GongPanther
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The Panthers Leagues Club group has offered the NRL access to its sprawling facilities in western Sydney as part of an ambitious plan to get the game back under way as early as next month.
The Panthers complex in Penrith, home to a 222-room hotel, four training fields, three gyms a vacant leagues club and a stadium, will on Thursday be put forward as a leading option that would co-exist alongside the Sydney Olympic Park precinct as part of a western Sydney bubble.
Sharks skipper Wade Graham concedes it won't be easy if the NRL relocates.
The plans are part of a revamped 2020 season that would see each team play each other once.
The Sydney Morning Herald can reveal the NRL innovation committee is giving strong consideration to basing eight teams at Penrith and eight teams at Olympic Park with matches to be played at ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium and Panthers Stadium when the competition returns, from as early as May 28.
The Penrith proposal, which was presented to innovation committee members on Tuesday, ticks all the boxes - including isolated training fields, accommodation, dining facilities, separate team rooms and multiple gyms.
The Panthers Academy is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, rugby league facility on the planet.
The precinct would cater for up to eight teams, with the 222-room Mercure Hotel providing direct internal access into the now vacant leagues club, which has eight empty conference rooms ready to be transformed into individual team bunkers.
"The players would go straight from the hotel into team rooms, training and dining options without having any contact with the outside world," Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher told the Herald.
"We can create an isolated community, or bubble for that matter. The only time they would leave the facility is when the teams train across the road, but we could organise shuttles across into the stadium or training grounds. They can live through the hotel and club area while it's all on.
"We have training grounds out the back of the club but if they have to use the grounds across the road, the bus will pick them up at the front door and drop them off. All the things that need to be managed can be managed. And the other thing is it's a great opportunity for some of the 600 people we had to stand down to maybe get back in the work force if they are willing to isolate in the bubble as well."
On the back of some of the expert medical advice, the NRL wants to be close to testing and result laboratories to ensure biosecurity measures aren't compromised in the fight against coronavirus.
It's also clear that NSW is set to host the bubble, given some of the government assurances the game has been given.
There's also a belief that two separate bubbles, rather than having all 16 teams in one location, would help minimise the risk of infection and ensure the entire playing group wasn't in danger of contamination.
That would allow the NRL to quarantine and self-isolate positive-tested players and keep the competition running.
Teams playing at Panthers Stadium would not have to leave their bubble, although private buses would take teams directly into ANZ Stadium or Bankwest Stadium for when they play against clubs from the Olympic Park bubble.
It's likely teams wouldn't have to leave their bubble for the first seven rounds, playing against each other until they reach the halfway mark of the season.
By that stage, when teams in rival bubbles are due to square off, isolation and social gathering restrictions may be loosened.
One of the other NRL considerations is the mental wellbeing of players within a bubble. Panthers could transform its 760-seat theatre into a cinema for players. There is also a bar and dining area to relax.
Table tennis, poker tables and video game consoles would all be included for the eight teams to use during their time together.
Panthers Academy
Sounds promising. Have to go ahead and get this comp back on track before we all do our heads in.
The Panthers complex in Penrith, home to a 222-room hotel, four training fields, three gyms a vacant leagues club and a stadium, will on Thursday be put forward as a leading option that would co-exist alongside the Sydney Olympic Park precinct as part of a western Sydney bubble.
Sharks skipper Wade Graham concedes it won't be easy if the NRL relocates.
The plans are part of a revamped 2020 season that would see each team play each other once.
The Sydney Morning Herald can reveal the NRL innovation committee is giving strong consideration to basing eight teams at Penrith and eight teams at Olympic Park with matches to be played at ANZ Stadium, Bankwest Stadium and Panthers Stadium when the competition returns, from as early as May 28.
The Penrith proposal, which was presented to innovation committee members on Tuesday, ticks all the boxes - including isolated training fields, accommodation, dining facilities, separate team rooms and multiple gyms.
The Panthers Academy is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, rugby league facility on the planet.
The precinct would cater for up to eight teams, with the 222-room Mercure Hotel providing direct internal access into the now vacant leagues club, which has eight empty conference rooms ready to be transformed into individual team bunkers.
"The players would go straight from the hotel into team rooms, training and dining options without having any contact with the outside world," Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher told the Herald.
"We can create an isolated community, or bubble for that matter. The only time they would leave the facility is when the teams train across the road, but we could organise shuttles across into the stadium or training grounds. They can live through the hotel and club area while it's all on.
"We have training grounds out the back of the club but if they have to use the grounds across the road, the bus will pick them up at the front door and drop them off. All the things that need to be managed can be managed. And the other thing is it's a great opportunity for some of the 600 people we had to stand down to maybe get back in the work force if they are willing to isolate in the bubble as well."
On the back of some of the expert medical advice, the NRL wants to be close to testing and result laboratories to ensure biosecurity measures aren't compromised in the fight against coronavirus.
It's also clear that NSW is set to host the bubble, given some of the government assurances the game has been given.
There's also a belief that two separate bubbles, rather than having all 16 teams in one location, would help minimise the risk of infection and ensure the entire playing group wasn't in danger of contamination.
That would allow the NRL to quarantine and self-isolate positive-tested players and keep the competition running.
Teams playing at Panthers Stadium would not have to leave their bubble, although private buses would take teams directly into ANZ Stadium or Bankwest Stadium for when they play against clubs from the Olympic Park bubble.
It's likely teams wouldn't have to leave their bubble for the first seven rounds, playing against each other until they reach the halfway mark of the season.
By that stage, when teams in rival bubbles are due to square off, isolation and social gathering restrictions may be loosened.
One of the other NRL considerations is the mental wellbeing of players within a bubble. Panthers could transform its 760-seat theatre into a cinema for players. There is also a bar and dining area to relax.
Table tennis, poker tables and video game consoles would all be included for the eight teams to use during their time together.
Panthers Academy
- Two separate gyms (the main gym could easily cater for two teams at a time plus there is another room that is currently used for yoga that was originally designed as the juniors gym).
- Two training fields
- Ice baths and spa baths
- Two dressing rooms
- Amphitheatre for video sessions
- Medical rooms
- Office space
- Kitchen and dining area
- Running track
- Meeting/boardrooms
- Eight conference rooms transformed into eight team rooms
- Internal club access to Mercure Hotel
- Vacant office complex that could be used by club officials
- Restaurants and bar
- 760-seat theatre for entertainment
- Aqua golf
- Barbecue area
- Arcade game area
- Match-day venue
- Gym facility
- Two training fields (includes council-owned cricket ground)
- Office space
- Four dressing rooms
- 250-seat chairman's lounge that could be split into team rooms or gyms
- 222 rooms that can cater for around 400 people
- Outdoor recovery pool
- Gym
- Direct internal access to Leagues club and team rooms
Sounds promising. Have to go ahead and get this comp back on track before we all do our heads in.
