My controversial take is that people like Paul Kent and Buzz are great for the game and part of what separates us from union.
Union, both in NZ and Australia, don't have shock jocks and people who incite opinion and vitriol. It's all an old boys network in the media and amongst ex-players, and nothing nearing interesting or divisive is said...out of fear.
Yet we have - dribblers, admittedly - who speak their mind, or speak things purely for reaction, and it creates a ripple effect of interest. People tune into 360, and talk about it, because it fires them up. It's league's version of the facebook comments...I don't watch it because I can't stand Kent and talking over people, but a lot of people do.
We're lucky in NZ that we can piggy back on the drama and media hype that Australia creates. Our print media is non-existent, and our commentators/panel shows are absolute trash. The game only goes well here when we're winning, as with the Warriors last year. When we suck, there's nothing to hold our interest. Our fans either exit or become the 'next week boys, the real ones stay true' types.