Penrith had one simple mantra during the NRL’s six-week COVID shutdown.
Whoever found a way to deal with an unprecedented situation would go a long way towards winning the premiership.
“That was our motto straight away,” the club’s head of performance Hayden Knowles told AAP.
“And then when we came back, the challenge for staff was whoever handles this season the best, will be very hard to beat.”
It’s hard to believe now, but minor premiers Penrith were one of the most impacted clubs of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their football staff were the first to be stood down across the NRL, with the group’s five leagues clubs shut down around NSW.
But the response was still simple: “How do we keep this team on track?”.
A day later, the club’s gym was stripped bare.
Every piece was split among the players to take home, each handed-packaged equipment catered to the individual.
Team-wide zoom sessions were weekly with some like lock Isaah Yeo appearing in fancy dress, but contact with coaching staff still working around the clock was almost daily.
Training programmes were delivered via online software that showed videos examples as well as targets to meet.
Different WhatsApp groups were set up for players to post their own videos.
One was for gym work and another used for skills, allowing players to train via other sports in the backyard with jumping, catching and Viliame Kikau showing off slam dunks.
Breathing sessions were key in the morning, with a focus put on mindfulness in one of the game and country’s most stressful times.
And not all calls were to rev players up, with some needing to be told to pull back to get themselves through the season.
“It wasn’t the same intensity as a pre-season but the scheduling was still like we had weights or had to do a running session,” Yeo said.
“And all the boys had a bit of fun with it as well, there was a few goals and challenges in there. I think it was good.
“I think it’s probably good for the younger boys. It held everyone accountable too.”
Wayne Bennett’s revelation this week that he went easy on Penrith’s rivals this week in South Sydney in order to pace their season shows there was more than one way to navigate the period.
But when it comes to knowing your squad and how to get the optimum out of young players, Penrith did it best.
Take for instance that the NRL’s two youngest squads – the Panthers and Brisbane – both entered the COVID lockdown with a 2-0 record.
Broncos players were told football wasn’t to be their top priority during the break, with Seibold refusing to take a “Big Brother” like stance.
In the 18 rounds after the shutdown, Brisbane won just one game and collected the wooden spoon.
Penrith have lost just one have now won 16 straight, with only the Rabbitohs standing between them and a grand final.
Truth be told, the Panthers embraced the period as the bunch of young friends who went back to the local park for training and did it in pairs once allowed.
“In terms of that we built a good bit of camaraderie there,” Yeo said.
“The way we came out of that was really good and it was shown through our consistency and how we started back from that COVID break.
“If you could jag three or four wins out of that first month of footy, that put you on a good level and we were lucky enough to do that.”
The way Penrith’s players dealt with the shutdown have surprised few inside the club.
Ivan Cleary’s second pre-season back at the club was highly touted, with the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Zane Tetevano and Nathan Cleary leading the way among the senior faces.
“Their commitment to working hard in the pre-season went to another level,” Knowles said.
“Guys that were leading us in the pre-season just rolled into COVID and they went to another level.
“They had to find ways to inspire each other.”
And it’s helped with injuries too.
Penrith have somehow avoided the injury crisis most other clubs have faced this year, and have all 30 players available for Saturday night’s preliminary final.
“That helps with the injury stuff,” captain James Tamou said.
“Some teams have had a bad run of injuries.
“These young guys, you can’t tell them to not train. You can’t tell them to get off the field.
“They treat every day at training like they are living their dream, so they just did it at home.”
Again, ready to show that whoever handles the chaotic 2020 season the best will be hard to beat.