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

• Panthers v Eels: As it happened

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

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.