Parramatta’s win over the Storm has set up a tantalising showdown against defending premiers Penrith tonight to open the Telstra Premiership Finals series.
The Panthers were beaten just four times all season on their way to claiming the minor premiership, and the Eels own two of those victories over Ivan Cleary’s men – winning 22-20 in Round 9 and 34-10 in Round 20.
With a preliminary final berth on offer, the two western Sydney rivals will rip in from the opening whistle and the forward battle is sure to rock the foundations of BlueBet Stadium.
The Eels would love nothing better than to avenge their loss to the Panthers in last year’s semi-finals, when the intervention of a trainer at a critical moment late in the game robbed the blue and golds of momentum and left a bitter taste as they succumbed 8-6 in a bruising encounter.
The Panthers went on to beat the Storm in an epic preliminary final and the Rabbitohs in a tense decider to claim the club’s third premiership and they have given themselves a great shot at becoming the first back-to-back premiers since the Roosters in 2018-19.
Source: NRL.com
