Latrell’s 5/8 Gamble, the Perth Expansion Collapse, and the Panthers’ Tipping Point

Paul Kent and Warren Livingston dissect a positional bombshell at South Sydney, the shock death of Perth’s NRL expansion dream, Penrith’s apparent dynasty wobbles, and team news in this Kenty Blitz.​

Latrell Mitchell: from fullback to five-eighth

Latrell Mitchell heads to five-eighth for Souths’ Cowboys clash, partnering Jaden Sullivan with Cody Walker and Jamie Humphreys sidelined. Kent lauds Wayne Bennett for tapping Mitchell’s “alpha male” drive to shift him infield, where he can dominate without the fullback’s aerobic grind or defensive workload—positions Kent says Mitchell never fully mastered.​​

Sullivan’s organising style makes him the ideal foil, letting Mitchell change games up front.

Perth expansion: the deal is dead

The anticipated North Sydney Bears launch as Perth’s 19th team has collapsed. Kent blames WA Premier Roger Cook’s political jitters amid AFL pushback on taxpayer dollars, turning this weekend’s Souths‑Cowboys and Manly‑Sharks games into pure promo rather than expansion teasers.​

Bears icon Billy Moore is “devastated”, leaving the club’s future in limbo.​

The Panthers’ tipping point

Another Panthers defeat reignites talk of their dynasty cracking. Kent says they’ve lost too much core at once for the “next man up” magic to hold, and agrees with Andrew Johns that Nathan Cleary must simplify his game—the kids can’t yet read his complex calls, sparking errors.​​

The “backyard footy” deficit

Kent mourns the fade of instinctive “backyard footy” smarts—exemplified by Sam Walker or the Walters boys—in favour of overcoached athletes who fumble basics like two‑on‑ones or loose balls. He praises Canterbury under Cameron Ciraldo for “smart percentage footy” education on the simple stuff that grinds out wins.​

Team news and halfback pressure

Tigers welcome back Jerome Luai and Samuela Fainu, whose absence was glaring against Brisbane. Dragons’ Lachlan Ilias sweats on kicking woes costing tight games; Roosters’ Chad Townsend (34) falters on bread‑and‑butter boots; Dom Young risks reserve grade after defensive howlers, including a botched intercept

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.