The contestants discover the truth about their kitchen rivals

The MKR Australia dinner table is rocked this week when Maria Zisi and Bailey Edmondson Williams admit to scoring strategically. Will this change the course of the cooking competition? Last week, Justin Rolleston and Will Mataka kicked off the final instant restaurant round and received high scores from the judges, but not from Maria and Bailey.

This week, as Lauren “Lol” Argyle and Lilly “Lil” McKay cook, the Sydney “footie dads” question the Adelaide “boss besties” about the marks. Maria confesses they have scored strategically, but only once to avoid being sent home.

“It came as a shock,” Justin admits.
Bad sports Maria and Bailey.

Integrity over strategy

Will adds, “Yes, it is a competition, but we’ve also got our integrity.”

Both insist they would “100%” rather be sent home than score strategically.
“My kids are watching this,” explains South African-born Justin, 30.

“I don’t want them to see that we’re low-balling people to get ahead. I wasn’t brought up like that.”

Bad cooks finish last

Tongan-born Will, 37, adds, “Bailey made a comment like, ‘Nice guys finish last.’ I just thought, ‘Actually, bad cooks finish last.’”

The duo says the revelation about strategic scoring has changed the way they view bakery owner Maria, 30, and businessman Bailey, 28.

“We just have to watch out for them,” says Will.
Lol and Lil are oblivious to the drama.

Family first

Gym owner Justin is father to a four- and two-year-old, while former NRL star Will – who played for the Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters – is dad to three children, aged 12, 10 and two.

Will says his kids are the “worst critics” of his food, explaining, “I’ve spent three or four hours in the kitchen and they’ve not touched it.”

However, his two older kids love seeing him on MKR.

He shares, “It’s a bit surreal for them to go to school and say, ‘My dad and his mate are on TV.’ They’re enjoying that notoriety.”

Dreaming of future shows

Both Justin and Will are keen to do more TV after this stint, dreaming of making a show like MKR judges Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel’s Kiwi series Off The Grid, cooking their way around South Africa and Tonga.

“That would be an insane experience,” Will muses.

But for now, having spent months filming MKR, they just want to spend some time with their families.

“We need to give back to our wives and our kids,” smiles Justin.

MKR Australia screens 7.30pm Mondays and Tuesdays on TVNZ 2, streaming on TVNZ+.