My Kitchen Rules favourites Justin and Will have been crowned the competition’s 2025 champions.
The proud dads scored 73 out of 80, edging out runners-up Maria and Bailey by just one life-changing point.
Both teams left nothing behind, serving four courses — a canape, seafood, meat and dessert — totalling 100 plates as they raced the Kitchen HQ clock.
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Speaking to 7NEWS.com.au after their win, the best mates from NSW revealed the inspiration behind their standout dishes.
Justin and Will’s menu showcased exceptional flavours and technique, blending heritage, fine dining and on-trend ingredients — especially in their dessert.
Their highlight dish, the Dubai chocolate éclair, was an entirely original creation.
“We just wanted to go viral on TikTok,” Justin joked, referencing the milk chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream and crispy kataifi pastry infamous worldwide.
Describing the moment they plated their final dish, Justin said he just wanted to savour it.
“We knew leading into the dessert course, not that we had won, but that we were nailing our dessert, so we just took our time,” he said.
“Spraying the eclairs with gold, we just wanted to enjoy that last cook.”
Will said while assembling the first course — smoked ham hock and gruyère croquette — felt like a blur, they remembered every second of crafting their winning dessert.
The pair entered the grand finale with a clear game plan but the pressure of the clock and the challenge of plating 100 dishes meant not everything went smoothly.
After serving the third course — rosemary braised beef short rib — with only seconds to spare, Will broke down.
“I was just overwhelmed,” he said. “But it was joy too.”
The NSW dads admitted they had “sacrificed our family to be here”.
“The competition is hard but being away from the family is harder,” Justin said.
“It’s a different sort of stress — you’re constantly thinking what are they doing at home, you just miss them so much.
“We had a lot of moments where we just broke down together.”
After months of speaking to their families only by phone or video call, Will said it meant the world to have them in Kitchen HQ for the finale.
“We were excited to show case firsthand what we’ve been doing,” he said.
Will laughed recalling how his mum kept them updated on the time from the balcony.
Reflecting on their friendship, Justin said he couldn’t imagine doing the competition with anyone else.
“He is my wingman, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner,” Justin said.
Will said it was an honour watching his teammate’s confidence grow throughout the competition.
“The stuff he makes is insane — he just had to believe in himself,” Will added.
Justin admitted: “I honestly didn’t think my food was that great. It’s just stuff I cook at home.”
When they were crowned MKR 2025 champions, the moment didn’t feel real.
“I just started kissing him,” Justin laughed.
The $100,000 prize will help support their children and give their wives — who held down the fort during filming — something special.
Justin, who has just sold his gym, hopes to explore the food world further.
Will, who works in youth homelessness, said the experience has inspired him to consider food-related career opportunities.
“We definitely want to pursue something in the food space and travel,” he said, adding a food truck is one idea on the list.
The proud dads say they’re embracing the attention and always have time for fans.
“We’ve accomplished what we set out to do,” Justin said.
“We made our kids proud, we made ourselves proud. That’s amazing.”
