Ben Ikin: State of Origin Youngest Ever & the Power of Doing the Job Well

Ben Ikin is the Head of Football at the Brisbane Broncos — one of Australia’s largest sporting organisations — and still holds the record as the youngest ever player to debut in State of Origin. In this episode, Ben reflects on his upbringing on the Gold Coast, a family full of sport, music and performance, and how that shaped the conversations and values he carried into rugby league. He shares a funny story about being selected for Queensland before his coach even knew what he looked like, and offers plenty of insight into life after sport. We dive into his transition from elite athlete to media personality and leader, and the habits that helped him succeed — particularly his daily writing routine during his 10-year run on NRL 360. One key takeaway: “I haven’t so much fallen in love with what I do, but I’ve fallen in love with doing the job well — so people want to keep me around.” Ben is also a proud supporter of two great causes: Men of League Foundation – https://menofleague.com Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation – https://www.pcsrf.org.au Plenty of wisdom, a few laughs, and some practical tools for anyone navigating big transitions. Enjoy! About David Mead:David played 14 years of professional rugby league, representing the Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Titans, Catalans Dragons, and captaining the PNG Kumuls. With over 230 professional games and 15 international appearances , he’s gained valuable insight into what it takes to perform at the highest level. Now, through conversations with fellow athletes, business minds, and community leaders, David shares real stories and lessons to inspire and empower the next generation. Connect with David and follow him on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.mead.94 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmead411/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmead411 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mead-7604b986/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@davidmead411?lang=enYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@davidmeadpodcast