The Perth Millions, Fifita’s Exit Strategy, and the "Ask Kenty" Mailbag
In this episode of Kenty Blitz, Kenty and Woz dive into the massive financial power of the upcoming Perth franchise, the deteriorating situation for David Fifita at the Titans, and a rapid-fire round of fan questions covering everything from refereeing accountability to the "biggest" club in Sydney.
The Perth Gold Rush: Mining Millions and Third-Party Deals
The show opens with news that player managers are already on the ground in Western Australia, scouting third-party sponsorship opportunities for the 2027 Perth Bears entry. Kenty highlights the unique financial landscape of WA, noting that "mining money" is on a different level compared to the East Coast—citing examples of ex-sportsmen receiving $50,000 just for a lunch appearance.
He predicts that superstars like Cameron Munster will be the primary targets, as their managers leverage the deep pockets of Perth businesses to supplement their salary cap earnings. However, Kenty remains cynical about the transparency of these "sweetheart deals," arguing that the gap between the rich and poor clubs is much wider than the NRL publicly admits.
David Fifita: The "Shortcuts" and a Potential Souths Lifeline
Rumors are swirling that David Fifita has personally reached out to Wayne Bennett about a move to South Sydney. Kenty suggests Fifita is out of favor with Titans coach Des Hasler and that both parties might be looking for an exit.
Drawing a comparison between Fifita and Tevita Pangai Jr., Kenty warns that Fifita is on his "last chance" to fulfill his massive potential. He recounts a story from Ricky Stuart’s time at the Raiders, where Pangai Jr. demanded a locker before playing first grade—a move Stuart saw as a sign of someone looking for a "shortcut" rather than earning their stripes.
Moving Turbo: Why the Center Experiment is Failing
Responding to fan questions about Tom Trbojevic’s move to center, Kenty points out a startling statistic: Turbo is making double, and sometimes triple, the amount of tackles as the center on the opposite side.
Opposition teams are deliberately "running traffic" at him to wear him down defensively and dull his attacking spark. Kenty argues that rather than "saving his legs," the move is actually exhausting him, and he expects Manly to move him back to his roaming fullback role sooner rather than later to regain his dominance.
Ask Kenty: The Biggest Clubs and Refereeing Woes The "Ask Kenty" segment covers a range of hot topics:
- The Biggest Club in Sydney: Kenty identifies Penrith as the current powerhouse due to their financial setup and sold-out stadium, noting that Parramatta has "fallen away" from that title.
- Refereeing Accountability: Addressing the frustration of fans, Kenty believes the game has moved too far into "managing" instead of "officiating," creating a "mess of string" that could take a decade to unwind.
- The Gagai U-Turn: On Newcastle re-signing Dane Gagai after a fan petition, Kenty quotes the legendary Jack Gibson: "If you listen to the fans, you'll soon be sitting with them."
Finals Strategy and Short Dropouts
Kenty shuts down the idea of a pre-finals bye week, preferring the momentum of uninterrupted football. He also offers a firm "yes" to bringing back penalties for unsuccessful short dropouts, arguing the current rules offer no real advantage to the receiving team.
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
