Referee Purge, the Bennett Curse, and Latrell’s Big Return

In the latest Kenty Blitz, Paul Kent and Warren Livingston unpack the NRL’s shock sacking of referees after a weekend marred by glaring errors, ramp up the speculation around Daly Cherry-Evans’ next move, and analyse the big changes brewing at South Sydney.​

The NRL referee crackdown

The NRL has moved decisively, axing two on‑field referees and a video referee after a series of high‑profile mistakes in recent rounds. Kent backs the cull, saying officials have drifted too far from black‑and‑white rules, particularly around direct head contact. He insists that if a tackle involves clear head-high impact, it should be a sin bin every time, regardless of referees’ grey‑area interpretations or how it might swing the result.

Kent also calls for greater maturity from fans and coaches: while a sin bin can cost a match, prioritising player safety and the game’s integrity over short‑term outcomes is non‑negotiable for the long haul.​

Daly Cherry-Evans: the rumour mill intensifies

The race for Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans is heating up. Fresh reports have the Bulldogs emerging as genuine contenders, despite their public emphasis on developing young half Toby Sexton—Kent suspects Sexton’s ongoing contract talks are partly about keeping him happy while the club eyes the veteran.​

The Roosters remain keen on a Cooper Cronk‑style short‑term playmaker fix, while the Dolphins hold the biggest salary cap war chest to lure him north. With interest intensifying, Kent predicts a decision won’t be far away.​

The “Wayne Bennett curse” vs rookie coaches

Kent debunks the idea of a “curse” following Wayne Bennett’s departures, pinning the pattern on clubs’ flawed succession planning instead. He notes that five of the last six coaches to replace Bennett were NRL rookies, ill‑equipped to match the master’s man‑management “fairy dust”.​

At the Dolphins under Kristian Woolf, however, Kent is optimistic. Woolf brings proven experience from the UK Super League, and despite the current dip, Kent expects him to steady the ship over time.​

Latrell Mitchell’s centre shift

South Sydney’s big returnee Latrell Mitchell will come back from injury not at fullback but in the centres. Youngster Jai Gray has impressed enough in the No.1 jersey for Wayne Bennett to leave him there, preserving the team’s energy and defensive shape.

Kent calls it a masterstroke: Mitchell starts at centre alongside Cody Walker but gets a “roving commission” to roam across the park, maximising his attacking threat on the left edge while keeping Gray secure at the back.

The halfback shuffle: Nicho Hynes and Dylan Brown

Kent and Woz also scrutinise some of the NRL’s biggest‑name playmakers. On Nicho Hynes, Kent aligns with Andrew Johns’ view that the Sharks star has lost his swagger, especially as Braden Trindall has assumed kicking and organising duties—posing a question mark over Hynes’ value given his hefty deal.

With Parramatta struggling and Newcastle clearing cap space by offloading Will Pryce, Kent floats a mid‑season swap sending Dylan Brown to the Knights as a potential win‑win.

The return of the king: Nathan Cleary

Finally, in a boost for the competition, Nathan Cleary is primed to return for Penrith. Kent observes that even the powerhouse Panthers have looked “out of sorts” without their leader, and his comeback should lift the league’s overall quality as the season hits stride.​

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.​