Kenty - Paul Kent NRL Podcast

Paul Kent breaks down the 2026 NRL Grand Final as the Sydney Roosters edge the Newcastle Knights 19–18.

Kenty explains why Newcastle’s brave defence kept the contest alive, but the Roosters’ power through the middle, smart game management and big-match experience ultimately decided the premiership.

Plus, Daly Cherry-Evans’ field-goal moment, the impact of Phoenix Crossland’s absence, Trent Robinson’s coaching legacy, James Tedesco’s Clive Churchill Medal, Mark Nawaqanitawase’s final NRL game, Grand Final entertainment, and the Kangaroos squad.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Roosters v Knights: Grand Final overview
02:25 — Roosters’ physicality and Newcastle’s brave defence
04:55 — Phoenix Crossland’s absence felt at dummy-half
07:25 — Daly Cherry-Evans’ field goal and the Roosters’ halves partnership
09:30 — Why the Roosters signed DCE
12:00 — Trent Robinson, recruitment and the Roosters’ winning culture
15:00 — Robinson’s coaching legacy and future
18:00 — Grand Final officiating, consistency and key calls
25:00 — James Tedesco’s Clive Churchill Medal
27:00 — Roosters’ middle dominance and bringing collision back
28:30 — Farewell to Mark Nawaqanitawase
30:50 — The NRL Grand Final entertainment debate
35:30 — Kangaroos squad, new faces and World Cup plans
39:10 — Season wrap-up
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Paul Kent answers your biggest rugby league questions on Grand Final day.
Kenty breaks down Newcastle’s remarkable connection with its former players, why the Knights have such passionate support, and whether they can complete a fairytale run to the premiership.

He also discusses Nathan Cleary’s mental toughness after playing through injury, Phoenix Crossland’s Grand Final suspension, the hip-drop tackle debate, player development, Super League’s challenges and how the modern game compares with rugby league in the ’90s.
Plus, Kenty answers your questions on premiership rings, player recruitment, NRLW scheduling, short dropouts, expansion, the Knights’ attacking style and more.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Why Newcastle’s Old Boys Love the Club
03:00 — Who Deserves a Premiership Ring?
06:00 — Nathan Cleary’s Mental Toughness Through Injury
09:00 — Rugby League’s Toughest Players and Playing Through Pain
12:00 — Can Talent Really Be Identified and Developed?
15:00 — Player Value, Contracts and the Transfer Market
18:00 — Hip-Drop Tackles: Why the Debate Won’t Go Away
21:00 — Phoenix Crossland’s Ban and Grand Final Suspensions
24:00 — The Future of Super League
27:00 — Chris Heighington’s Remarkable Trial Story
30:00 — Injuries, Penrith and the Blaze Talagi Question
33:00 — NRLW Scheduling and Newcastle’s Grand Final Chance
36:00 — Why Rugby League Looked Better in the ’90s
39:00 — Newcastle’s Attacking Blueprint
42:00 — Short Dropouts, Expansion and Fan Questions
45:00 — Grand Final Predictions and Wrap-Up

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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

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