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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