By Dan Walsh
Newcastle will fly on an NRL-chartered flight to Townsville for their knockout clash against North Queensland after the last-minute finals scheduling change left them facing one of the NRL’s most gruelling trips on a six-day turnaround.
As Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and Ryan Papenhuyzen return from injury to provide star power to week one of the post-season, the Knights have avoided the runaround of either a two-hour bus trip to Sydney or a connecting flight in Brisbane that typically chews up a full day following an intervention by the NRL.
Knights officials were told by head office to expect a Sunday afternoon game against the fifth-placed Cowboys, and made their own travel plans accordingly, before they beat the Dolphins to secure eighth spot in the last game of the regular season.
Those plans were then switched up – to the surprise of many – to avoid a scheduling clash with the GWS Giants’ home semi-final in the Olympic Park precinct on Saturday night.
The all-Sydney blockbuster between Canterbury and Manly – predicted to draw a 50,000-plus crowd at Accor Stadium – is now scheduled for Sunday afternoon, shifting the Cowboys-Knights clash to Saturday night in Townsville.
Newcastle face a six-day turnaround as a result, with the Cowboys having an extra day’s recovery given they beat the Bulldogs convincingly on Saturday to secure their home semi-final.
Newcastle scraped into eighth place by downing the Dolphins on Sunday.Credit: NRL Photos
Knights officials were only informed of the change when players were still on the field after full-time at MacDonald Jones Stadium.
Travel to Townsville typically takes a full day for clubs and the NRL has accordingly booked a chartered flight from Newcastle on Thursday afternoon to ease the travel toll on players. The Knights travelling party will return via a charter flight on Sunday morning.
The Cowboys booked their own $60,000 chartered flight after playing Canterbury because flying commercial would not have got them home until late on Sunday afternoon, costing them a full day of preparation.
Newcastle have won just once in their past 12 trips to Townsville – including a golden-point loss in round two – dating back to 2012, and coach Adam O’Brien happily claimed underdog status after downing the Dolphins.
The NRL’s scheduling shift to avoid the GWS clash in Sydney also avoids a Sunday afternoon kick-off in the added daytime heat and humidity of Townsville.
“Recovery’s massive for this one, anything we can get like less travel helps because it’s a tough trip and a hostile environment up there, it’s a tough place to win,” Knights prop Daniel Saifiti said of the late scheduling change.
“I’m not too fussed, it’s the same team at the same stadium no matter the day or the time. Obviously it’s a bit hotter during the day, so the night game as a front-rower is probably preferable for me, but it is what it is either way.”
Cronulla’s defeat of Manly locked Canterbury into sixth place and a home semi-final at Accor Stadium, delivering the NRL a financial windfall that could translate to an added $1 million in gate takings, given an extra 30,000 fans are expected to attend compared to a sell-out on the northern beaches.
The week one scheduling change does raise recovery issues in week two as well though.
The winner of the Bulldogs-Sea Eagles clash will have two fewer days to recover for their semi-final against the loser of the Panthers and Roosters, who will kick off the finals series at Penrith Park on Friday night.
While Cleary returns to the Panthers’ scrumbase, the Roosters welcome back wingers Dominic Young and Daniel Tupou, and front-rower Lindsay Collins after the trio was rested last weekend.
Papenhuyzen replaces the injured Sua Fa’alogo (hamstring) at the back for Melbourne as Christian Welch also returns from illness, while Tom Trbojevic’s return against Canterbury shifts Tolutau Koula to the wing.
Jeral Skelton also replaces Josh Addo-Carr for the Bulldogs following his withdrawal after allegedly testing positive to cocaine in a roadside drug test.
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