The extension of the ongoing regional lockdown on Thursday to Friday September 10 hasn't quite dashed chances of a finals series taking place, although

Having finished the regular season in second place, behind only Orange CYMS, the Panthers are still positioned to enjoy finals football if the competition is forced to move directly to a first-versus-second grand final.

Group 10 are willing to push finals back into October but with a compulsory two weeks of lead-in training required by NSW Rugby League the chance for play time is dwindling for those further down the ladder.

It's tough watching the weeks go by without any football action, especially for players like Panthers hooker Nick Loader.

Loader is one of a handful of Panthers players who recently made a return from injury only to watch the season come to a standstill right when they were feeling fresh.

"It's obviously not ideal, especially at this stage of the season, but Doug [Hewitt, coach] had a chat to us about making sure that we're getting out and having a walk wherever we can," Loader said.

"I think all the boys are doing alright. Footy's probably not something you're thinking about as much when there's people not working and there's kids to look after, so everyone's doing what they're can.

"That way that when we do get the news that we can go again then we'll be in half decent condition.

"Doug hasn't gone too much further into any training at home. We're all grown up enough to know what we need to be doing and what's fitting in around work and family."

The required two-week window between the lockdown's conclusion and the resumption of play will be a big hurdle for players and clubs to work with.

However, Loader agrees with that call from NSWRL that the fortnight-long window is a necessity.

"I think that's probably the right call," he said.

"It'd be tough to sit on the sideline for a month, then have two training sessions before going into a finals series. I think that's pretty fair.

"Over a couple of weeks you're able to have a couple of good hit-outs and obviously in the first week you'd have to get stuck in pretty hard. Over a month's wait you're not losing everything though. It's not like a pre-season where you need heaps of kays in the legs to get back to where you need to be."

There's now a threat that Panthers will miss out on the opportunity to play for their third successive Group 10 crown.

Loader believes many clubs would love to see even just one week of finals action go ahead rather than a prize be given out with no games played.

"It's not looking great at the moment but finishing with some sort of finals would be great," he said.

"I saw that a champion was crowned [without finals] in the rugby union and I'm not sure that's the right way to do it. I'm not just saying that because it wouldn't go to us, it just wouldn't feel the same."

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