Penrith players were warned at the start of the week not to complain about the week-long heatwave conditions that have since prompted club officials to ask why the NRL has again scheduled a round-one game out west at 4pm.
Of all the Sydney clubs in pre-season training, none are feeling the summer conditions more than the mountain men. The temperature is expected to surge towards a staggering 45 degrees celsius in the area on Friday.
Heat is on: Ivan Cleary makes a point to his players at training on Wednesday.Credit: James Brickwood
It was hard not to feel sorry for some of the Penrith big men as they were put through their paces as the mercury hit 33 degrees just after 10am.
A "half-time break" was called during training, and the players loaded up on energy gels and water. GPS date recorded some players running up to 7km, which included plenty of ballwork and contact.
Despite being one the teams ready to cope with any early-season heat, some Penrith officials were at a loss to explain why they would host an opening-round game at 4pm, especially given the likelihood of sticky conditions for supporters.
The western Sydney grudge match against Parramatta in the first round will be a sellout but would have had much more appeal under lights and in cooler conditions.
North Queensland are always spared early kick-offs because of the tropical conditions, while Cronulla and Manly host 3pm games in rounds two and four respectively but are on the coast.
Hard yards: Reagan Campbell-Gillard grimaces during a training drill.Credit: James Brickwood
The Wests Tigers will also host Canterbury in a 4pm Sunday game at Campbelltown Stadium, which is also known to produce furnace-like conditions.
"You could turn up on that day in March and it could be 25 degrees, but the best result would have been a 7.30pm kick-off just to give you that assurance weather-wise,'' Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher said.
"We'll still sell that game out, but in hindsight it would be better to have a later start.''
Big Billy Kikau did well to survive yesterday's session, which lasted just over two hours, and recalled the challenges posed by the round-one 4pm kick-off last year.
"Will you tell the coach if I say it's hot,'' Kikau asked as he nervously looked to see if Ivan Cleary was within earshot at the Panthers Academy.
"It's been one of the hottest days I've trained, and it will be the hottest week since I've been at Penrith.
"I can't wait for winter.
"We played on a Sunday afternoon in round last year and it was hot. I started on the bench and I was happy I did. When I got on, I tried to make sure I was in the shade [in front of the grandstand], but then half-time came and in the second half I was on the side of the field that was in the sun.
"Those afternoon kick-offs are hard and you'd much prefer the later ones.''
Winger Josh Mansour, who enjoyed the chance to remove his shirt at the end of the midweek hitout, said of the conditions: "The news and radio has spoken about how hot it's going to be, but we're not complaining and stick together as a group.
"You definitely feel it. It's stinking hot, but it helps you get through the session when nobody else is complaining.''
Meanwhile, Nathan Cleary trained separately from the main group as he overcomes ankle surgery and looks set to join his teammates at the end of next week.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak also took part in the latter stages of Wednesday's session, while James Fisher-Harris needed a quick spell in the shade to have his ankle strapped.
While Penrith are used to the heat, some rival Sydney clubs have often planned training camps in warmer places to enjoy the same benefits.