Chiming In - Steve Gillis, Player Manager

Peter O'Sullivan. Building the Dolphins, Warriors, Roosters, Storm & more!

Peter O’Sullivan is regarded the NRL’s premier recruitment manager having successfully shaped the playing rosters of teams like the Dragons, Roosters, Storm, Warriors and Knights over many years. He was also responsible for putting together the Dolphins inaugural team in 2023 - which, amazingly, less than four seasons later, is now considered a genuine premiership contender. So what does a recruitment manager do and how does he identify and procure talent. O’Sullivan is credited with unearthing and launching the careers of players such as Greg Inglis, Latrell Mitchel, Israel Folau, Roger Tuivasa-Scheck and many, many more. He also plays a key role in the salary cap management of his club. Today O’Sullivan is an integral part of the Newcastle Knights system and was the man responsible for luring Dylan Brown away from Parramatta in sensational circumstances. In this episode of Chiming In, you are given a birds’ eye view into the tricks of the recruitment manager’s trade - how they identify players, entice them to switch clubs and build powerful playing rosters. With new teams Perth and Papua New Guinea on the horizon, no-one is better qualified than O’Sullivan to comment on how their new look rosters are shaping up. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Start 00:04 - Highlights 01:45 – Recruitment Manager 03:05 – How He Put Redcliffe Together 05:05 – Negotiating with Wayne Bennett 06:20 – Roster Strategy 07:40 – Dolphins Knock Backs 09:20 – Who Said No to the Dolphins 10:20 – Signing Hammer 11:40 – What Do You Look For in a Player? 12:40 – Dealing with Knockback 15:45 – Joel Kane Story 17:20 – Family + Kids (Sean O'Sullivan) 19:20 – Busy Schedule 20:20 – How to Become a Recruitment Manager 23:20 – Managing Melbourne Recruitment 24:20 – Recruiting Greg Inglis 27:50 – Greg Inglis Being a Blue 30:05 – "The Pitch" 31:35 – Working with Player Agents 34:25 – Parents + Agent Pressure on Players 37:15 – Negotiating with Different Backgrounds 38:45 – Player Obstacles Getting Into the NRL 39:50 – Perth Bears Recruitment 42:05 – Helping the Knights Recruitment 43:45 – Dylan Brown Signing 47:10 – Re-Signing Ponga 48:20 – Justin Holbrook's Effects on the Club 49:30 – Premiership at the Knights 50:40 – How to Say No to a Player 51:53 – November Deadline + Trade Windows 54:15 – Coaches, Agents + Representation 56:21 – Israel Folau 58:05 – RTS 59:04 – Boyd Cordner 01:01:05 – Phone Visible on the Wide 01:01:10 – PNG Signings 01:03:10 – Club Bucket List ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Jordan Rankin. Debuting at just 16, Eels Captain/Coach & Super League!

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 coached the Eels NSW Cup team. Today, Rankin is an aspiring coach and is determined to make his mark. In this episode of Chiming In, Rankin recalls his journey, his plans for the future and discusses many of the challenges that face young players - just like he once was. It hasn’t been all plain sailing but Rankin’s recollection of his life as a rugby league player will inspire you. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Start 00:04 - Highlights 01:37 - 3rd Youngest Player to Debut in NRL 09:46 - Goals to Make NRL 10:54 - School before first NRL game 19:06 - Staying Grounded 20:09 - Dropped and NRL Return 22:19 - Should kids be allowed to debut before 18? 24:59 - Dealing With Anxiety 27:27 - Time at the Titans 29:09 - English Super League 35:01 - Coming back to the NRL (Tigers) 29:35 - Back to Super League again 41:00 - Back To NRL again (Parramatta) 45:05 - Captain/coach Parra Reserve Grade 48:30 - Flegg Coaching 49:18 - What makes a good coach? ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Phil “Buzz” Rothfield. Retirement, NRL scoops & the future of rugby league!

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 Andrew Abdo’s exit, Peter V’landys, the Canterbury Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm, NRL expansion and more. From retirement reflections to big calls on the future of the game, Buzz is back behind the microphone and he doesn’t sit on the fence. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Start 00:03 - Highlights 00:48 - Phil “Buzz” Rothfield returns 01:15 - Why Buzz retired 02:29 - Life after rugby league media 06:00 - Andrew Abdo steps down 08:25 - Payne Haas to South Sydney 10:30 - Canterbury Bulldogs struggles 14:24 - Rugby league supporting its own & Try July 16:42 - Melbourne Storm and Billy Slater 18:22 - NRL global round and the Roosters 20:35 - Dragons and Shane Flanagan 23:24 - Blowout scores and rule changes 26:39 - Coaching pressure 29:49 - Best coach in the NRL 30:36 - PNG, New Zealand and expansion 33:01 - Perth Bears 34:39 - Zac Lomax and R360 36:35 - State of Origin and Super League 38:54 - Penrith Panthers and Ivan Cleary 40:05 - Newcastle, contenders and Grand Final prediction 42:07 - Coach of the Year and Dally M judging 44:12 - Wests Tigers 45:13 - Suburban grounds and Shark Park 48:27 - Gold Coast Titans and coaching accountability 52:58 - Wayne Bennett’s future 54:27 - Referees and the bunker 55:35 - Women’s rugby league and Emma Lawrence 57:32 - NRL 360, media pressure and Magic Round 01:00:00 - Final reflections ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Michael 'Mouse' Jenkinson. Hero of Bondi, 'Bondi Rescue' TV show & saving lives!

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 episode of Chiming In, Jenkinson recalls that fateful day and how it will change the lives of so many forever. At tragic as the circumstances were, Jenkinson’s story - like so many other first responders - will inspire you. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Start 00:04 - Highlights 02:10 - Growing up 05:53 - Getting into being a Lifeguard 10:27 - Bondi Rescue 14:43 - Nickname Mouse 15:34 - 1st Day as a lifeguard 17:42 - Rescuing kids 24:27 - Bondi team 30:00 - Backpackers Rip 31:45 - Bondi attack 2025 43:21 - Ahmed El Ahmed 50:58 - Response from first responders 55:02 - The aftermath 01:01:35 - The Jewish community 01:02:28 - Mental recovery ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Cameron George. Forecasting Wahs supremacy, NZ league taking over union & Covid dark days.

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 a group of men and their families, who made an incredible sacrifice to ensure the game went on. In this episode of Chiming In, you will get to know the man behind the secrets of the Warriors success. From humble beginnings in Northern NSW, George has emerged as one of the game’s top administrators who is respected and liked by all. He gives an inside look at how the Warriors stayed afloat, while the world was seemingly crumbling. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Start 00:04 - Highlights 02:04 - 2026 GF on the cards 03:32 - NZ development pathways 05:14 - Invading recruits 07:42 - Recruiters in Aus for NZ 09:15 - Finding Webby 12:14 - Long term Warriors coach 13:25 - NZ undervaluing 15:15 - Competing with All Blacks 17:00 - Fanatical Wahs fans 20:19 - 20th team out of Wellington 23:16 - Womens game 26:50 - Does PNG have an unfair advantage? 30:17 - Getting players to Auckland 33:25 - When Covid hit 47:00 - Learning about players 51:48 - Pacific Islander family focus 52:53 - Homecoming for Wahs 54:38 - Club Haka 01:00:07 - Can Wahs dominate NRL? ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.