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.
Stewart Moses
Guest
No doubting that there is an on-field advantage there with the heat but I'm more concerned with the NRL's continued push to give only Penrith these unwanted time slots in March - doesnt happen year in year out for Parramatta Wests Tigers & Canterbury hence why should Penriith suffer reduced crowds for clubs who get the benefit of home games in cooler time slots yet don't really have the same needs for them? Thankfully we have 6 home games involving Sydney crowds in 2015 & more Sat night / Sunday afternoon games but you really don't want to see more games going away from Sportingbet for places like Bathurst Christchurch etc due to poor crowds in part caused by poor scheduling.
Stewart Moses
Guest
Penrith fans are dormant especially in March but for good reason with the relentless allocaiton of home games during the heat of the day. If the NRL gave Penrith just 1 game at Saturday night 7:30pm during this warm time of the year, the stats show that the crowds love that time slot more than any other.
Dufeyz
Guest
The problem is that there are a heap of what I like to call 'dormant' panther fans. They are sadly, so used to having a crap team that they had forgotten they can go to the footy. I'm sure lots of us panther fans have neighbours across the road, down the street etc, who are kind of slackers when it comes to going out to the footy. It really isn't that expensive to go, a simple maccas run on the way should cover it for most families. Jimmy can get his shut up food and mums happy. I hate how they take our home gems away, but in the end it is a business, and they gotta do what they gotta do. I just prey that we never play a home game (or home final game) at parramatta stadium. ( is the government upgrading it? ) that will be the day I make a blog and abuse people I don't know.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
"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." Having been at the ground last year for this. It worked in Penrith's advantage as they were able to spread the ball around and tire the Bulldogs forwards out early in the heat. The Bulldogs would eventually get around to using there size advantage, but it was all too late. Can see the Panthers trying the same game plan again.
The RiffMarn Stew Moses
Roar Guru
No Sydney team in the past 14 seasons has been allocated more daytime home games in March then Penrith.
Stewart Moses
Guest
I didn't realise they too were long suffering in terms of unfriendly game scheduling - they are long suffering for reasons other than the allocation of games.
Jay C
Roar Guru
How are Penrith fans long suffering, they made it to the second last game last year and won a premiership a decade ago... Go and have a chat to fans of the Sharks or Cowboys or Warriors
kevin dustby
Guest
there is no way they were going to get that gift dream schedule of last year. teams have been playing in the heat of March for over 100 years