England ‘Terrified’ as Papenhuyzen Eyes R360 Exit
Broadcasting from Liverpool during the Kangaroos’ tour of the UK, Paul Kent, Warren Livingstone, and Mark "Spud" Carroll deliver a sharp assessment of the international game and the tectonic shifts occurring within the NRL. From England’s "pedestrian" performance to the shock release of Ryan Papenhuyzen, the panel explores a sport in the midst of a massive transition.
England in Strife: A "Terrified" Performance
The panel was scathing in their review of England’s first Test against Australia. Kent argued that the current England side lacks the "enforcer" presence of previous eras, such as those led by Sam Burgess or James Graham. He observed that the English team appeared mentally "terrified" of the Australians, a sentiment he felt was perfectly captured by fullback Jack Welsby’s reluctance to engage Angus Crichton during a break. Kent noted, "the first thing you do as a fullback... is you advance on the ball runner... he stayed on the try line." He predicted a dominant Australian victory in the second Test, suggesting the Kangaroos could easily "hit 40" as they blow out the remaining cobwebs.
The Papenhuyzen Release and the R360 Threat
A major talking point was the Melbourne Storm’s immediate release of Ryan Papenhuyzen, a move Kent interprets as a precursor to the star joining the R360 breakaway league. While Papenhuyzen’s public statement mentioned "exploring other options," Kent believes this is a calculated test-run for the new competition. He suggested the Storm’s lack of conditions on the release makes Papenhuyzen a free agent, noting, "it’s been cleverly done because it’s been handled in a way that he can go and have a look at R360... and if he doesn't like it... he just says 'I want to come back and play.'"
The "Panicked" 10-Year Ban
Kent was equally critical of the NRL’s decision to impose a 10-year ban on players who defect to R360, calling the move "inexperienced" and "panicked." He argued that the ban makes the NRL look weak and under threat, contradicting Peter V'landys’ earlier dismissal of R360 as a "cornflakes competition." Kent suggested that a more seasoned administration would have remained "cool" about the threat, as the actual risk of losing elite playmakers like Nathan Cleary or Reece Walsh remains minimal due to R360’s lack of a proven long-term future.
Melbourne’s $2 Million War Chest
The departure of Papenhuyzen, alongside the exit of Nelson Asofa-Solomona, has reportedly left the Melbourne Storm with a $2 million "war chest." Kent and the panel discussed the likelihood of the Storm making a massive play for Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who is now able to negotiate for the 2027 season. Kent highlighted a specific clause in Tino's Titans contract that could allow him to leave after 2026, making a return to his original club a strong possibility. He argued that Tino’s lack of "risk" compared to Asofa-Solomona would make him an ideal fit for Craig Bellamy’s side.
Expansion and the Perth Bears
The conversation turned to the future of the Perth Bears and the difficulties of building an expansion roster. Kent warned that throwing "absolute top dollar" at marquee stars like Tino could be "murder" for a new club. He explained that paying massive overs for the first five signings leaves the rest of the roster thin, creating a lack of depth that can destroy a team when injuries strike. The panel also touched on the potential for Cameron McInnes to be one of the first major signings for the Perth-based outfit as they look to establish a competitive presence in the league.
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
