
25:44 - The economic value of 40,000 volunteers
28:08 - How Magic Round in Tamworth came about
39:20 - Falling in love with rugby league at the 1969 grand final
41:38 - Joining the Wests Tigers board almost by accident
44:02 - Becoming chairman during the merger fallout
45:21 - The fairytale run to the 2005 premiership
53:43 - Origin scheduling, PNG games and jersey tweaks
55:33 - Could City vs Country ever come back?
56:31 - Does the job ever feel appreciated?
58:29 - Wrap-up
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