The Water Boy "Gamesmanship," Tigers’ Gang Signs, and the Soft Salary Cap Debate
The boys tackle the brewing "Water Boy" scandal involving Penrith, the controversial behavior of Wests Tigers fans and players, and whether the NRL should ditch the hard salary cap for an NBA-style soft cap.
The Penrith "Water Boy" Tactics: Pushing the Rules
The show opens with a deep dive into the $50,000 fine handed to a Penrith trainer for "gamesmanship" during the clash with the Titans. Kenty reveals that one trainer remained on the field for five consecutive tackles during the set leading up to Nathan Cleary’s field goal—well past the allowed limit.
He argues that modern "water boys" are essentially coaches on the field, directing players into position for field goals. Kenty dismisses Phil Gould’s defense of the incident as a "smother" designed to distract from the behavior of Bulldogs fans, calling the NRL’s "she’ll be right" attitude a sign of "weak leadership."
The Galvin Fallout: Gang Signs and Fan Abuse
Following the Tigers' upset win over the Bulldogs, images surfaced of fans giving it to the Tigers players, which led to some aggressive on-field celebrations. Kenty defends the right of fans to boo and jeer within reason, but argues that players like Brent Naden should "own it" instead of deleting social media after retaliating.
The discussion takes a sharp turn into the "woke" culture of the game, with Kenty criticising the "participation award" mentality and the lack of "bad boy" identities in modern rugby league. He suggests the Tigers' emotional celebration was the very energy that won them the game, even if it lacked a bit of class.
The Soft Cap Revolution: Should the NRL Follow the NBA?
Warren Livingstone proposes a radical shift: moving from the current hard salary cap to an NBA-style "soft cap" with luxury taxes. Kenty admits the idea has merit but remains cynical about the NRL’s ability to police any cap properly.
He shares explosive claims that roughly 30-35% of clubs are still finding ways to cheat the cap, from "brown paper bags" to sophisticated third-party deals. Kenty argues that for a salary cap to truly work, it must be paired with a draft—something the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) has fought against for decades. He suggests the only way forward is for the NRL to "compensate" the players with a massive one-off payment to finally agree to a draft system.
Injury vs. Penalty: The Felise Kaufusi Debate
The Warriors are officially calling for Felise Kaufusi to receive a harsher penalty to match the six-week injury he caused to a Warriors player. Kenty slams this as a "stupid idea," arguing that if penalties matched injuries, teams would deliberately fake the length of a player's rehabilitation just to keep an opposition superstar suspended for longer. He insists the game cannot be officiated based on the outcome of an injury, but rather the intent and nature of the tackle itself.
Succession Planning and the "Blazer" Mentality
Kenty identifies why clubs like the Storm and Roosters stay at the top: discipline and succession planning. He notes that while the Storm are already grooming 17-year-olds to replace Jerome Hughes in four years, other clubs are still "trying to figure out what they’re doing next week." He also takes a swipe at boards still run by men who just want their "blazer" and a seat in the chairman’s lounge rather than hiring professional cap managers.
Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.
