But is there any doubt that the Newcastle Knights' fixture list since the season resumed after the coronavirus shut-down has been a disadvantage, however slight?

Other than the Warriors and most recently Melbourne Storm, both of whom have been forced to completely relocate because of border restrictions, the three teams most directly impacted by the NRL's decision to play in centralised, communal stadiums are Canberra, Gold Coast and the Knights.

All have effectively spent the past five games on the road.

Canberra's two "home" games have been at Campbelltown Stadium, and they have also played in Melbourne and at Bankwest Stadium.

Gold Coast have played three times at their temporary home ground, Suncorp Stadium (one of which was an away game against Brisbane), once in Townsville and once at Bankwest.

The Knights have played twice at Gosford, their makeshift home, twice at Campbelltown and then last week's trip to Townsville.

Compare that to competition leaders Parramatta, who after resuming with a trip to Suncorp have since had five consecutive games at Bankwest.

Moreover, while Canberra and Gold Coast return to their true surrounds this weekend after the relaxation of restrictions, the Knights face another road trip to take on Manly at Brookvale tomorrow.

These are, of course, unprecedented times and getting the NRL season back on track was always going to be a case of "whatever it takes".

But by the same token, the extra strain caused by game-day travel, particularly on the Raiders and Knights, deserves to be acknowledged.

Newcastle's long haul to Townsville last weekend is a case in point.

The flight took around two-and-a-half hours and by all accounts players were more than comfortable, after meeting at their Mayfield training base early in the morning for breakfast.

They then arrived for the 3pm kick-off and, before they knew it, found themselves 26-0 in arrears.

Knights coach Adam O'Brien and his players have since admitted they paid the price for a lack of intensity, or even complacency, but in hindsight was it any real surprise the Cowboys were able to spring an ambush?

North Queensland were not only desperate to make amends after a big loss to Wests Tigers, but their game-day preparation - in complete contrast to Newcastle's - was as per normal.

It should also be noted that the temperature in Townsville was 24 degrees when the game kicked off, seven degrees warmer than in Newcastle at the corresponding time.

After a few early fumbles gifted the Cowboys a glut of early possession, the Knights were showing obvious signs of fatigue.

Some will say footballers are highly paid professionals who should be be able to perform at their peak in any circumstances.

But in a competition as evenly matched as the NRL, if a team is just a few per cent below their best, more often than not they will lose.

And if a few hours in transit is not a handicap, then why have sporting teams around the world been travelling to games at least a day in advance for decades?

The elite-level clubs, admittedly, seem to cope better with such adversity.

But even on Thursday night, when the Sydney Roosters lost 27-25 to Melbourne in golden point, did their game-day flight take the edge off them?

The two-time premiers led by 10 points with eight minutes remaining, and normally in that situation they get the job done with a minimum of fuss.

This time, however, they twice let the Storm off the hook.

To be fair, Melbourne also had to commute to the stadium from their new base on the Sunshine Coast, a trip of roughly 90 minutes.

Perhaps what that game highlighted, first and foremost, was where the Knights are, and where they need to get to.

The Roosters and Storm have been the NRL's benchmark clubs for more than a decade, and their level of consistency is what sets them apart.

Rarely do they produce a substandard performance.

In their previous game, the Roosters led the Dragons 10-0 but then lost forwards Victor Radley and Sam Verrills to knee injuries.

They appeared genuinely rattled when they conceded two quick tries to trail 12-10, but regrouped to regain the ascendancy and claim a convincing 26-12 win.

Their big-game players, who have been there and won that, just rose to the occasion. That's why several of them have two or even three premiership rings on the mantelpiece.

The Storm boast similarly ingrained mental toughness and belief in their own ability. Week in, week out, they expect to win, because they have been doing it for so long, they know nothing else.

The Knights are still in the process of earning their stripes.

From next week, they will return to playing at McDonald Jones Stadium, and perhaps then the many hours they have spent in buses and planes over the past few weeks will start to pay dividends. As they say, it's a long way to the top.