Parra ? the team that finished where in the competition ? No travel is a massive leg up in professional sport
the only out of state games - 2 what utter rubbish, travel to the airport check in times etc ? how about thinking before you type ? Jeezus dude A dream run
for the record I'm hoping for a Panthers Premiership and have been cheering them on all season. But facts are facts mate. Panthers have had a massive leg up in a very very difficult season. Nothing changes facts sorry
So it's a "fact" that the reason we're having one of the most dominant seasons in league history is not astute purchases, junior development, improvement in on field discipline and fitness, attacking structure or even rule changes? It's due to us taking a few less plane trips over the course of the past 6 months. I hope you're not dumb enough to believe that dribble.
oh of course the team is great, playing with amazing confidence as well as all the things you mention. But there can be no doubt that in professional sport the lack of travel demands on the day of the game is a huge leg up this year. Massive Same as the Broncos getting a mostly 7 day turn around year on year most of the time.
Seriously there are three reasons why we are much better this year than last. Ivan is responsible for this team and he explained last season was about clearing out the (Griffin) culture. Now the shit has been swept away (RCG for example) we are a cohesive unit. Ivan Cleary has always been an exceptional coach (the man took Shaun Johnson to a GF ffs), he's just never had the right cattle at the right time, now he does. Maloney left and so it became Nathan's Cleary team to control, and he's gone from a good young player to maybe the best most influential player in the game this season. Api. A hooker makes a massive difference. Last season our pack was very good talent wise but hamstrung by absolute trash hookers. Api is elite quality and has hit his prime, and that has allowed our pack to reach their potential. And RCG isn't around to make a million momentum halting hit ups.
Ok Tigers then. Did they leave NSW? We played in Townsville Brisbane Gold Coast Gosford Played a Home game 66km away.
do you want to start another thread and compare teams? The thread title is "why are the Panthers so good all of a sudden" The simple answer lies in a wonderful draw requiring minimum travel compared to many teams in the comp- its a dream draw and another possibility is very few major injury setbacks compared to many teams.
How so? For 16 of their games this year the players went to bed the night before at their usual time, woke at the usual time , had their usual meal at the usual time, did their morning prep as per usual, jumped in the car at the usual time to travel within Sydney to arrive at the usual time ready for the game. Canberra had the benefit of the above on only 8 occasions this season. The rest of the draw they travelled for hours under covid rules and restrictions on same day of the game for 12 of 20 games. A completely different routine required and in the modern day of professional sport that is a huge disadvantage - massive. And the answer the the thread title lies within this being a large contributing factor.
Off the top of my head I came up with 2 that had less travel though. Is it an advantage when others get the same luxury? It is the benefit with playing for a Sydney club in a Sydney centric comp.
do you want to start another thread and compare teams ? The thread title posed a question - I answered it. Travel was a lot different this year and was required on the same day of the game. Put it this way - ............. if it didnt have an effect on a teams performance Clubs would save a fortune on travel/ hotel expenses by not traveling the day before
