The Souths Story That Can’t Be Told, Gould’s Bedtime Stories, and the "Money" Ban

In today’s episode of Kenty Blitz, Kenty reminisces about the power plays of Gus Gould, and delivers a blistering critique of modern post-try celebrations.

The Celebration Ban: No More "Show Me the Money"

The show opened with the news that St. George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has officially banned player Tupu Tupola from performing his "money rubbing" finger celebration. Kent strongly supported the move, particularly given the context of Round 1 where the team was trailing 18-0.

"There is a whole generation of players who give older people the sh**s," Kent remarked. "Don’t tell the fans you want more money when you’re 18-0 down. It’s manufactured rubbish." He argued that celebrations have become an over-the-top "copycat" phenomenon that lacks an understanding of the game's situation.

The Vault: Gus Gould’s "Bedtime Stories"

Responding to a YouTube comment from a fan, Kent shared a classic story about Phil "Gus" Gould during his tenure as NSW Origin coach.

Gould was famous for "bedtime stories"—mental preparation drills held the night before a game. In one instance, he drove the team to the stadium at night, made them walk onto the field, and forced every player to stand exactly where they would be at kickoff 24 hours later.

When Kent tried to publish these stories in The Sydney Morning Herald, Gould reportedly threatened to resign from his column at the paper to suppress the article. Kent went ahead with the story, Gould followed through on his resignation, and the two did not speak for years. "Nobody exercises power like Gus," Kent noted.

The South Sydney Mystery: The Untold Story

In a segment on media independence, Kent alluded to a major investigative piece he wrote years ago regarding the Russell Crowe buyout of South Sydney.

Kent claimed the story contained background details about the treatment of club legend George Piggins that the Souths hierarchy desperately wanted to keep hidden. According to Kent, the story was suppressed by "people above" and will likely never see the light of day because Piggins is now in the late stages of dementia and could no longer serve as a witness to the events.

Souths’ "Boring" Success and Wayne Bennett’s Magic

Addressing South Sydney’s 2-0 start to the 2025 season, Kent credited Wayne Bennett for "dumbing down" the game plan.

• Safety First: The Rabbitohs are playing conservative, "nuts and bolts" football—getting through sets and focusing on defensive discipline.
• The "18 Tackle" Rule: Kent mentioned Bennett’s golden thread of defense: if you miss more than 18 tackles in a game, you’re unlikely to win.
• The Bennett Method: Kent described Bennett’s off-season ritual of starting with basic "three-on-two" drills, even for seasoned pros. "It’s like a knife; you just have to keep it sharp," Kent explained.

Coaching "Hot Seats"

When asked to rank the safest and most pressured coaches, Kent offered a surprising take:

• Safest: Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, and Jason Ryles (due to it being his first year).
• The Pressure Cooker: While he doesn’t see anyone being sacked before Round 10, Kent noted that Todd Payten (Cowboys) and Shane Flanagan (Dragons) need to start showing consistent results to avoid board-level scrutiny.
• The Shark’s Status: Despite some fan criticism of Craig Fitzgibbon, Kent defended him, stating the Sharks have performed to their capacity given their roster compared to giants like Penrith or Brisbane.

Parramatta Eels: 39 Years and Counting

Finally, Kent addressed the Parramatta Eels' ongoing premiership drought. Rejecting the idea of a "curse," he argued the club suffers from a cycle of "restarting five-year plans three years in,” highlighting the Raiders as a team continuing to successfully blood young talent while enduring a few lean years.

Watch the full episode on Fanatics TV.