Round 23, 2024: Penrith 36 Parramatta 34

Panthers produce comeback for the ages to break Eels hearts

The Panthers scored three tries in three minutes to recover from 14 points down with six minutes to play to beat Parramatta 36-34 in a pulsating contest at CommBank Stadium.

When Eels skipper Clint Gutherson crossed for his second try to give his side a 34-20 lead the match looked to be over but the Panthers crossed through Brian To'o, Sunia Turuva and Izack Tago to hit the front by two.

A penalty against Nathan Cleary for an escort from the kick-off gave Gutherson a shot to send the game to golden point but the kick went wide, and the premiers were home.

A remarkable start to the match with Daine Laurie coughing the ball up in Penrith's first set and the Eels cashing in through Blaize Talagi.

A high tackle penalty against Bryce Cartwright invited the Panthers into the red zone and slick hands from Isaah Yeo, Cleary and Laurie gave To'o free passage to the corner. Cleary converted to tie it up at 6-6.

Eels halves Daejarn Asi and Dylan Brown combined on the left edge in the 10th minute and Talagi found Jake Tago for a 12-6 lead.

The premiers hit back in the 16th minute when Cleary went to the line and put in a perfectly weighted grubber for Tago to follow through and score.

The Panthers hit the lead in the 26th minute when Cleary knocked over a penalty goal after Joe Ofahengaue was pinged for a crusher tackle on Mitch Kenny.

With four minutes remaining in the half the Eels went right through Cartwright and Gutherson to put Sean Russell over in the corner for a 16-14 lead.

The Eels went further ahead in the 47th minute when Jarome Luai spilled the ball trying to come out of his own in goal and Will Penisini grounded it to put the blue and golds out by eight points.

Five minutes later the Eels grabbed a fifth try when Russell got a brilliant pass back inside just as he was about to be bundled into touch, finding Gutherson who touched down and saluted the boisterous home crowd.

Panthers forward Liam Martin was sent to the bin in the 61st minute after making contact with Asi's leg after he kicked and Gutherson banged over a penalty goal to make it 28-14 to the Eels.

No sooner had Martin left his team down a man than the Panthers conjured a try on the left edge for Turuva to get back within eight, but Shaun Lane exploded into the back field soon after and found Gutherson in support to complete a double.

With time running out the Panthers hit back when To'o powered through three defenders to score his second and Cleary's conversion made it 34-26.

Turuva then made it a double after a cross-field kick by Cleary was batted back by Jesse McLean to cut the margin to four and then Tago made it three tries in three minutes as the Panthers hit the front.

Gutherson then missed his late penalty shot and Penrith had come from nowhere to notch their 15th win of the season.

Match Snapshot
Eels centre Blaize Talagi has scored 11 tries in 14 games in his debut season.
Panthers back-rower Scott Sorensen left the field after eight minutes with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Eels forward Joe Ofahengaue was put on report in the 26th minute for a crusher tackle on Mitch Kenny, who was sent for a HIA which he passed.
Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai was placed on report in the 17th minute .
The Eels completed 18 of 19 sets in the first half.
Nathan Cleary had two try assists, two-line break assists and ran for 95 metres.
Panthers winger Sunia Turuva was placed on report in the 51st minute for raising his foot into a defender's face while he was catching a bomb.
Eels centre Blaize Talagi ran for 125 metres and came up with a line break, a try assist and six tackle breaks.
Eels fullback Clint Gutherson has scored seven tries in his past eight games against the Panthers. He ran for 150 metres on the night.
Panthers back-rower Liam Martin was sent to the sin bin in the 61st minute for making late contact with the leg of Daejarn Asi after he had kicked the ball.
Parramatta's tally of 34 is the most points the Panthers have conceded in a match all season.
Panthers fullback Daine Laurie ran for 211 metres and had nine tackle breaks.

NRL.com