Anzac Day, The Bears’ Return, and Transfer Window Turmoil

Kenty and Chimes dive into a packed agenda of NRL news. From the sensitivity of "Anzac Round" to the imminent return of the North Sydney Bears, and a deep dive into the "dark arts" of salary cap and transfer negotiations, Kent provides his usual unfiltered take on the game’s biggest talking points.

Is "Anzac Round" Becoming Too Commercial?

Kent addresses a concern raised by a veteran of 27 years regarding the expansion of Anzac Day into a full round of ceremonies. He acknowledges the sensitivity of the issue while pointing out the commercial origins of the marquee fixtures.

"Anzac Day is a day; it is not a weekend. We've turned the whole round into Anzac Round. Every game has an Anzac ceremony before the game, even though on Sunday it'll be April 27. I think it's a valid point that we need to be mindful that we're just not doing it for the sake of commercialising it and trying to make a quid out of it. No one will ever admit to that, but that’s how it sort of came about," Kent said.

He notes that the original St George vs. Roosters clash was a strategic move by broadcasters to create a "marquee game" in the middle of the season.

"The popularity of the game got so big so quickly that the other clubs initially were a bit dark. They were of the opinion, 'Well, how come they get this which is a cash bonus?' There was a commercial aspect to it, and that's where the other clubs said they wanted to get part of it," Kent added.

The Bears are Back: Western Australia’s 18th Team

The long-awaited return of the North Sydney Bears (as a Western Australian-based team) appears to be gaining momentum. Kent reveals that negotiations between the WA government and the ARL Commission have moved past an initial deadlock.

"It looks like it’s happening. The NRL asked for $120 million to get it over ten years. The government came back with a $35 million flat fee. Now, it looks like they've come back and said they'll get to $50 million, along with a promise to build a $200 million refurbishment of the ground over there. Getting the Bears back will be one of Peter V'landys' legacies. I think it's going to happen in 2027," Kent said.

He predicts the competition will move rapidly toward 20 teams to eliminate the "ugly" 17-team bye system.

"17 is an ugly number to have in a competition. By not having that game this week with the bye, that’s an opportunity missed to make money for the NRL through the broadcast. They’ll look for 20 teams pretty quick; I reckon that'll be the next broadcast cycle," Kent added.

The Trade Window and the "Dark Arts" of Negotiations

Kent remains skeptical of Shane Richardson’s calls for a formal trade window, arguing it won't stop the "under-the-table" deals he believes are already happening, specifically referencing the Lachlan Galvin situation.

"I'm convinced there have been negotiations. I've said before on the show, I think he’ll be at Parramatta; I think the deal is all but done already. Until a contract's lodged, the NRL can't do anything. Trade windows aren't the solve-all for me because you can still have negotiations and speculation will still arise outside of them," Kent said.

Kent also shared historical anecdotes about how some clubs have circumvented the salary cap in the past.

"There used to be an old official of a club—there's an award named after him that's very highly regarded—who used to walk around the dressing room after the game and pull out an envelope full of cash. He’d give it to the player and say, 'Give that to your wife when you get home.' They had to stop it because the dressing room cameras picked it up. When Melbourne got caught in 2010, every club suddenly sat down and went, 'Oh, we might need to be a bit careful.' For a year, it really was hardly anything going on, and then all of a sudden they started putting their toe back in the water again," Kent revealed.

Round 8 Preview: Bulldogs' Streak and Latrell's Return

Looking ahead to the weekend’s fixtures, Kent highlights the Bulldogs as the form team and discusses the impact of injuries at South Sydney.

"Canterbury are going for seven and zero if they win tonight. They've never done that in club history. With each game, you're waiting for them to just have that slight drop-off in intensity, but the way they defend and attack is like the old Canterbury—attacking defences. It's brutal," Kent said.

On South Sydney’s injury woes, "Souths have lost Cody Walker for six or seven weeks. That's a nasty one. Jye Gray has gone to five-eighth, and I think he might be a revelation there. He's played there his whole career coming through the grades. They won't resist the temptation to put him back to fullback and put Latrell Mitchell in at five-eighth for one more week if he does the job," Kent added.

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.