Perth Bears Marquee Raid, DCE’s ‘Coaching’ Loophole, and the NRL’s Growing ‘Rot’
In the latest installment of Kenty Blitz, Paul Kent and Warren Livingstone take a deep dive into the aggressive recruitment strategies of the incoming Perth Bears, a controversial contract structure at the Sydney Roosters, and the brewing tension at the Newcastle Knights.
Perth Bears Launch $4M Recruitment Raid
The Perth Bears have wasted no time in signalling their intent for their 2027 entry into the NRL, reportedly targeting a "spine" of superstar talent. Kenty reveals that early discussions are already underway with Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Munster. In a surprising twist, the Storm are allegedly open to Munster’s departure, provided his destination is Perth rather than a direct competitor. Joining him on the Bears' radar is Titans powerhouse Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who Mal Meninga is reportedly courting with a massive $1.5 million per season offer. The expansion club is also keeping a close eye on Sharks hooker Blake Brailey, whose refusal to sign a short-term extension at Cronulla suggests he is waiting for the Perth market to officially open in November.
The DCE ‘Coaching’ Loophole Sparks Salary Cap Row
The most contentious talking point of the week involves Daly Cherry-Evans and his move to the Roosters. Kenty has slammed the reported structure of the deal—a one-year playing contract followed by a guaranteed multi-year coaching position—as a blatant attempt to circumvent the salary cap. He describes this trend as a "rot" in the game, where wealthy clubs use post-career "ambassador" or "coaching" roles to top up playing salaries. Kent contrasts this with the NRL’s strict treatment of the Canberra Raiders and Josh Papalii, noting the hypocrisy in how the governing body monitors contract "fair value" for some clubs while appearing to ignore creative accounting in others.
Adam O’Brien and the ‘Kiss of Death’
Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien remains firmly under the microscope following lukewarm public support from club executive Peter Parr. Kenty dissects Parr’s recent comments, identifying the use of "corporate-speak" phrases like "as far as I'm aware" and "the foreseeable future" as the classic "kiss of death" for an NRL coach. He argues that if a board is truly behind their man, the language is definitive; any ambiguity usually signals that the search for a replacement has already begun behind the scenes.
Round 21: High Stakes and Heavy Hits
Looking ahead to the weekend’s action, the Roosters and Storm face off in a blockbuster clash that Kenty believes will test Melbourne’s "grinding" ability without Munster. Meanwhile, the Dragons travel to North Queensland in what is tipped to be an upset, with Kenty praising Shane Flanagan’s ability to make the Dragons "scrappier" and more resilient than in previous years. The round also features a sentimental return to Belmore for the Bulldogs, where a capacity crowd is expected to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their 1995 Grand Final victory over Manly.
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
