- Revelation has been made on recent podcast
Fox League presenter Jake Duke has spoken out for the first time after being caught checking out NRLW star Tiana Penitani during the 2025 Dally M Awards.
The popular broadcaster was seen staring at Penitani while standing next to her as she interviewed fellow NRLW player Jessica Sergis last October.
Vision of the moment went viral on social media, with some fans leaping to Duke’s defence and claiming ‘he’s only human after all’.
The 32-year-old has now revealed he ‘zoned out’ while Penitani was being interviewed and wasn’t giving the Cronulla star the eye.
‘I kind of zoned out during the interview, so that’s not good to admit,’ he told the Season Ticket Holders podcast.
‘I kind of looked down and saw Tiana’s hand move, and that kind of caught my attention, and she moved it over near Jess.
Jake Duke (pictured) has now revealed what was really going on when he was seen appearing to give Sharks star Tiana Penitani the eye (pictured)
‘It just doesn’t look good. And then literally, the director in my ear said, “Look up, look up,” and then I realised and I’m like, “Oh no,”‘ Duke added.
Many viewers flocked to social media to poke fun at the awkward moment straight after it aired.
‘You can’t blame him. As the saying goes… if you’ve got it, flaunt it! She’s definitely got it,’ one person said.
‘He is only human. Give him a break,’ a second wrote.
‘He’s thinking her guns are bigger than mine,’ a third person joked.
‘Lucky man… Or unlucky the camera got him,’ another claimed.
The 2025 Dally M Awards night was marred by a very different controversy when Ivan Cleary was again snubbed from the list of finalists for the Coach of the Year award.
The Penrith Panthers boss lifted his side from the bottom of the ladder to a sixth-straight preliminary final against the Broncos, which they almost won.
Duke (pictured with fellow Fox league presenter Eloise Sohier) has spoken out on new podcast
The 32-year-old’s comments came after he was caught staring at Penitani (pictured) during the 2025 Dally M ceremony
Cleary has won the award once, in 2020, but hasn’t repeated the victory since the Panthers’ historic four-peat dynasty began.
Ricky Stuart, Cameron Ciraldo and Michael Maguire made the shortlist for the award, with the Raiders coach taking it out in the end.
But fans have blasted the points system for not recognising the Penrith coach, who took his team from last on the ladder after 12 rounds to a preliminary final.
The Panthers will face the Brisbane Broncos to open their season away from home at Suncorp Stadium.
