An NRL clash between Penrith and Canberra on April 30 means the Bathurst Panthers won’t play at their home ground Carrington Park until Round Seven of the 2016 Group 10 competition.

Their first match back at home is against 2015 runners-up Lithgow Workies on May 15th.

“Basically council wanted Carrington Park at the completion of our pre-season knockout through to the completion of the NRL game to prepare the ground,” Bathurst President Dennis Comerford told The Western Advocate.

“That’s what we were in for, we were well aware of that. We actually asked if we could have a bye in there, every team has two byes this year, and it didn’t work out that way.

“But other than that, it’s what we expected.

“We accepted that, if you want to have an NRL game in your front yard, you have to make compromises.”

A good start to the season will help the Panthers later in the season when they host six consecutive home matches between Round Nine and Fourteen.