A recent Home and Away promo reveals that Mali and Rose are on the verge of falling in love as Summer Bay’s newest resident pursues the community’s newest police officer.
When Mackenzie (Emily Weir) asked Mali Hudson (Kyle Shilling) to assist in converting one of the farmhouse’s rooms into a nursery ahead of the birth of Dean (Patrick O’Connor) and Ziggy’s (Sophie Dillman) child, he arrived in Summer Bay in the first week of 2023.
The board shaper who Dean hires to create the surfboards for Ben’s Boards was revealed to be Mali, and Dean took advantage of the chance to catch up with his pal during his brief stay to the bay.
Dean had a suggestion as Ziggy and Dean’s baby was about to be born. In order for Dean to spend more time with Ziggy and the infant, he asked Mali if he would be willing to take over running the board shop and his surfing lessons.
Mali was willing to assist, but he wasn’t sure he could devote the necessary time given that he lived two hours up the coast in Mantaray Point. He has frequently mentioned his sisters and grandfather, and he has been observed updating his family’s group chat with the most recent information, demonstrating how close he is to the rest of his family.
It’s obvious that his visit to Summer Bay was only intended to be temporary, but given how badly Dean needs help, it seems as though he might stay.
John Palmer (Shane Withington), who took an immediate liking to him, and Nikau (Kawakawa Fox-Reo), a lifeguard, both stopped what they were doing to talk to him on the beach.
But not everyone took to Mali right away. He had a run-in with Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) earlier this week after Alf became suspicious of the newcomer’s membership with the infamous River Boys after noticing his tattoos.
Alf was eventually won over by Mali when he admitted he had no idea what a River Boy was. The two quickly became friends over fishing—Mantaray Point is a great place to go fishing—and Mali disclosed to Alf that his granddad was an avid angler.
Mali was given free access to a Caravan Park van by Alf if he ever needed it, saving him the two-hour travel home and allowing him to stay in the bay longer.
It was just a matter of time until Mali began looking for love because he was steadily establishing roots. Fans had already observed actors Kyle Shilling and Kirsty Marillier filming together, and a new advertisement showing in Australia suggests that Mali and Rose Delaney are going to get romantically involved.
In the most recent trailer, Rose may be seen watching as Xander (Luke Van Os) and Mali dry off after a surf.
Mali is intrigued by the cordial exchanges between the half-siblings and queries Xander about Rose’s friendship, to which Xander responds that Rose is his sister.
Is she alone herself? Xander casts a questioning glance towards Mali.
Shortly after, the next shot is taken in the Surf Club. Mali approaches Rose at the juice bar with Xander keeping watch (obviously!).
Can I ask you a question, please? He asks with assurance. You and I for supper tonight?
Rose nods in agreement while grinning somewhat bemused.
We see the couple dancing in the backyard, which suggests that a Parata party is about to start. Rose tells Cash that she’s met someone at the same party, and Cash, still smarting from the Eden disaster, pushes her to go for it.
“Learn it from this moron, you don’t want to miss a golden opportunity.”
Then, with a broad grin on his face, we observe the couple eating dinner at Salt, Mali.
The only issue is that Mali doesn’t actually reside in Summer Bay.
How much longer can he make the two-hour trip back and forth to his Mantaray Bay home before he becomes exhausted?
Will Rose persuade him to stay if she does?
Rose tells him, “I still can’t tell if you’re a player, or a decent guy under this whole show,” showing that she is still unsure about his level of seriousness.
Mali says to Rose in a different scene that shows her outside a caravan after apparently accepting Alf’s offer of free lodging, “Guess you’ll have to hang around and find out.”
Following Tuesday’s broadcast, a different teaser featured a brief image of the couple kissing, proving that Mali did, in fact, win Rose over.
Mali won’t be leaving anytime soon now that actor Kyle Shilling has joined Home and Away as a permanent cast member.
Will Mali finally be the right man for Rose after a horrible string of bad luck that included her falling for her step-boyfriend sister’s and being duped by Tex (Lucas Linehan)?
