Kenty - Paul Kent NRL Podcast

The big guns are together for a full NRL year-in-review. Paul Kent, James Hooper and Steve “Chimes” Gillis look back on the biggest stories, controversies, players and moments from the season then turn their attention to what’s ahead.

From the media debate, rule changes and the commission, to recruitment, expansion, Origin, the game’s best players and plenty of banter, this is the full-length Fanatics TV rugby league wrap.

Timecodes:
0:00 - Welcome and the year’s biggest talking points
1:00 - NRL media scrutiny and the “media cop” debate
5:00 - Broadcast rights, criticism and the media landscape
10:00 - Back in the game, FanAxe TV and Vegas
15:00 - The year’s controversies and league entertainment
20:00 - The NRL’s big-event approach and public reaction
25:00 - Peter V’landys, the commission and power in the game
30:00 - Six-again, fatigue and rule-change debate
35:00 - Breakout players, Origin and season standouts
40:00 - Judiciary calls, suspensions and dangerous tackles
45:00 - Club spending, development and roster-building
50:00 - Penrith’s recruitment and retention model
55:00 - Tigers, coaching pressure and player movement
1:00:00 - Payne Haas, South Sydney and Wayne Bennett
1:05:00 - Expansion: Queensland, New Zealand, Perth and Adelaide
1:10:00 - The game’s best players and premiership windows
1:15:00 - Super League, rugby union and international opportunities
1:20:00 - Leaks, media narratives and PNG’s entry
1:25:00 - State of Origin: Billy Slater, Laurie Daley and the future
1:30:00 - Off-field stories, recovery and closing banter
1:35:11 - End
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The grand final is here, but can Newcastle complete one of the greatest fairytales in rugby league history?

Paul Kent and Paul Crawley break down the Knights’ remarkable run from wooden spoon to the decider, the challenge of taking down the star-studded Roosters, and why Kalyn Ponga could hold the key.

The team also unpack Justin Holbrook’s coaching influence, the pressure on Trent Robinson’s Roosters, what makes the perfect NRL coach, the Gold Coast Titans’ identity crisis, and the great teams that fell short of winning a premiership.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 — Can Newcastle pull off the grand final upset?
0:37 — Wooden spoon to grand final: the history behind Newcastle’s run
3:49 — The 1997 Knights and Newcastle’s fairytale spirit
9:54 — Parramatta 2001 and lessons from past grand finals
14:14 — Newcastle vs Roosters: can the Knights match the superstars?
16:12 — Kalyn Ponga, the Roosters’ edges and Newcastle’s game plan
17:30 — Justin Holbrook’s impact on the Knights
22:55 — Why Holbrook’s coaching style is working
29:20 — Newcastle’s community connection and grand final fever
31:04 — What does the perfect NRL coach look like?
32:07 — The Titans’ identity crisis
39:12 — Holbrook’s belief, rebuilding confidence and coaching culture
40:03 — Why the next great coach may not be a young coach
42:03 — Holbrook, Trent Robinson and the Roosters connection
43:18 — How the Roosters rediscovered their grit
50:42 — Which great teams should have won a premiership?
53:25 — Famous grand final upsets and near-misses
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🏉 Welcome to Kenty Blitz
Paul Kent and the team deliver their final grand final preview as the Newcastle Knights prepare to take on the Sydney Roosters.
Kenty unpacks Newcastle’s incredible run, the Dally M Awards debate and why Justin Holbrook may feel hard done by after missing out on Coach of the Year. He also discusses Nathan Cleary’s dominant season, the debate around Immortal status, and why rugby league needs to protect the value of its greatest honours.

Plus, the latest on Latrell Mitchell’s future at South Sydney, grand final team selection and concussion calls, Cody Ramsey’s remarkable comeback, the key Roosters v Knights match-ups, and the final predictions.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Final grand final preview: Roosters v Knights
02:07 — Dally M Awards: has the night lost its prestige?
05:30 — Justin Holbrook, Andrew Webster and Coach of the Year
09:47 — Nathan Cleary’s clean sweep and the Immortal debate
18:53 — Latrell Mitchell’s South Sydney future
22:26 — Newcastle injuries, team selection and player welfare
25:55 — Roosters v Knights combined team: key match-ups
29:00 — Cody Ramsey’s incredible road back to football
30:51 — How the Knights can win the grand final
32:00 — Why the Roosters are favourites
32:44 — Final predictions and wrap-up

Fanatics.tv
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🏉 Welcome to Kenty Blitz: “It’s All Done” Herbie Roosters Whispers Grow | Kenty Blitz
Paul Kent breaks down the biggest stories in rugby league as the NRL Grand Final draws closer.

Kenty reflects on Newcastle’s extraordinary finals run and the Knights’ grand final fever, before making his calls on the Dally M awards — including why Nathan Cleary remains the man to beat.

Plus, he unpacks Phoenix Crossland’s heartbreaking four-week suspension, Nathan Cleary’s classy response, and whether Newcastle’s judiciary case could have been argued differently.

Kenty also discusses the grand final pre-game entertainment debate, Connor Watson’s bid to be cleared under concussion protocols, Daly Cherry-Evans’ confidence, the coaching chess match between the Roosters and Knights, Herbie Farnworth’s likely move, and Parramatta’s decision to extend Jason Ryles.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Newcastle’s Grand Final Fever
00:45 — Dally M predictions: Nathan Cleary’s case
02:40 — Coach and Captain of the Year debate
05:10 — Dally M history, betting controversy and old media rivalries
10:55 — Phoenix Crossland’s four-week Grand Final ban
13:10 — The Grand Final pre-game entertainment debate
16:09 — Connor Watson’s concussion clearance bid
19:22 — Daly Cherry-Evans embraces the Grand Final moment
21:15 — Rested players, finals scheduling and Grand Final preparation
24:00 — Roosters v Knights: the coaching chess match
24:52 — Herbie Farnworth to the Roosters?
25:45 — Parramatta’s Jason Ryles extension
27:09 — Wrap-up

Fanatics.tv
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Paul Kent breaks down the biggest stories in rugby league as the NRL Grand Final draws closer.
Kenty reflects on Newcastle’s incredible finals surge, Adam Gee’s appointment as Grand Final referee, and the pressure that comes with officiating the biggest game of the season.

Plus, he discusses Nathan Cleary’s remarkable season, his classy message of support for Phoenix Crossland, and why the Knights forward’s suspension is a heartbreaking Grand Final blow.

Kenty also unpacks the NRL’s mystery pre-game spectacle, the changing leadership of the game, the debate around Herbie Farnworth’s hip-drop tackle, and Billy Slater’s warning about the unintended consequences of rule changes.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Newcastle’s Grand Final Fever
03:02 — Adam Gee Appointed Grand Final Referee
05:23 — Nathan Cleary’s Players’ Champion Award & Classy Crossland Message
10:44 — NRL’s Mystery Grand Final Pre-Game Spectacle
14:56 — Phoenix Crossland’s Grand Final Ban
17:42 — The NRL’s Leaders: Quayle, Gallop, Greenberg & V’landys
25:04 — Herbie Farnworth’s Hip-Drop Tackle v Crossland’s Suspension
28:22 — Did Nathan Cleary’s Leg Break Before the Tackle?
30:37 — Billy Slater on Rule Changes and Tackling Technique
34:12 — Wrap-Up

Fanatics.tv
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