The Spoonbowl Stakes, Broadcast Power Plays, and the "Third Man" Dilemma
Kenty and Woz break down the high-stakes "Spoonbowl" between two coaching legends, the disciplinary fallout from a heated Bulldogs-Tigers clash, and the shifting landscape of NRL broadcast rights.
The Battle for Coaching Pride: Bennett vs. Hasler
The focus shifts to a rare scenario: the "Spoonbowl" between the Titans and the Rabbitohs. Kenty points out an incredible statistic—between Wayne Bennett and Des Hasler, they have over 50 years of combined coaching experience and 1,500 games, yet neither has ever finished a season with the wooden spoon. While the game sits at the bottom of the ladder, the pride of two of the game’s greatest minds is on the line. Kenty notes that Bennett’s injury-ravaged Souths are virtually "bankrupt" in terms of salary cap on the field, while Hasler is still trying to instill a harder edge in a Titans side that keeps finding ways to lose.
Brent Naden’s Breach and the "Gang Sign" Controversy
The NRL has officially issued a breach notice to Tigers center Brent Naden following a provocative gesture made during the win over the Bulldogs. Kenty discusses the $5,000 fine and the warnings handed to three other players, noting that while the "gang signs" or aggressive gestures were a bad look, they were symptomatic of the "spiteful" atmosphere surrounding the game. He argues that Naden needs to "own his actions" rather than hiding behind social media, especially when the passion of the fans is what makes these rivalry games so intense.
The Kaufusi Tackle and the "Third Man" Risk A major talking point is the tackle by Felise Kaufusi that resulted in a broken leg for Max Feagai. Kenty analyzes the mechanics of the "third man in," explaining why these tackles are so dangerous when a player’s weight is applied to a stationary limb. While the Warriors have called for harsher penalties to match the injury length, Kenty dismisses this as a "dumb idea," insisting the game must be judged on the tackle’s intent rather than the medical outcome, which is often down to bad luck.
V’landys and the ESPN Model Kenty shares insights from a recent discussion with ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys regarding the future of NRL broadcasting. Inspired by the NFL’s relationship with ESPN, there is talk of the NRL potentially owning a stake in a media platform. However, Kenty remains skeptical that this will happen in the next cycle. He highlights the current financial struggle of traditional networks and suggests the NRL is more likely to leverage its "content king" status to drive up the price between rival streamers and free-to-air giants.
Ask Kenty: From Heavyweights to Halfbacks In the mailbag segment, Kenty tackles fan questions with his signature candor. He settles the "Greatest Heavyweight" debate by backing Muhammad Ali, citing his ability to dominate two completely different eras of boxing. On the field, he shut down suggestions of a "try-scorer kicks the goal" rule, labeling it another gimmick that would ruin the specialist nature of the game. Finally, he weighs in on the Rookie of the Year race, noting that while the Bulldogs have some flashy youngsters, the consistency of the Roosters' pathway players remains the gold standard.
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
