No Flano, No Bula, latest on Loko and Latrell Responds to Kenty

Kenty and Woz dissect Dragons young gun Loko Pasifika Tonga's leaked release letter, slamming it as mutiny amid Drinkwater pursuit and Bula interest - while Flanagan's job hangs by a thread.

Loko Pasifika Tonga's manager goes public with release plea

Kenty kicked off with Adrian Proszenko's Sydney Morning Herald scoop printing manager Craig Clifton's full letter demanding immediate release for Dragons prop Loko Pasifika Tonga. "Following extensive discussions with Loko regarding the current standing within the club and the future career trajectory has become evident that continued tenure at the Dragons is no longer tenable or beneficial for either party," Clifton wrote. He added: "Loco has expressed deep and growing frustration regarding his lack of selection in first grade."

Clifton fired back at Dragons assurances: "While I know your written assurances that the Dragons hold Loco in high regard and see genuine pathways... the reality of the situation... directly contradicts the sentiments. Furthermore, your assertion that he was generally pathways is entirely undermined by public comments made by your head coach Shane Flanagan after the last game. He said, 'If there was someone better out of the side, I put them in. Trust me.'"

Kenty called the leak calculated sabotage: "The manager's done his job. He's leaked it to the press and it's got out. It's caused damage to the Dragons... We're at Defcon 1 now... Players are basically starting to mutiny at the joint." Warren highlighted NSW Cup form (equal first), but Kenty dismissed reserve-grade stats: "252 meters last week... against reserve grade though... that's irrelevant... doesn't mean it's going to immediately translate into first grade NRL level."

Rookie too green for Dragons crisis? Flanagan under siege

Kenty defended Shane Flanagan holding Loko out despite pressure: "Shane Flanagan is under so much pressure as a coach that if this man was the solution, I'm sure he would use him." He warned of rushing big men: "Sometimes when a club is not going well... it's not the right situation to bring a rookie kid into it... if you bring him up, play him in the middle... he just might get annihilated... opposition can get to you and players can be damaged so much that they never quite come back from it."

He cited Ash Taylor's fall: "Signed the million-dollar contract... the next great halfback... too much too early... ended up breaking him. He's still 30 years old... hasn't played in the NRL for four or five years." Off-record Dragons players call Loko "big... physically ready," but Kenty questioned mentality: "The mental part is only one side... This is a bullshit go... a disgrace... When times are tough, you want blokes that are going to shoulder up next to you. This guy's looking for the door."

Transfer fee floated: "Put a value on that now... let's see how valuable he is to other teams... they don't have to let him go." Echoed Parramatta's Zac Lomax stand: "Contract's a contract... gained something as a club... showed they had a line in the sand."

Drinkwater, Bula deals tied to Flanagan sack dilemma

Dragons chasing Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater (three-year offer) after last September release request, plus Tigers' Jahream Bula: "One of the clubs that has been deep in discussions with him has been the Dragons... Isaac Moses is his manager... if Shane Flanagan is not there, then Bula won't be going there." Kenty: "Rep material written all over him... conundrum for the Dragons... sack the coach?"

Moses' sway slammed: "Clubs refuse to deal with certain managers... crippling the club... weak clubs do it... you've got the CEO over a barrel." Matt Rogers (management partner) piled on SEN: "He's not learning."

Latrell fitness warning amid social media clapback

Kenty stood firm on Latrell Mitchell (28): "Disturbing that Wayne Bennett doesn't think he's fit enough to play fullback... not fit enough to play fullback anymore... unfulfilled potential." Dismissed centre praise: "He's better at centre because he's not fit enough at fullback... get him fit and firing, he's one of the greatest fullbacks." Likened to Brad Fittler reset: "Ricky Stewart and Phil Gould pulled him aside... 'time to pull your finger out'... final three years... grand finals every year."

Re Walsh/Latrell comments backlash: "Surrounded by people always pissing in their pocket, value the opinion of the coach who didn't pick you."

Round 6 ladder check: True contenders emerge

Kenty's post-R6 review vs. 2025:

• Canterbury (7th, was 1st/3rd): "Found their game... donkey licked Penrith... attack ranked 16th... big test vs. Parramatta."

• Raiders (15th, was 4th/1st): "All over the shop... second worst defense... lack discipline."

• Manly (10th, was 8th/10th): "Kieran Foran reset... back to basic footy... crash into the defensive line."

• Cronulla (9th, was 9th/5th): "Never too much wrong... never quite enough."

• Cowboys (4th, was 13th/12th): "Won every game since Round 2... mature response letting Drinkwater go."

• Warriors (3rd, was 6th/6th): "Top four side... two worst games with both halves... aggression stands out."

• Parramatta (16th, was 17th/11th): "Busted with injuries... stopped competing defensively... 50 points [to Gold Coast]."

Tigers/Warriors "heading for finals"; old defenses crumbling under new rules