Early career Before entering broadcasting, Atkinson worked in professional rugby as a team manager for the Queensland Reds. After his time with the Reds, he lived in London, where he worked in the finance sector.
Nine Network Atkinson joined
Nine News Queensland, working across both the Brisbane and Gold Coast bureaus as a sports reporter and presenter. He also contributed to ''
Nine's Wide World of Sports'', including coverage of
Suncorp Super Netball and the Brisbane International tennis tournament. He had regularly filled in during the 2025–26 summer period prior to his appointment.
Stan He later became a presenter and broadcaster for
Stan Sport, covering major rugby competitions and producing commentary, analysis, and feature content.
Other Michael has also written sports opinion columns for the
Brisbane Times. In 2025, Atkinson appeared on the
Built in the Bush podcast, discussing his career path from rural Queensland to national sports broadcasting. == Personal life ==