Rugby League

Penrith Panthers
22
Parramatta Eels
18
Full Time

Match Tracker

Penrith Panthers
Parramatta Eels
H1
6
18

    Penrith Panthers Events

  • 28 mins - Try, R.Campbell-Gillard
  • 29 mins - Conversion, N.Cleary

    Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels Events

  • 2 mins - Try, B.Faraimo
  • 14 mins - Try, B.French
  • 17 mins - Try, C.Gutherson
  • 18 mins - Conversion, M.Gordon
  • 38 mins - Try, B.French
H2
16
0

    Penrith Panthers Events

  • 43 mins - Try, T.Peachey
  • 45 mins - Conversion, N.Cleary
  • 48 mins - Try, B.Cartwright
  • 54 mins - Try, J.Mansour
  • 55 mins - Conversion, N.Cleary

    Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels Events

ET
0
0

    Penrith Panthers Events

    Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels Events

Scorers

Penrith Panthers
Parramatta Eels
Goal Scorers Penrith Panthers Parramatta Eels
Tries Campbell-Gillard (1), Peachey (1), Cartwright (1), Mansour (1) Faraimo (1), French (2), Gutherson (1)
Conversions Cleary (3/4) Gordon (1/4)
Penalty Goals
Field Goals

Team Statistics

Penrith Panthers
Parramatta Eels

Statistics

Penrith Panthers Parramatta Eels
Tries 4 4
Conversions 3 1
Penalty Goals 0 0
Field Goals 0 0
Penrith PanthersGoal Scorers
Players R RM OF LB TA K T MT PC ER
S.Akauola 7 80 0 0 0 0 6 0 1 0
W.Blake 6 62 1 0 0 0 20 3 0 2
R.Campbell-Gillard 8 84 0 1 0 0 13 2 0 0
B.Cartwright 6 52 1 1 0 2 25 0 0 1
N.Cleary 4 25 0 0 1 11 15 2 0 0
J.Fisher-Harris 5 29 0 0 0 0 33 5 0 2
C.Grevsmuhl 10 101 0 0 0 0 21 2 0 0
Z.Hardaker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L.Latu 7 60 1 0 0 0 30 5 0 1
J.Mansour 20 233 2 1 0 0 8 0 0 1
S.Matagi 5 40 0 0 0 0 18 1 1 0
T.Merrin 11 98 1 0 0 0 48 3 0 0
M.Moylan 5 34 0 0 1 0 5 3 0 4
T.Peachey 15 156 1 1 1 0 11 3 0 0
P.Wallace 3 30 0 0 1 2 42 2 0 0
D.Watene-Zelezniak 13 94 1 0 0 0 4 4 0 1
I.Yeo 9 79 1 0 0 0 27 1 0 0
Parramatta EelsGoal Scorers
Players R RM OF LB TA K T MT PC ER
D.Alvaro 15 128 0 1 0 0 25 2 2 0
I.De Gois 3 27 0 0 0 0 39 5 0 0
K.Edwards 8 50 1 0 0 0 6 1 1 0
B.Faraimo 16 118 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 2
B.French 4 36 1 0 0 1 9 3 0 2
M.Gordon 10 105 1 0 1 0 6 1 0 1
D.Gower 5 39 0 0 0 0 18 0 1 0
C.Gutherson 10 121 0 3 1 4 11 0 0 0
M.Jennings 6 82 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
M.Ma'u 16 169 2 0 0 0 11 2 0 0
T.Mannah 15 155 0 0 0 0 32 4 1 0
T.Moeroa 14 131 0 0 0 0 25 6 0 0
R.O'Brien 8 69 1 0 0 0 14 1 0 1
J.Robson 3 16 1 0 1 14 17 3 0 0
B.Scott 5 41 1 0 0 0 26 3 0 2
P.Terepo 10 82 0 0 0 0 35 0 2 0
D.Wicks 8 68 0 0 0 0 12 1 0 0

Match Details

Penrith Panthers
Parramatta Eels
START TIME
4:00PM
WEATHER
Partly cloudy
VENUE
Pepper Stadium
Referees
Alan Shortall, Ben Cummins, Ben Galea, Bernard Sutton, Matthew Cecchin, Michael Wise, Rohan Best

Penrith Panthers deliver knockout blow to end Parramatta Eels' season from hell

It wasn't the haymaker many expected, but Penrith eventually delivered the knockout punch that effectively ended Parramatta Eels' season. The Eels defeat at Pepper Stadium was the latest in a series of body blows that have rained down on the club since the start of the season, and ensured an unlikely finals berth is almost certainly beyond them. 

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Panthers end Eels season

Parramatta's hopes of a miracle run to the finals were ended by Penrith at Pepper Stadium.

Injuries, suspension, off-field troubles and salary cap scandals have all taken their toll on Parramatta and by the end of the 80 minutes, the brave faces put up by the Eels all season finally gave way to ones of dejection. A blistering opening half was followed by a scoreless second as a makeshift team of 17 was pounced on by the Panthers, who seized a 22-18 comeback victory. 

The defeat  will likely rule out any chance of making the top eight for the Eels, as they cannot reach 28 points – the cut-off of previous years. Any hope of a top-eight finish hinges on winning all seven of the remaining games of  the season, as well as other challengers slipping up.

 "You might tell me that we can't make it but we don't think so at the moment. We know we have to win seven games and if we do that, and end up in the positive for and against, we're some chance. It's only a real small bit of a hope but we're hanging on to it," Parramatta coach Brad Arthur said. 

Eels star Corey Norman was stood down after pleading guilty to possession of drugs midweek but still attended the match, walking through the gates at the stroke of kick-off with a club beanie drawn closely over his eyebrows. He was settling into his seat when Parramatta thought they were on their way to a comfortable win after Bureta Fairamo finished a sweeping move out wide. 

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If there was a silver lining to Norman's troubles then it was in the performance of Clint Gutherson who deputised superbly in the halves. The winger scored one and set-up another while steering his team during a brilliant display in a position he hasn't played since he was 13-year-old. 

The Panthers were shellshocked by the fierce start from a team that was meant to be on death's door and before they could find any meaningful possession, the Panthers conceded a second try. Gutherson showed his creative streak when setting up Bevan French for a try with a clever short kick. 

Changes made: The Parramatta Eels administrator has inherited a financially sound club with a blueprint for reform ...
Changes made: The Parramatta Eels administrator has inherited a financially sound club with a blueprint for reform that's already under way. Photo: Getty Images

Gutherson appeared to be staking his claim for a regular spot in the halves when he then scored to make it 14-0, latching on to a Michael Jennings offload to slice through Penrith's line for his fifth try of the season. It was the last impact from Jennings who was withdrawn with a hamstring strain.

A Regan Campbell-Gillard try beneath the posts pulled the Panthers back into the contest, giving the home fans some hopes of a comeback. 

Comeback: Bryce Cartwright scores for the Panthers.
Comeback: Bryce Cartwright scores for the Panthers. Photo: Getty Images

The Eels' dominance was rewarded with a 12-point lead going into the break when a moment of inspiration from Jeff Robson led to their fourth. A clever chip into the corner found French, who leaped above Josh Mansour to seal his double. 

Penrith hit back in their first raid on the Parramatta line of the second half. Tyrone Peachey, returning to the starting line-up after being dropped for disciplinary reasons, out-wrestled his marker to bring it back to a six-point gap.  

Onlooker: Corey Norman in the stands at Pepper Stadium on Sunday.
Onlooker: Corey Norman in the stands at Pepper Stadium on Sunday. Photo: Getty Images

Bryce Cartwright then hit back at critics in brilliant style. The young five-eighth has come under pressure for failing to take on the line but a quick burst of pace and a dummy exposed a hole in the Eels' line, making it a two-point game. Immediately after, and the Panthers were in the lead – with Mansour on the end of an overlap to inflict a painful blow on their local rivals ahead of a week where the government is set to overthrow the Eels board. 

"I don't know what's best for the club, what I know is that I'm very proud of this football team," Arthur said. 

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