Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Rivenight for Night Marney and Campo. We have the CEO
of Queensland Rugby League with us this morning, Ben A
k a hitch Icon.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Mate, No I haven't. I've run out a few of
my previous nicknames this week. People have been asked and
I said, well, you know how many iterations have done?
I said, well, when I was at the gold Coacht Seagulls,
the Craigg Coleman, former South Sidney Rabbit is Great called
me Fretis because I was so young.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yeah, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, I got to I got to the Bears, and
I was at a fan day one day and pretty
well that knows me knows if I had another freckle,
i'd have to put in my pocket. And a young kid,
as I was signing his autograph said, you've got skin
like a leopard. So Leopard stuck. Then Hitch came along
at some point. I've had Sena as in icon, Tina
Turner yeah, which I think was the Royal h two things.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
So yeah, yeah, there's a few, right, And you just
added the album back in there.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Lot of people don't understand that, you know, state of origin,
and I'm not sure whether this is still a thing
that it is Queensland Rugby League versus New South Wales
Rugby League, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
The NRL actually own the event, so it's their event.
Get the they sell it as part of the broadcast rights.
It all goes back to the national governing body.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Gotcha.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
But in OW I don't want to get too technical
here on morning Radio, but in the constitution and the
other foundation documents in the Peck Commission came in in
twenty twelve, is that we are asked to prepare the
two now four origin teams for that event, so we
get funded accordingly. So the role of the state leagues
(01:40):
is to appoint the coach, the selectors who then select
the team and then fund all the costs that come
with running the program which ultimately prepares the players to
go out and winning the our own jerseys. That's how
it operates.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
So there's a bit involved, to be honest, Well there is.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
And a bit of pressure because I mean coins Land
when when the Morons are winning, the whole state walks taller.
And that's not lost on anyone who wears a Marone jersey,
even the guys that transition from wearing the jersey to
coaching the team of players who wears that jersey. You know,
Billy and Jonathan Thurston, Josh Hannay, Matt Bellen, they've all
been there before and eight miles they're in charge of
(02:19):
this lot. And the big thing has all the big
thing that's always driven Morones players is that you're playing
for something bigger than yourself, which is all of those
people who love the Morons across Coeensland. And so it's
not just for you, it's not just for your family.
It's for a whole stack of good people who are
going to feel better about themselves should your team win.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Where we are for someone like yourself, as of course
you've played, now you're in the position you are. I mean,
I know you'd get excited, but do you feel the
pressure at this time too?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I get nervous. It's the only time a year that
I embraced the game as a fan, and even though
on the the Queens and Rugby League, my job is
kind of done after you know, I appoint the coach,
you know he'll build the budget and then I hand
it over and I trust the our coach. I trust
Billy Slater, and only because I've gotten to know him.
(03:14):
He was my favorite player back when I was an
analyst of the game. And the thing I know about
Billy is that everything that's come his way, all the
success that he's had, is well earned and on purpose.
He takes a very deliberate approach. And beyond that, beyond
just being a capable guy, he's also passionate about points
Land and he knows and understands what it takes to
(03:34):
win irash and football. So I'll be there on Wednesday night.
I have complete faith in Billy. I know he'll prepare
that side well and that that team will give itself
the best chance to boot the Blues.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
As a see of Queensland Rugby League. Have you got
anything to do with picking the coach?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And absolutely, Now it's a conversation happens with our boards.
So we've got nine directors and you know when a
coach's contract comes up, so Billy Slater's got this year
around next to you to run. But ultimately, you know,
we have that conversation in a group of directors, together
with a couple of people on my executive team and
of course the coach of the side. But it's it
(04:11):
is rigorously assessed to ensure that whatever program we're rolling
out for the Maroons. Is world class, Bennie.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
It's thirty years since the nineteen ninety five Fatty's nobody's
which you were a part of. You you're at that
stage the youngest player of all time? Are you still there?
Is there anyone who's been younger than you?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I've still got the record, still got a record soon
we Ginness Book of Record for the younger start of
origin player ever. Yeah, and it was Look, it was
unique circumstances. Let's not forget back in nineteen ninety five.
It was the start of the Super League War. The
game had been torn in two and Arthur Beatson, who'd
watched me play coins in under seventies of the year before,
he said, well, look there's his kid down the coast.
(04:54):
He just turned out and he's played three first grade
game and he goes all right, and Fatty said, never
heard of him. He said, but you think you can
get the job done. Arthur said yes, and so he said,
well let's put him in and then the rest is history.
We went on to ri in that series three nil.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yeah, it was amazing, perfect, totally.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So my son's playing at the moment, he's playing well
under seventeen, so I'm now picturing that.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, you put it into Ben's son. My son and
Kevy walders son all played red football together when they
were juniors. Went named Benny.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, yeah, no, No, it's a sport. Is such a
wonderful thing. You know, regularague these days is so engaging.
I mean, you know, I know this because of the
role I feel now, but we're going to have to
seventy thousand participants across Queensland who all love this game
and continues to get bigger and better every year. And
the thing that makes me most proud is that environment.
(05:43):
So that's three hundred and fifty six clubs that cater
for those seventy thousand players. We've got dreams. One day
we're in the my own jersey. That all gets delivered
by twenty thousand people who work for nothing, our volunteers,
you know. So you know my memories of my own
junior sporting experience with my kids, your sporting experience, as
I have a warm heart for all of those people
(06:05):
who sign up to do those jobs because without them,
the kids don't get the opportunity to chose their dreams.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Absolutely all right, Well, Ben, I thank Queenslander, that's que
landa ga you mighty morah, your legend.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Thank you so much, pleasure,
Rivenight for Night Marney and Campo. We have the CEO
of Queensland Rugby League with us this morning, Ben A
k a hitch Icon.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Mate, No I haven't. I've run out a few of
my previous nicknames this week. People have been asked and
I said, well, you know how many iterations have done?
I said, well, when I was at the gold Coacht Seagulls,
the Craigg Coleman, former South Sidney Rabbit is Great called
me Fretis because I was so young.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yeah, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, I got to I got to the Bears, and
I was at a fan day one day and pretty
well that knows me knows if I had another freckle,
i'd have to put in my pocket. And a young kid,
as I was signing his autograph said, you've got skin
like a leopard. So Leopard stuck. Then Hitch came along
at some point. I've had Sena as in icon, Tina
Turner yeah, which I think was the Royal h two things.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
So yeah, yeah, there's a few, right, And you just
added the album back in there.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Lot of people don't understand that, you know, state of origin,
and I'm not sure whether this is still a thing
that it is Queensland Rugby League versus New South Wales
Rugby League, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
The NRL actually own the event, so it's their event.
Get the they sell it as part of the broadcast rights.
It all goes back to the national governing body.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Gotcha.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
But in OW I don't want to get too technical
here on morning Radio, but in the constitution and the
other foundation documents in the Peck Commission came in in
twenty twelve, is that we are asked to prepare the
two now four origin teams for that event, so we
get funded accordingly. So the role of the state leagues
(01:40):
is to appoint the coach, the selectors who then select
the team and then fund all the costs that come
with running the program which ultimately prepares the players to
go out and winning the our own jerseys. That's how
it operates.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
So there's a bit involved, to be honest, Well there is.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
And a bit of pressure because I mean coins Land
when when the Morons are winning, the whole state walks taller.
And that's not lost on anyone who wears a Marone jersey,
even the guys that transition from wearing the jersey to
coaching the team of players who wears that jersey. You know,
Billy and Jonathan Thurston, Josh Hannay, Matt Bellen, they've all
been there before and eight miles they're in charge of
(02:19):
this lot. And the big thing has all the big
thing that's always driven Morones players is that you're playing
for something bigger than yourself, which is all of those
people who love the Morons across Coeensland. And so it's
not just for you, it's not just for your family.
It's for a whole stack of good people who are
going to feel better about themselves should your team win.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Where we are for someone like yourself, as of course
you've played, now you're in the position you are. I mean,
I know you'd get excited, but do you feel the
pressure at this time too?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
I get nervous. It's the only time a year that
I embraced the game as a fan, and even though
on the the Queens and Rugby League, my job is
kind of done after you know, I appoint the coach,
you know he'll build the budget and then I hand
it over and I trust the our coach. I trust
Billy Slater, and only because I've gotten to know him.
(03:14):
He was my favorite player back when I was an
analyst of the game. And the thing I know about
Billy is that everything that's come his way, all the
success that he's had, is well earned and on purpose.
He takes a very deliberate approach. And beyond that, beyond
just being a capable guy, he's also passionate about points
Land and he knows and understands what it takes to
(03:34):
win irash and football. So I'll be there on Wednesday night.
I have complete faith in Billy. I know he'll prepare
that side well and that that team will give itself
the best chance to boot the Blues.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
As a see of Queensland Rugby League. Have you got
anything to do with picking the coach?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
And absolutely, Now it's a conversation happens with our boards.
So we've got nine directors and you know when a
coach's contract comes up, so Billy Slater's got this year
around next to you to run. But ultimately, you know,
we have that conversation in a group of directors, together
with a couple of people on my executive team and
of course the coach of the side. But it's it
(04:11):
is rigorously assessed to ensure that whatever program we're rolling
out for the Maroons. Is world class, Bennie.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
It's thirty years since the nineteen ninety five Fatty's nobody's
which you were a part of. You you're at that
stage the youngest player of all time? Are you still there?
Is there anyone who's been younger than you?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I've still got the record, still got a record soon
we Ginness Book of Record for the younger start of
origin player ever. Yeah, and it was Look, it was
unique circumstances. Let's not forget back in nineteen ninety five.
It was the start of the Super League War. The
game had been torn in two and Arthur Beatson, who'd
watched me play coins in under seventies of the year before,
he said, well, look there's his kid down the coast.
(04:54):
He just turned out and he's played three first grade
game and he goes all right, and Fatty said, never
heard of him. He said, but you think you can
get the job done. Arthur said yes, and so he said,
well let's put him in and then the rest is history.
We went on to ri in that series three nil.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yeah, it was amazing, perfect, totally.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
So my son's playing at the moment, he's playing well
under seventeen, so I'm now picturing that.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, you put it into Ben's son. My son and
Kevy walders son all played red football together when they
were juniors. Went named Benny.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yeah, yeah, no, No, it's a sport. Is such a
wonderful thing. You know, regularague these days is so engaging.
I mean, you know, I know this because of the
role I feel now, but we're going to have to
seventy thousand participants across Queensland who all love this game
and continues to get bigger and better every year. And
the thing that makes me most proud is that environment.
(05:43):
So that's three hundred and fifty six clubs that cater
for those seventy thousand players. We've got dreams. One day
we're in the my own jersey. That all gets delivered
by twenty thousand people who work for nothing, our volunteers,
you know. So you know my memories of my own
junior sporting experience with my kids, your sporting experience, as
I have a warm heart for all of those people
(06:05):
who sign up to do those jobs because without them,
the kids don't get the opportunity to chose their dreams.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Absolutely all right, Well, Ben, I thank Queenslander, that's que
landa ga you mighty morah, your legend.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Thank you so much, pleasure,
Popular Podcasts
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.