Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Halfback | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: [1] |
Paul Kent is an Australian journalist and former rugby league footballer. [2]
In 1989, he played in one first grade match for Parramatta at halfback, becoming the 481st player for the club. [3]
Since retiring, he has become a journalist and now works for The Daily Telegraph and is currently co-host of NRL 360 on Fox Sports alongside former player Braith Anasta.
He has written two books; Sonny Ball and Johnny Lewis: The Biography — about Sonny Bill Williams and Johnny Lewis, respectively. [4] Sonny Ball was chosen as one of the best sports books of 2015 by Australian newspaper The New Daily. [5] Kent is a weekly panel member for Triple M's Sunday NRL Show.
Kent's opinions of Melbourne coach, Craig Bellamy, brought forth a response from the coach who claimed the accusations were disrespectful and out of line. [6]
In May 2022, Kent left his position from radio station Triple M after he claimed to have a differing view to an on air incident with fellow presenter Anthony Maroon. Kent was asked to apologise over the incident in which Kent along with James Hooper bullied Maroon live on air. Kent refused to apologise to the station which resulted in him handing in his resignation. [7] He later wrote an opinion piece on the incident in which he said, "We live in a world of snowflakes, sadly.” [8]
Kent is often the target for articles in the satirical newspaper the Betoota Advocate who make fun of his one-game rugby league career and opinions, and suggest he frequently appears on television while under the influence of alcohol. [9] [10] [11] These articles were invoked by members of the Penrith Panthers rugby league team who had been criticised by Kent. [12]
In February 2023, it was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald that Kent had an altercation at the season launch for Kayo with journalist Mike Meehall Wood who had been critical of Kent. The article referred to Kent as "one of the angriest men in sports media". [13]
In May 2023, Kent was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a woman following an argument at his home. He was charged with common assault and choking a woman without consent. He was temporarily stood down from his roles at The Daily Telegraph and Fox Sports. [14] The woman was revealed to be an ex-girlfriend of Kent's. [15]
On 17 May 2023, Kent plead not guilty to the charges, and the trial was set down for November. Kent told the media his employers "fully support me” and that he was "embarrassed about" the charges "but unfortunately it’s beyond my control so I’ll just let the court process see its way through now and once we get to the end then we can hopefully see some things through different eyes." [16] Fox Sports removed the back catalogue of NRL 360 following the charges against Kent. [17] NRL players such as Matt Lodge, James Maloney and Cameron King have argued that Kent has been treated by the media far more leniently than NRL players for reported bad behaviour. [18] Paul Kent told the media "It's the rugby league soap opera. It’s the way it rolls. It’s my day in the storyline right now and that’s fine. People are entitled to their opinions.” This response, referring to an allegation of domestic violence as a soap opera, was criticised by Ray Hadley among others. [19]
In 2016, Kent wrote an article about the Full Stop Foundation, an organisation hoping to end sexual assault and violence against women. [20] He was an ambassador for the organisation. [21] On 15 May 2023, Full Stop announced that a tweet by Kent from 2017 that "included a picture of Kent & commentary on his former ambassadorship which ended 6 years ago, has been deleted." [22]
In November 2023, Kent was charged with a third domestic violence offence. [23]
In September 2023, it was revealed Kent was working part-time as a limousine driver for a funeral home in Sydney while waiting for his case to be heard. [24] On 12 December 2023, Kent was found not guilty of allegations he attacked and choked his then-partner at his home in Sydney’s inner west. [25]
Josh Reynolds is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who played as a five-eighth for Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League.
Gregory Paul Inglis, also known by the nickname of "G.I.", is a retired Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer, who regularly played as a centre, fullback, five-eighth and wing.
Paul Gallen is an Australian retired professional boxer and former professional rugby league footballer who played as a lock, prop and second-row forward and captained the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL to their maiden NRL Premiership in 2016.
Brett Stewart is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL). An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative fullback, he played his entire NRL career for the Sea Eagles, with whom he won the 2008 and 2011 Premierships.
Reni Maitua is a former professional rugby league footballer. An Australian and Samoan International representative player, he previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership. Maitua covered a number of positions, known for typically playing on an edge as a backrow forward or centre, Maitua's skillset saw him play in the halves as well.
Jarryd Lee Hayne is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who also briefly played American football and rugby union sevens.
Benjamin Ikin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer, and the CEO of the Queensland Rugby League from 22 May 2023. He previously worked in football operations roles for the Brisbane Broncos from June 2021 until May 2023, and had been the host of talk show NRL 360 on Fox League as well as a commentator for the Nine Network and Fox Sports.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall is a New Zealand international former rugby league footballer who last played as a centre and winger for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League. He was also the club captain.
Blake Ferguson is a professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs in the Newcastle Rugby League.
Jack de Belin is a Papua New Guinea and Australian Professional rugby league Footballer who Plays as a Lock and Prop for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for Papua New Guinea at international level.
Tautau Moga is a Free agent Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a centre and winger in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Jack Wighton is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL). Wighton has spent most of his club career as a five-eighth and has played centre at the interstate and international level.
Anthony Milford is an Australian Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth and halfback for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Dylan Walker is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL), and has played for Australia and the New Zealand Maori at international level.
Dylan Napa is a Cook Islands international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Sydney Roosters. Napa has previously played for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and had a previous stint with the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL), where he won the 2018 NRL Premiership. He also played for the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. Through ancestry, he made three appearances for the Cook Islands in 2013. He has also played at representative level for the Prime Minister's XIII and for Queensland in the State of Origin series.
Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu is a Fijian professional rugby union and rugby league footballer. He currently plays rugby union for the French club Lyon and the Fiji national team. Nicknamed 'Semi Trailer', Radradra has played primarily as a wing in both codes.
The Betoota Advocate is an Australian satirical news website and digital media company that publishes articles on international, national, and local news. The site puts a comedic spin on current news topics and broader social observations. The site is based in inner Sydney, but takes its name from the deserted regional town of Betoota, Queensland, and purports to be "Australia's oldest newspaper".
Zane Musgrove is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Warrington Wolves in the Betfred Super League.
Curtis Scott is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who last played in 2021, as a centre for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.
Benjamin McIntosh "Dobbo" Dobbin is an Australian radio presenter, sports journalist and rugby league commentator.