A tale of two cities: Penrith, Parra on contrasting journeys after 2022 decider

On one side of the corridor at Accor Stadium, the ski goggles went on and the celebrations went off as the Panthers’ dressing room erupted into grand final euphoria for the second year in a row.

From Clive Churchill Medal winner Dylan Edwards at the back right through to enforcer James Fisher-Harris up front, the Panthers had dominated the 2022 decider from start to finish and were in the mood to party.

Across the way in a sombre Eels dressing room, there was only commiserations and what-ifs as they contemplated a blue and golden opportunity lost.

The most dominant team of the modern era had ridden roughshod over their western Sydney rivals, and with the nucleus of their side remaining intact and two blokes called Cleary calling the shots, most pundits expected the Panthers to again be the team to beat in 2023.

For the Eels, there was genuine hope amid the heartbreak. With wily Englishman Josh Hodgson arriving to fill the void left by Reed Mahoney, and the promising J’maine Hopgood coming across from Penrith to step into the Isaiah Papali’i role, a top-four finish seemed a more than reasonable goal.

Even as early as the week following the decider, both clubs would have turned their attention to 2023... one desperate for a shot at redemption, the other a very real shot at a rare three-peat.

What we have seen is the Panthers' mission gather momentum week after wondrous week as they continue to set benchmarks by which all others are measured while the Eels have lurched from one upheaval to another in a lamentable 2023 campaign.

It all started on opening night on Thursday, March 2 when the Eels went toe to toe with the Storm in an epic struggle before Harry Grant darted over for the match-winner in golden point.

The following night the Panthers hosted the Broncos, who gave an early indication of the force they would become in 2023 with a 13-12 win over the premiers on the back of a monster game from Payne Haas.

It was the first time since 2019 that the Panthers had lost in the opening round but they bounced back a week later with a win over the Rabbitohs before banking two points from a bye in Round 3.

The Eels, meanwhile, stumbled to a 0-3 start after losses to the Sharks and Sea Eagles – the absence of star back-rower Ryan Matterson courtesy of a self-imposed three-game ban not helping their cause.

The highly anticipated grand final rematch was next up at CommBank Stadium and with Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo running for a staggering 499 metres between them, the Eels made a statement with a 17-16 golden point victory.

"That performance was more Parramatta-like," a relieved Eels coach Brad Arthur said post-match. "I think there was 85 sets in the game and only 10 lost plays, it was just end-to-end. High quality game."

His Panthers counterpart Ivan Cleary was typically measured and unflustered in his summation, declaring, "I really liked the way we fought back from eight points down, twice, and it was a real hard slog both times. Disappointing to have the loss, but I think we will get a lot out of that game".

The following fortnight produced an avalanche of points for the Panthers as they disposed of the Raiders 53-12 and Sea Eagles 44-12 to nestle themselves comfortably in second place behind Brisbane after six rounds.

A narrow escape in Round 7 against the Knights was followed by rare back-to-back losses to Souths and Wests Tigers but since that rainy night in Bathurst, the Panthers have tasted defeat only once more, going down 27-23 to the Cowboys in Round 16 when their Blues stars were in camp for Origin Two.

Remarkably, the premiers have won 84 of their 100 matches since the start of 2020, a period of sustained excellence that can be attributed to the high standards that start in the front office and filter through to every member of the playing roster.

“Good management is the key, from the board to the coaching staff, and Ivan Cleary has joined the ranks of the superstar coaches,” said Geyer, a member of the Panthers’ first ever premiership side in 1991.

“The way Ivan brings kids through, they don’t skip a beat if they are stepping in for an Origin player or one of the NRL regulars.

“Next man up isn’t just a saying at Penrith, it’s a doing.

“It’s the same with the coaches. Cameron Ciraldo was known as the ‘minister of defence’ and there were fears that the defence might drop off when he left but if anything it has gotten better.

“They are conceding 12 points per game which is phenomenal, and Peter Wallace has to take a lot of credit for that.”

Across town at the Eels, they are giving up twice as many points per game and have conceded 97 tries compared to the Panthers’ 47.

As their season has slipped away in the past six weeks, Arthur’s men have leaked 54 points to the Broncos, 46 to the Storm and Warriors, and 34 to the Roosters.

Making those scorelines harder to cop is the fact they were preceded by a five-game winning streak between Round 12 and 17 that had the Eels in seventh position and only two games behind joint leaders Penrith, Brisbane and Melbourne.

A bye in Round 18 was followed by the 46-10 loss to the Warriors and a thrilling 25-24 win over the Titans that came at a huge cost with Campbell-Gillard and Maika Sivo copping four-match bans for dangerous contact.

At a time when the Eels needed all their big guns on deck, they had a prop with a huge motor and a try-scoring machine sitting in the grandstand alongside playmaker Dylan Brown, who was serving a seven-game ban imposed by the NRL.

Tellingly, Parramatta have had players serve a total of 22 weeks in suspensions in 2023 compared to a single week in 2022 when Paulo missed a game for a careless high tackle.

The Panthers’ discipline has been exemplary this season with only Taylan May (breach notice, 2 weeks) and Tyrone Peachey (careless high tackle, 2 weeks) spending time on the sidelines, allowing Ivan Cleary the luxury of a settled line-up for much of the year.

The State of Origin period again presented its challenges with a posse of Panthers on Blues duty but even that couldn’t throw the champs off kilter with Dylan Edwards, James Fisher-Harris, Izack Tago and Peachey standing tall in wins over the Knights and Dolphins after Origin 2 and 3.

With their all-star line-up back together and sails set for the finals, the Panthers have gone undefeated since their Round 19 bye, racking up 186 points and conceding just 50.

Sitting on top of the ladder courtesy of a superior points differential to the Broncos, another minor premiership is there for the taking, with home games against the Eels and Cowboys to come.

“On face value it is Penrith’s competition to lose,” said Geyer.

“Somehow the Panthers seem to have pulled away even more from the Rabbitohs and Roosters and Storm.

“Some people have called them arrogant but to me it’s just over exuberance and I’d be worried as coach if they didn’t have that.

“It’s all about being together and winning competitions and that’s what footy is about.”

If the Panthers can go on to claim a third straight title they will become the first team since Parramatta in 1981-82-83 to achieve the feat. Capping a magnificent decade the Eels also saluted in 1986 as they sent legends Ray Price and Mick Cronin out in style.

The Panthers' premiership tally will grow to five if they are doing a lap of honour on October 1, adding to the crowns won by Geyer and his mates in '91, Craig Gower's Class of 2003 and the back-to-back brilliance of 2021-22.

And so to Thursday night's latest instalment in the battle of the west – the 109th premiership match between the pair since the Panthers joined the competition in 1967, the Eels holding a 61-46 advantage with one draw.

The coronation vs the consolation as the Panthers chase a 21st win of the season to all but assure them of a third minor premiership in four years, while Eels seek to save some face in their final outing of 2023.

Two proud clubs with four titles apiece. One on the verge of a fifth, the other left to rue a lost season and a 37th year in the premiership wilderness.

 

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.