🏉 Welcome to Chiming In

Ben Lovett joins the show to share his powerful rugby league journey, from growing up in Parkes and chasing an NRL dream, to breaking through at South Sydney before a devastating knee injury changed everything.

Ben opens up on the physical and emotional reality of rehabilitation, being advised to medically retire, the support of his family and South Sydney, and finding a new purpose through coaching, community work and mentoring young players.

⏱️ TIMECODES

0:00 — Welcome to Chiming In

2:20 — Growing up in Parkes, sport and a love of rugby league

6:00 — Being spotted and moving to Sydney to chase the dream

11:30 — Finding his feet at South Sydney

20:00 — Working through the grades and earning his opportunity

24:20 — NRL debut, family support and Sam Burgess’ influence

26:30 — The NSW Cup grand final and the devastating knee injury

30:15 — Diagnosis, surgery and the long rehabilitation process

33:20 — When medical retirement became a real possibility

35:10 — Souths Cares, community work and finding purpose during rehab

37:00 — Wayne Bennett’s difficult but honest retirement conversation

40:00 — Trying to return, telling his family and accepting the decision

42:00 — Transitioning into coaching at South Sydney

45:40 — Mentoring young players and life in the player house

50:30 — Mental health, grief and asking for support

52:00 — Ben’s advice for young players and parents

54:10 — Living without regret and looking ahead

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Terry Kennedy joins Chiming In for a brilliant trip through his career in Australian sport and media

From growing up around greyhound tracks with his father Frank Kennedy, to learning the ropes in regional newsrooms and calling almost 200 NRL games, TK shares the stories, characters and moments that shaped his career.

He also reflects on working alongside some of sport’s biggest names, his love of racing, unforgettable trips to Hong Kong, South Africa and Royal Ascot, plus the changing landscape of Australian racing and sports media.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 — Welcome to Chiming In

1:30 — Terry Kennedy’s early media days and radio stories

6:00 — Growing up as a punter and life around the racetrack

10:00 — Frank Kennedy, greyhound racing and family memories

15:00 — School, rugby league and Terry’s first break in journalism

20:00 — Early newsroom disasters and finding his feet on air

25:00 — Queensland sport, Wally Lewis and league’s great characters

30:00 — Calling nearly 200 NRL games and the arrival of pay TV

35:00 — Covering sport: commentary boxes, sideline reporting and TV memories

40:00 — Wild racing stories from South Africa and country race days

45:00 — Melbourne Cup memories, Hong Kong and Royal Ascot

50:00 — The future of racing, ownership and wagering

55:00 — Sporting icons, Greg Norman and media’s big personalities

1:00:30 — Wayne Bennett, final stories and 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, 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

Head to www.fanatics.tv for written versions of these interviews.

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