Penrith have warned World Club Challenge opponents St Helens to expect to feel the brunt of a western Sydney furnace, with temperatures on Saturday set to exceed the highest ever recorded in north-west England.
Sydney’s hot weather remains a concern for Saturday’s pre-season matches, where close to 40 degrees is predicted ahead of both the Charity Shield match and the World Club Challenge.
The NRL have pushed back kick-off times to 4:20pm and 6:50pm respectively, with the heat policy also likely to be invoked and games played in quarters.
Penrith officials had also been pushing for far larger squad sizes and more interchanges for the WCC, but teams will instead only be allowed one extra man on the bench and 10 substitutions.
But as far as Panthers players are concerned, they are happy to have the advantage the heat should give them in the battle between the reigning NRL and English Super League champions at BlueBet Stadium.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s predicted temperature of 39 degrees is hotter than the highest recorded temperature of 38.4 in north-west England near St Helens.
The Saints have spent the past two-and-a-half weeks in Sydney preparing, but left maximum temperatures of close to 10 degrees back in wintry northern England at the start of the month.
“It’s pretty cold in England at the moment, so definitely great to be playing out here,” Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary said.
“It is a bit of a difference (to what they’re used to), but we’ve both got to play in it. It’s pretty hot for us too.
“It’s meant to be pretty hot on Saturday, so we will see how we go.”
Penrith’s middle are also up for the challenge.
Saturday’s match looms as crucial for Mitch Kenny as he prepares to play big minutes at No.9 for Penrith following Apisai Koroisau’s exit to Wests Tigers.
But he is happy to point out he is more than accustomed to the heat.
“This is Penrith, we have been doing it for years. It’s nothing new,” Kenny said.
“They’re from the north of England, but they’re a world-class outfit and I’m sure they’re doing everything they can to be conditioned to it.
“But even growing up out here and training in this heat, it still shocks you. Especially when you haven’t played footy in a while and you’re going to play in that.”
St Helens are, however, adamant they will be ready for any temperatures.
“It is a big challenge, one thing that people mention when we come to Australia is the heat,” coach Paul Wellens said.
“But people have to realise that we do occasionally have hot days in the summer in the UK and on our trips to Toulouse and Perpignan (min thw souty of France).”
“We played Castleford at Wembley in 2021 which was 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) pitch-side so the lads have had experience with these types of challenges.
“Obviously it’s different from what we’re used to, but we’ve made no excuses.
“The conditions are the conditions and we adapt accordingly.”
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