But credit to the NRL, shifting the biggest games of the season to the day of rest has been a masterstroke – 72 points on Sunday made for fine viewing.
Credit to Penrith and their dominance of the past-half decade – the theory their play is better suited to night and evening games is backed by four-straight titles and 14 consecutive finals victories.
Brian To’o scores in the corner for Penrith.Credit: Getty Images
They’re just that good. Sunday’s six tries in 40 minutes, with a 100 per cent completion rate, seven offloads and 32 tackles in Canterbury’s half doesn’t change the fact they’re nigh unbeatable when a conservative game plan is called for either.
Cleary remains the best game-managing No.7 in the NRL by the length of one of his 40-20s. The backfield metres of Brian To’o and Dylan Edwards, and the control of Isaah Yeo and Mitch Kenny, is priceless under lights and in any sort of dewy or dicey weather. The defence that has conceded less than any other side since round 13 is even more formidable at night at Accor Stadium.
But in picture perfect conditions on Sunday, Penrith were exactly that too. Despite losing so many stars to so many rivals over so many years, they let the Steeden sing against a hapless defence as passes stuck and tries piled up.
Canterbury matched them for roughly five minutes before being completely and utterly dismantled.
It’s rare to recall the Panthers playing with such abandon in big games. But To’o’s opening try came courtesy of play swinging from one sideline to the other with half a dozen passes either side of one play-the-ball.
They didn’t stop until oranges were called and even with the Bulldogs refusing to wilt and racking up second-half points of their own, Penrith were always Brisbane-bound.
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To think the Broncos have Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo bidding to join Adam Reynolds in returning for the home side.
To think Reece Walsh will be leading Brisbane’s attack in what’s predicted to be dry, 28-degree south-east Queensland conditions.
To think rugby league gets treated to this Penrith side doing the same on a sunny Sunday afternoon again.
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