Match day guide and preview for the 2022 NRL Qualifying Final between the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels.
Match details
- Who: Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels
- When: Friday 9 September, 7.50pm
- Where: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
- Weather: min 12, max 23. 100% chance of rain, 8 to 10 mm
- Head-to-head record: Played 105. Panthers 44 wins. Eels 60 wins. 1 draw.
Line ups
| PANTHERS | EELS | |
| Dylan Edwards | 1 | Clinton Gutherson |
| Taylan May | 2 | Maika Sivo |
| Izack Tago | 3 | Viliami Penisini |
| Stephen Crichton | 4 | Tom Opacic |
| Brian To’o | 5 | Waqa Blake |
| Jarome Luai | 6 | Dylan Brown |
| Nathan Cleary | 7 | Mitchell Moses |
| Moses Leota | 8 | Reagan Campbell-Gillard |
| Apisai Koroisau | 9 | Reed Mahoney |
| James Fisher-Harris | 10 | Junior Paulo |
| Viliame Kikau | 11 | Shaun Lane |
| Liam Martin | 12 | Isaiah Papali’i |
| Isaah Yeo | 13 | Ryan Matterson |
| BENCH | BENCH | |
| Mitch Kenny | 14 | Makahesi Makatoa |
| Scott Sorensen | 15 | Jakob Arthur |
| Spencer Leniu | 16 | Oregon Kaufusi |
| Jaeman Salmon | 17 | Marata Niukore |
| RESERVES | RESERVES | |
| Charlie Staines | 18 | Nathan Brown |
| Matt Eisenhuth | 19 | Bailey Simonsson |
| Matt Eisenhuth | 20 | Bryce Cartwright |
| Sean O’Sullivan | 21 | Ofahiki Ogden |
| Chris Smith | 22 | Ky Rodwell |
Penrith welcome back a host of big names after they were rested last week, while star halfback Nathan Cleary returns from suspension.
The Eels have been in good from recently and Brad Arthur has named the same 17 that got the job done against Melbourne in their crucial final round clash.
Pre match predictions
Return of the chin: Nathan Cleary to score a try and lead the Panthers to a finals win on his return from suspension. Panthers by 6.
May day: Taylan May to repay the NRL for their special treatment with a try and 150+ run metres. Eels by 2 – Denholm Samaras
Team profiles
Penrith Panthers 1st – 20 wins and 4 losses
Points for: 636 points for (2nd in the NRL)
Points against: 330 points against (1st)
Last 10: 7-3 – LWWLWLWWWW
Home record: 10-2
Away record: 10-2
Average winning margin: 18.9 points
Average losing margin: 18 points
Biggest win: defeated Newcastle 42-6 at McDonald Jones Stadium in round 14
Biggest loss: lost to North Queensland 38-8 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in round 25
Most tries: Taylan May (16), Stephen Crichton and Izack Tago (12)
Most try assists: Nathan Cleary (14), Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau (12)
Most linebreaks: Taylan May (18), Izack Tago (15), Dylan Edwards (10)
Most run metres: Dylan Edwards (4,790), Izack Tago (3,248), Taylan May (3,156)
Most tackles: Api Koroisau (918), Isaah Yeo (783), James Fisher-Harris (611)
Premiership players in 17: Dylan Edwards, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota, Api Koroisau, James Fisher-Harris, Liam Martin, Iaah Yeo, Viliame Kikau, Scott Sorensen, Spencer Leniu
Finals record: 18 wins, 16 losses
Last 10 finals: 6 wins, 4 losses
- 2021 Grand Final: defeated South Sydney 14-12 at Suncorp Stadium
- 2021 Preliminary Final: defeated Melbourne 10-6 at Suncorp Stadium
- 2021 Semi Final: defeated Parramatta 8-6 at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
- 2021 Qualifying Final: lost to South Sydney 16-10 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
- 2020 Grand Final: lost to Melbourne 26-20 at Accor Stadium
- 2020 Preliminary Final: defeated South Sydney 20-16 at Accor Stadium
- 2020 Qualifying Final: defeated Roosters 29-28 at BlueBet Stadium
- 2018 Semi Final: lost to Cronulla 21-20 at Allianz Stadium
- 2018 Elimination Final: defeated Warriors 27-12 at Stadium Australia
- 2017 Preliminary Final: lost to Brisbane 13-6 at Suncorp Stadium
Parramatta Eels 4th – 16 wins and 8 losses
Points for: 608 points for (5th)
Points against: 489 points against (8th)
Last 10: 7-3 – WWWLWWLWWL
Home record: 8-4
Away record: 8-4
Average winning margin: 24.2 points
Average losing margin: 12.9 points
Biggest win: defeated Brisbane 53-6 at Suncorp Stadium in round 24
Biggest loss: lost to North Queensland 35-4 at TIO Stadium in round 8
Most tries: Clint Gutherson (14), Maika Sivo (12), Waqa Blake and Dylan Brown (11)
Most try assists: Mitch Moses (22), Clint Gutherson and Dylan Brown (16)
Most linebreaks: Maika Sivo (14), Clint Gutherson and Dylan Brown (13)
Most run metres: Clint Gutherson (3,637), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (3,626), Isaiah Papali’i (3,314)
Most tackles: Reed Mahoney (1,010), Isaiah Papali’i (833), Shaun Lane (652)
Premiership players in 17: Ryan Matterson (Roosters 2018)
Finals record: 36 wins, 35 losses
Last 10 finals: 3 wins, 7 losses
- 2021 Semi Final: lost to Penrith 8-6 at BB Print Stadium
- 2021 Elimination Final: defeated Newcastle 28-20 at Browne Park, Rockhampton
- 2020 Semi Final: lost to South Sydney 38-24 at CommBank Stadium
- 2020 Qualifying Final: lost to Melbourne 36-24 at Suncorp Stadium
- 2019 Semi Final: lost to Melbourne 32-0 at AAMI Park
- 2019 Elimination Final: defeated Brisbane 58-0 at CommBank Stadium
- 2017 Semi Final: lost to North Queensland 24-16 at ANZ Stadium
- 2017 Qualifying Final: lost to Melbourne 18-16 at AAMI Park
- 2009 Grand Final: lost to Melbourne 23-16 at ANZ Stadium
- 2009 Preliminary Final: defeated Bulldogs 22-12 at ANZ Stadium
Last 5 meetings
- 2022 round 20: Parramatta 34 – 10 Penrith at CommBank Stadium
- 2022 round 9: Penrith 20 – 22 Parramatta at BlueBet Stadium
- 2021 Semi Final: Penrith 8 – 6 Parramatta at BB Print Stadium
- 2021 round 25: Parramatta 6 – 40 Penrith at Cbus Super Stadium
- 2021 round 16: Penrith 13 – 12 Parramatta at BlueBet Stadium
The Eels broke a four match losing streak against the Panthers in round 9 this year with a tough two-point victory in Penrith.
Parramatta then backed it up later in the year with a comprehensive 24-point win in round 20 that saw Nathan Cleary sent off in the first half.
Of the last five meetings between the sides played in Penrith, the Panthers hold a 3-2 edge over the Eels.
