Bulldogs, Titans and Souths comebacks, Broncos are "kidding themselves"

Paul Kent and Warren Livingstone break down a chaotic round of the NRL, where massive form reversals and dramatic comebacks have left the ladder in a state of flux.

The Great Comeback Weekend

The round was defined by teams rising from the canvas. The Canterbury Bulldogs stunned the Canberra Raiders after trailing 20-0, a result Kent believes cements the Bulldogs as genuine top-tier threats while exposing the youthful fragility of the Raiders. Similarly, the Gold Coast Titans fought back from a 20-point deficit against Newcastle, a feat Kent suggests proves Des Hasler still has the full support of his dressing room despite off-field contract rumours.

Crisis at the Knights and Tigers

The mood is far more sombre for the Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers. Kent pointed to the Knights' "dower" attack and lack of creativity in the halves, questioning why high earners like Jackson Hastings aren't being utilised to fix their minute-to-minute inconsistency.

The Tigers, however, hit rock bottom following a demolition by the Melbourne Storm. Kent didn't mince words, accusing the Tigers of a lack of "desire and attitude," specifically highlighting instances where players chose to shoulder opponents rather than compete for the ball. The controversy was compounded by Jarome Luai’s father posting—and then deleting—a "get-out clause" joke on social media, an act Kent described as an ill-timed attempt at humour that would not sit well with the long-suffering Tiger Town faithful.

Broncos Under Fire

The Brisbane Broncos’ capitulation against South Sydney has brought Michael Maguire’s intense training methods into the spotlight. Addressing reports that players are "bitching" about the workload and a recent harbour cruise being a distraction, Kent was scathing: "If you're a professional rugby league player and your week is so unsettled that you lose a game because your coach takes you on a harbour cruise... pull your head in." He noted that champion teams like Penrith and Melbourne never complain about training hard, suggesting the Broncos lack the accountability required to win a premiership.

The "Water-Gate" Controversy

The panel also addressed Penrith trainer Shane Elford being caught watering the ball before a kick-off. While some might see it as minor gamesmanship, Kent called for harsh penalties, including suspensions. He argued that with the NRL taking significant revenue from betting agencies, the integrity of the result is paramount and should be decided solely by the players on the field, not by trainers employing "park footy" tricks.

Origin Watch: Latrell vs. Turbo

Latrell Mitchell’s dominant performance against the Broncos has likely sealed his spot in the New South Wales centres for the upcoming Origin series. With Tom Trbojevic’s role now a point of debate, Kent suggests a pairing of Latrell on the left and Stephen Crichton on the right is the most probable path for Blues coach Michael Maguire.

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.

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