The Panthers scored three tries in three minutes at the death to snatch a 36-34 victory from the jaws of defeat against a devastated Eels side on Friday night.
Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson had a chance to send the game into golden point with a long-range penalty shot in the 79th minute, but he shanked it.
The Eels were on the cusp of a major upset when they lead the Panthers 34-20 in the 70th minute with Penrith second rower Liam Martin in the sin bin.
But another stunning finish led by Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary saw the three-time reigning premiers get home in a game they had no right winning.
The Panthers' Incredible Comeback
The Panthers' victory was a testament to their resilience and determination. They were down 14 points with seven minutes remaining, but they never gave up. Penrith's champion qualities came through and just like in last year's grand final they scored the final three tries of the match to leave Parramatta players and fans stunned.
To'o was the catalyst for the comeback, doing well to get a ball out of his own in-goal with seven minutes left as Penrith got trapped in a corner. From a penalty a few plays later, the Panthers winger stepped past two defenders to score and offer Penrith the faintest of hopes.
At the end of the next set and with Martin back on the field, Cleary chased through on his own shallow kick and regathered a loose ball, before sending it out wide for Sunia Turuva to score.
And with the game back in the balance, Daine Laurie was able to break into clear space from within his own half and send Izack Tago over the line. Cleary superbly nailed the ensuing kick from close to the sideline, and suddenly Penrith had the lead.
Parramatta's Disappointing Loss
Parramatta fans haven't had much to cheer for 18 months and their supporters had to sit and watch them blow a 14-point lead with a Panther in the sin bin. The fans would've been proud of their team as they completed at over 90 per cent and looked to be playing tougher than Penrith. But it's a club without a winning culture. While Penrith is the opposite and that showed in the final 10 minutes. When down and out, Penrith just went up a gear and stole it.
Talagi's Impressive Performance
Parramatta centre Blaize Talagi is reportedly off to Penrith next season and Ivan Cleary would've liked what he saw from the young gun. He has a real presence about him and looks so threatening in attack. He scored the first try and set up the second for Jake Tago.
A Match Full of Drama and Controversy
Despite being at opposite ends of the ladder, there was all the drama you would expect from a local derby. The battle of the brothers, Jake and Izak Tago, when the latter outscored his sibling two-tries-to-one. Blues enforcer Martin spent time in the sin bin for hitting the kicking leg of Daejarn Asi. Jarome Luai was placed on report for kneeing Will Penisini while playing the football.
And then a contest that wasn't settled until the hooter. “How good is footy, eh,” mused Panthers coach Ivan Cleary. “What a game. Crazy game.”
Looking Ahead
The result means Parramatta remain in a battle with Wests Tigers to avoid the wooden spoon, while Penrith are one step closer to wrapping up a home final with a top-two spot.
Despite being at opposite ends of the ladder, there was all the drama you would expect from a local derby. The battle of the brothers, Jake and Izak Tago, when the latter outscored his sibling two-tries-to-one. Blues enforcer Martin spent time in the sin bin for hitting the kicking leg of Daejarn Asi. Jarome Luai was placed on report for kneeing Will Penisini while playing the football.
The Panthers are likely to be without Scott Sorensen after he suffered a hamstring injury early on Friday night.
The Panthers were poor for 73 minutes on Friday night, and Parramatta played close to their best game of the season.
But for the umpteenth time during this Panthers dynasty, Ivan Cleary's men showed they are never dead in a match.
There has been ongoing speculation about whether Gutherson – despite the looming departure of Talagi – is playing his last games as fullback. So what who wears the Parramatta No.1 next season?
Calling the game for Nine, former fullback great Billy Slater reckons the answer is staring Parramatta in the face.
“He’s the hardest-working player in the competition, Clint Gutherson,” Slater said.
The Sharks, without injured halves Braydon Trindall and Nicho Hynes, started on fire and kept the foot on the throat in their most professional display of the year to open up a four-point gap over fifth-placed Canterbury.
It was a clinical and classy win in front of 13,287 fans, and the club’s largest winning margin in Queensland.
Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon moved Cameron McInnes to half to partner Daniel Atkinson and it worked a treat. The Sharks’ running game was rampaging across the park as they took a 30-0 lead into the break.
