Stefano’s Grand Final Warning Shot

Kenty and Woz cover the explosive storylines following the preliminary finals as the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos prepare for a high-stakes Grand Final. The discussion covers everything from Stefano Utoikamanu's personal "hit list" to the "Super League" style threat of the R360 rugby breakaway.

Maguire’s "Steel" and the Broncos' Fitness

Kenty broke down how Michael Maguire’s intense training regime—which faced heavy criticism earlier in the year—proved to be the difference in the Broncos' 14-0 comeback win over Penrith.

"He's put that edge in them. And I know he copped a lot about players whingeing that they were training too hard and all that... But they wouldn't have won their past two games if they weren't as fit as they are."

Kenty compared Maguire's impact to the legendary Kelvin Giles era. "Wayne Bennett learned... that for all their superstar status and all the talent they had, there was that tough edge that they didn't have... Kelvin Giles came in and said to Wayne, 'What do you want me to do with them?' He said, 'Put some steel in them.' And that was it."

Stefano Lights the Fuse: "They Are Stuck Up"

The physical stakes of the Grand Final were ratcheted up by Storm enforcer Stefano Utoikamanu, who went public with his dislike for certain Brisbane players.

"I’m keen to get out there and run someone over. I don’t want to name names. There are a lot of people I think are a bit stuck up... I want to run at a lot of people I don’t like on the Broncos."

Kenty noted that while fans love the spice, Craig Bellamy would likely be fuming. "I reckon Craig Bellamy—I would love to have been in their football office... I don't think he'd be happy with that at all... All you've done is provided another little bit of ammunition."

Master vs. Apprentice: The Coaching Civil War

The tactical battle features Craig Bellamy against his former long-time assistant, Michael Maguire. Kenty highlighted Maguire’s intimate knowledge of the Melbourne system.

"His right-hand man for much of that was Michael Maguire. He was there, he was the main assistant coach for many, many years... So he has a very intimate understanding... Maguire knows exactly what's going to go on there."

The R360 Threat: A New Super League War?

A major talking point was the emergence of "R360," a breakaway rugby union competition reportedly targeting NRL stars with massive contracts. Kenty warned of a legal mess similar to the 1990s.

"This is exactly what happened with Super League... Legally, they can't do that [ban players]. It'll be a restraint of trade... I've been down this road 30 years ago. It’s not a pleasant way to go."

He predicted that even if the NRL tries to ban returning players, desperate clubs will break ranks. "It takes one guy to break the rule. One team... when you’re 16th and you can sign [a superstar], I think you might go ahead and do it and you’ll say screw the rest of you."

Ask Kenty: Quickfire Questions

• On the Storm's Grand Final favorability: Kenty noted that despite the Broncos' form, the Storm's spine is the difference. "They are just a different team when they've got the four of them [Hughes, Munster, Papenhuyzen, Grant]... Their threats are all over the shop."
• On Stefano vs. Haas: Kenty expects a "volatile moment" at the opening kickoff. "There’s every chance two guys come out of that first tackle knocked out... They will find each other, whichever way it goes."

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.