Manu Vatuvei might be giving National Rugby League (NRL) rivals nightmares on defence but in one regard the Brisbane Broncos should be sleeping easy ahead of Sunday's clash with the New Zealand Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
In a bid to gain a competitive edge the Broncos players have been equipped with wristbands that monitor sleeping habits.
Developed by United States space agency Nasa, the devices are worn for two weeks -- not when training or playing -- to determine how they can more effectively manage fatigue.
The innovation was driven by Broncos high-performance director Dean Benton.
"It's a sleep analysis study we're doing and every player will get a report back on what is referred to as sleep hygiene," Benton told The Australian newspaper.
"Sleep is the best form of recovery and I think we're all in denial at times that we are lacking sleep."
The technology was developed by John Caldwell, in consultation with scientific research professors at both Nasa and the US government's Department of Defence, over the past two decades.
Dr Caldwell, from Hawaii-based company Fatigue Science, said maximised sleep patterns were a "no-brainer" for elite athletes.
The Broncos are the first Australian-based professional sporting organisation to utilise the technology, employed in the US by American football franchises.
Meanwhile, the temperature may not be as daunting as first anticipated by the Warriors, who were unimpressed about drawing two early season afternoon kickoffs in a typically humid southeast Queensland.
Fears concerning player welfare failed to materialise when the opening round match against the Gold Coast Titans kicked off at 1pm local time (4pm NZT).
The forecast for Sunday is for 27degC and rain.
