Hard Truths on High Tackles, the Bulldogs' Rise, and the DCE Drama

It has been a weekend of high-intensity football and equally high-stakes controversy, with Kenty and Woz pulling apart everything from the NRL’s approach to foul play to the rise of the Bulldogs and the latest twists in the Daly Cherry-Evans saga.

The Bulldogs: Top of the Table but Not the Finished Product

The Bulldogs now sit atop the ladder, and Kent admits their position is no longer a shock given their recent form. Under coach Cameron Ciraldo, they have forged a tenacious, hard-edged brand of football built on outstanding defence and a relentless collective work ethic. Yet Kent maintains they are still short of being a complete premiership side, arguing that their young halves need further development and the pack could use a little more depth before they can be considered genuine Grand Final favourites. He singled out back-rower Jacob Preston as a future representative player, praising his rapid rise and consistency since stepping into the top grade.​​

NRL’s Soft Stance on Sin Bins

Kent was withering in his assessment of the NRL’s officiating over the weekend, particularly around high tackles and the use of the sin bin. He pointed to the so-called “ghost rule” brought in over summer, which was meant to allow for retrospective sin bins but was conspicuously absent when several incidents occurred. Despite multiple “Grade 2 careless high tackle” charges being handed out post-match, on-field officials and the bunker declined to use the bin—cases involving Jordan Riki, Tom Gilbert, and Jerome Luai all drew scrutiny after the fact but attracted no immediate sanction during play.

The inconsistency was most stark in Luai’s incident, where his opponent Ed Kosi was forced from the field for an HIA, leaving the Warriors short while the Tigers played on at full strength. Kent argued that unless foul play is punished instantly with a sin bin or similar, the game will continue to send the wrong message about dangerous technique and fail to properly deter high contact.​

The Concussion Crisis and Victor Radley

The conversation then turned to the broader concussion crisis, with Victor Radley again at the centre after another concerning head knock. Kent raised the issue of “micro-concussions”—those moments when a player feels dazed or “sees stars” without losing consciousness—which he believes may be even more dangerous than a clearly diagnosed concussion, as they often go under-reported and under-treated. He also noted that modern defensive coaching has shifted risk onto tacklers, who are now encouraged to tackle upright and over the ball to shut down offloads rather than going low at the legs, increasing the chances of head clashes.

With Radley’s long history of head knocks, Kent expressed real concern that his career could be significantly shortened if nothing changes. He warned that the game is “running in danger” unless it forces a fundamental rethink of tackling technique to better protect players’ heads.

Daly Cherry-Evans: Smear Campaign and Tug-of-War

The drama around Daly Cherry-Evans shows no sign of easing after he suggested there was a “smear campaign” against him. Kent believes much of the negative information is being leaked from within Manly itself as the club grapples with the fallout from losing its long-time captain. He reiterated that several clubs remain in the hunt for DCE’s signature. While he has previously leaned towards the Dolphins, he now reports that the Roosters are “quietly but aggressively” pushing to land him in a move reminiscent of their Cooper Cronk recruitment, bringing in a champion playmaker to maximise a premiership window.

At the same time, Kent suspects the Bulldogs are lurking in the background, carefully monitoring developments while publicly denying any serious interest. A viewer question on whether a “loyalty discount” exists in the salary cap saw Kent explain that long-service allowances tend to be spread across the entire cap rather than directly sweetening one player’s individual deal, limiting their impact in these marquee negotiations.​

Trouble at Brookvale: Injuries and Internal Strife

Manly’s problems run deeper than their captain’s contract. Tom Trbojevic is facing another six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a medial ligament injury, continuing a frustrating pattern of setbacks. Kent speculated that Trbojevic’s injury record may be partly rooted in his extraordinary natural ability—that because he was so dominant as a junior, he never had to build the same foundational strength base as less gifted players, leaving him more vulnerable to the constant collisions of the modern NRL.

All of this places enormous pressure on coach Anthony Seibold. Kent contrasted the current situation with the old days under Bob Fulton or Des Hasler, when Manly regularly turned internal chaos into a siege mentality that fuelled their performances. He questioned whether this contemporary playing group has the resilience or unity to adopt that same “us against the world” identity, or whether the off-field noise will simply drag them down.

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.