Grand Final Spanners, Betting Scams, and "Incumbent" Wars
In the lead-up to the 2025 NRL Grand Final, delivers a mix of breaking news, nostalgic war stories, and sharp analysis. Kenty and Woz discuss the latest on Teddy Swims, James Tedesco’s shock Kangaroo tour decision, and a deep dive into the "Dally M betting scam" that once saw the police knocking on Kenty’s door.
Teddy Swimming Away?
A major talking point heading into the weekend is the status of American singer Teddy Swims, who was slated for the pre-game entertainment. Reports that he cancelled Hawaii concerts due to vocal issues have sent NRL headquarters into a spin.
"The hope is that he did that to save his voice for the grand final... [but] there is a little bit of a concern and a bit of a whisper that he might not play this weekend."
Kenty, ever the skeptic of modern pre-game acts, recalled the chaotic history of Grand Final entertainment, from Billy Idol’s hovercraft malfunction to the infamous "Balloons Abbott" saga where a New South Wales Rugby League secretary had to blow up hundreds of balloons by mouth because they forgot the pump.
Tedesco’s "Incumbent" Snub
Despite a resurgence in form, James Tedesco has officially ruled himself out of the upcoming Kangaroo tour. Kenty used the moment to blast the "incumbent" selection philosophy that has historically kept the best-performing players out of representative jerseys.
"I’m not a big believer in the incumbent... James Tedesco had a clearly better season than Dylan Edwards... he should have been picked for Origin."
Kenty predicted that in Tedesco's absence, Reece Walsh will likely be named the Australian fullback, despite Dylan Edwards currently holding the spot. "I think Kevy Walters will name him as the Australian fullback... it’s something you hang on the wall when you finish."
The Dally M Betting Scam: "The Police Knocked on My Door"
With the Dally M Awards approaching, Kenty took a walk down memory lane to a 2010 scandal involving leaked results and a "mischievous" investigation.
"Me and Fletch [Brian Fletcher] were under investigation... what happened was the TAB suspended betting on Coach of the Year... Bellamy had come in from 7.50 to 1.80."
Kenty explained how two young men collecting the votes had leaked the results to friends, leading to massive bets on Craig Bellamy. "I had the coppers knocking on my door... I said, 'Mate, it’s 100 dollars.' They told me everybody that had 100 dollars or more on the result, they had to interview."
Referee Watch: Atkins Over Klein
The NRL has confirmed Grant Atkins will referee the Grand Final, a move Kenty supports after Ashley Klein’s controversial performance in the preliminary finals.
"Klein blew it in that game on the weekend... he appears to have lost his confidence. He was trying to penalize his way out of it... he doesn't like the game to flow because it gets away from him."
Kenty believes Atkins is a "good appointment" but warned that the "pre-emptive strike" comments from Storm enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu might be a calculated tactic to test the referee’s resolve early in the game.
R360: Honor Among Thieves?
Regarding the threat of the R360 rugby breakaway, Kenty is skeptical of the NRL’s ability to legally ban returning players.
"If there’s any kind of class action... I don’t think the NRL can win. The court system cannot order those clubs to pick them... it’s just going to be whether there’s any honor among thieves among the NRL clubs."
He remains unconcerned about a mass exodus, noting the game's resilience: "When Sonny Bill Williams left... we got on with it, didn't really miss him. The game has just got such this capacity to just find new talent."
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
