Boston Rob Talks ‘Deal or No Deal Island’ Season 2 David Genat’s Winning Strategy

If there’s one guy who knows strategy, it’s “Boston Rob” Mariano. The “Survivor” legend recently shared his thoughts on “Deal or No Deal Island” Season 2 winner David Genat, and let’s just say; he’s impressed. Rob, who competed in the first season of the NBC show, essentially admitted Genat wasn’t necessarily pulling the strings, but he played smart. And in a game where timing is everything, that’s what really mattered.

Was Parvati the Real MVP?

Rob gave Genat credit for his strategic gameplay, but he also believes that when it came down to the biggest moments, his ally Parvati Shallow was the one calling the shots. In particular, Rob pointed to the final Temple challenge, where Parvati decided to compete rather than letting CK take her place.

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“I don’t think he made the decision to put Parvati in—I think Parvati made the decision to put Parvati in,” Rob recently told People. He noted that Parvati probably realized that if CK won, she’d be sent home. So, she took her fate into her own hands and played, which, in Rob’s eyes, was a smart move. “There is a right and a wrong way to play the temple. And that is you don’t ever put yourself in a position to take less than true odds, which at worse would be 50/50. I don’t think sitting there and letting your fate happen to you is like… it wouldn’t look good on Parv, so I think that’s why she volunteered to play.” he explained.

Basically, Rob thinks Parvati’s strategy in that moment was top-tier; something we’ve come to expect from one of “Survivor’s” greatest players. And while Genat ultimately took home the win, it’s clear that Parvati had more influence in certain moments of the game.

Genat Played Well… But the Best?

While Rob had some reservations about Genat’s level of control, he did give him props for executing his strategy when it counted. Genat’s experience on “Australian Survivor” gave him a solid advantage, but Rob made sure to point out that he didn’t coast by on that alone. “He had a big leg up,” Rob admitted in that same interview. “But he also had to execute, and he did flawlessly.”

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But then, of course, there’s the whole “best Survivor player in the world” thing. Rob wasn’t having it. “The only exception I take in his entire game is where he starts calling himself the best Survivor player in the world!” he joked. “We got to put that asterisk ‘Australian’ up there,” he explained.

That’s no small praise coming from a guy who’s won “Survivor” and played five times. Rob knows what it takes to win a cutthroat competition, and Genat checked all the right boxes. He adapted, he stayed patient, and when it was time to strike, he did. At the end of the day, Rob respects Genat’s game and how he secured the win. But, as far as the “best ever” title goes? Rob’s probably not handing that out anytime soon.