 In 1936 he moved to the South Island's West Coast and played rugby league for the Waiuta club before a shoulder injury ended his playing career.He began a career in radio in 1937 when he began work as programme organiser for the National Broadcasting Service at station 2YD in Wellington.During the Second World War he worked with well-known sports broadcaster Wallie Ingram as a result of a posting to the Army Education and Welfare service.