The much anticipated and long overdue NRL draw has finally been released, much to the relief of fans everywhere while to the detriment of sports diary publishers.
For long-suffering Panthers fans who have often complained of family unfriendly scheduling, the draw has brought good news. Here’s the breakdown:
Key points
1) Tougher draw – the Panthers in 2015 will play all top-four opponents plus grand finalists the Bulldogs both home and away. In total, there are three extra games versus 2014 top-eight opposition.
2) Yet another two home games played in the daytime heat of March.
3) Six fewer games overall being played pre-7:30pm on a Saturday, one fewer Monday night football fixture, with three extra games to be played on Saturday night 7:30pm, while one extra game will be played on Friday night.
4) One extra game overall against Sydney teams (13) and avoids (at this stage) away trips to New Zealand and Townsville.
5) Same number of free-to-air games (6).
6) Rounds 1-10 (pre-Origin) features five home games, five away games played against six top-eight teams. Rounds 11-18 (Origin period) include two byes (R11/14) on the weekend before State of Origin.
The Panthers will play four home games but also take on another four top-eight teams in this six-round stretch. Rounds 19-26 see the Panthers play just three times at home in eight games (twice if a deal is done to take the Warriors game to Christchurch as mooted) but face all bottom-eight sides in the final five rounds of the competition.
7) The Panthers will miss out on 10-hour extravagance of Anzac Day club footy.
Analysis of home games
1) The usual March madness of playing Penrith’s home games before 5pm in the heat potentially compromises a blockbuster clash with the Bulldogs in Round 1, especially given the introduction of live free-to-air coverage of Sunday afternoon footy by Channel Nine.
2) The Bathurst home game will absorb the issue of a second home game in the heat of March by replacing Cronulla with an out-of-town Titans side.
3) Six Sydney teams instead of just four teams will play the Panthers at Sportingbet in 2015. Top-four sides Sydney Roosters and Manly replace bottom-eight side St George Illawarra and the Brisbane Broncos.
4) Overall three fewer games played pre-7:30pm on a Saturday night, along with three fewer Monday night football games and one Sunday night game, replaced by two Saturday 7:30pm games and three Sunday afternoon games.
5) No confirmation on the reallocation of a home game to Christchurch as yet.
6) No home game versus Western Sydney rivals and traditional drawcards the Wests Tigers for the second year in a row.
7) Just three home games post-Origin from last eight games, with no top-eight opponents at home during this period.
8) One additional free-to-air game to be played at Sportingbet in 2015.
Away games
1) Play two additional top-eight teams away – Souths and Brisbane replacing Cronulla and North Queensland.
2) Two games in South East Queensland two weeks apart, but no visit to Townsville.
3) Also no travel to New Zealand at this stage but the Western Sydney local derby against Parramatta is surprisingly to be played in Darwin, making the Panthers one of the NRL’s most travelled sides again in 2015.
4) An additional Friday night football game allocated away from home – Round 9 versus Brisbane to go with the away Friday night game allocated against the Storm in Round 19.
5) Three fewer games being played Saturday pre-7:30pm.
6) An additional day game against Newcastle in the heat of March replacing a Saturday 5:30pm in 2014.
7) Five less Sunday afternoon games away from Sportingbet in 2015.
8) Two new Monday night football games away from home scheduled to be two Sydney teams – Sydney Roosters and Manly.
9) One less free-to-air game to be played away from home in 2015.
10) No away game versus the North Queensland Cowboys
The Panthers still have a way to go when it comes to optimal scheduling from the NRL, especially March home games. However, the NRL – by allocating less Saturday afternoon and Monday night footy – have given Panthers fans no excuse to stay away from Sportingbet Stadium in 2015.
This is especially so when you include the fact the Panthers get two additional home games against Sydney teams.
The team has definitely been given a tougher but not an insurmountable draw in 2015. If the Panthers can hit the final third of the season with a 50 per cent or better record, given their soft run home they will be well in the hunt for a second bite at the cherry come September.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Fans were sceptical that Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson grounded this properly. How did you see it?
If South Sydney had put up this much fight earlier in the season, Jason Demetriou might still be their coach. The Rabbitohs responded strongly…
Sunia Turuva scored the first try of the game for Penrith, and by the end of it he was setting them up with ease.
South Sydney copped their second binning of the game, with Jacob Host marched for this kicker contact.
Two horror moments were scrutinised by the Nine commentator with the Bunnies defending Dylan Edwards. The second one resulted in a Taylan May try.
Maybe Tom Burgess should've slotted into halfback after Dean Hawkins was ruled out of the game.
