If you’re a diehard or desperate at an NRL venue about two hours before a match, you would know it’s customary for players to wander onto the ground. They might share a joke with the rivals they’re about to play or skylark with a footy alongside teammates.

But the first thing Penrith players do is go to a position on the field they’ll later play. Sunia Turuva has his earphones on standing next to the left corner post. Brian To’o, the right. James Fisher-Harris prowls the in-goal from where he’ll take the first hit-up, Moses Leota the other side of the post. Nothing is left to chance at the Panthers.

Among it all, Jarome Luai sits on the ground, leaning against the goalpost, meditating. Matthew Hayden used to sit at one end of a pitch the day before a Test match and visualise swatting bowlers to all parts.

What could Luai be praying for? A fourth straight grand final appearance? His shoulder to stay in place, so much so the boom box is left behind for a few minutes? Whatever he was visualising, it’s safe to say he’s going to get most of it after a thumping 38-4 win over Melbourne at Accor Stadium on Friday night.

Read the full match report here.