Western Sydney Derby Explained

Western Sydney Derby
City Or Region:Western Sydney, Australia
First Contested:Parramatta 5–6 Penrith
(5 March 1967)
Teams Involved:Parramatta Eels & Penrith Panthers
Most Wins:Parramatta Eels (66)
Mostrecent:Parramatta 34-36 Penrith
(9 August 2024)
Total:118
Series:Parramatta

66 wins
Penrith: 52 wins
Drawn: 1

Largestvictory:Parramatta 64–6 Penrith
(17 March 2002)[1]

The Western Sydney Derby is the rivalry between the Parramatta Eels and the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League.

History

Parramatta entered the NSWRL now NRL competition in 1947, meanwhile Penrith entered 20 years later in 1967. Parramatta are the closest NRL team to Penrith geographically.

Former Penrith and current Parramatta player Reagan Campbell-Gillard spoke about Penrith and Parramatta saying "As a Penrith junior, you come through the system to hate them. “I also don't like that word but it is. It doesn't matter what form you're in, it's a game you get up for".[2]

In 2002, Parramatta thrashed the Penrith 64–6, this coming after a season in which Parramatta finished first on the ladder and Penrith last. But they would not meet again until Round 26, 2003, when Penrith, in front of a then-record crowd defeated Parramatta 40–22 denying the Eels a place in the finals (Parramatta had to win by 28+ points). Penrith went on to win the premiership that year. Round 17, 2009 saw a Penrith win by 38–34 in which the lead changed several times, before Parramatta recorded a huge 48–6 win in the penultimate round of the 2009 NRL season.[3]

In the 2010 NRL season, Parramatta came from 22–0 down at half-time against Penrith to win 34–28 at Penrith Park with Parramatta player Jarryd Hayne starring with a man of the match performance.[4]

Since Penrith entered the competition in 1967, the two clubs have played each other five times in the finals. The last being the 2022 NRL Grand Final which Penrith won 28-12. In round 5 of the 2020 NRL season, Parramatta came back from a 10–0 deficit at the 61st minute to beat Penrith 16–10, that would be Penrith's only loss in the 2020 NRL regular season that year as Penrith finished as minor premiers.[5]

In round 9 of the 2022 NRL season, Parramatta defeated Penrith 22-20 at Penrith Park. It was Penrith's first loss of the season and it also ended the clubs 21-match winning streak at the ground. Parramatta were the only team to defeat Penrith twice in the 2022 NRL season.[6] The two teams met twice in the finals series, with Penrith winning both matches en route to their second consecutive premiership.

In round 4 of the 2023 NRL season, Parramatta met Penrith in the grand final rematch. Parramatta went into the game having started the season winless. Parramatta lead the match 16-8 with less than seven minutes to play but Penrith levelled the scores at 16-16 after Nathan Cleary kicked a 40 metre field goal with seconds remaining. In golden point extra-time, Mitchell Moses kicked a field goal to win the game for Parramatta 17-16.[7] In round 26, Parramatta pulled off one of the upsets of the season, defeating Penrith 32-18. Before the match, Penrith were sitting top of the table meanwhile Parramatta were sat 11th on the table and were unable to qualify for the finals.[8] In round 23 of the 2024 NRL season, Penrith staged one of the best comebacks in recent memory as they came from 16 points down to defeat Parramatta 36-34. Penrith scored three converted tries in six minutes to claim the victory.[9]

Results

Overall

Team Played Won Drawn PS PD
Parramatta Eels117 65 1 2143 +306
117 51 1 1837 -306
As of 5 September 2021

Overall in NRL

Team Played Won Drawn
Parramatta Eels108 61 1
108 46 1
As of 29 March 2023

NRL results

Date Season Round Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance Report + F1= Finals Week 1, EF= Elimination Final, PF= Premliminary Final, GF= Grand Final
Sunday, 28 May196710 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval12,917
Saturday, 12 August196721 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium5,368
Sunday, 14 July196816 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium13,163
Sunday, 30 March19691 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium11,338
Sunday, 15 June196912 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval14,572
Sunday, 12 April19703 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval10,065
Sunday, 28 June197014 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium8,825
Sunday, 18 April19714 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium9,125
Sunday, 4 July197115 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval13,375
Saturday, 13 May19729 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval3,174
Sunday, 6 August197220 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium4,100
Sunday, 6 May19737 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium8,676
Sunday, 22 July197318 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval4,381
Sunday, 19 May19748 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval6,526
Sunday, 4 August197419 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium5,931
Sunday, 4 May19757 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval8,949
Sunday, 27 July197518 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium10,290
Sunday, 30 May197611 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval13,570
Sunday, 22 August197622 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium15,342
Sunday, 1 May19777 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval15,288
Sunday, 24 July197718 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium12,308
Sunday, 21 May19789 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium10,859
Sunday, 6 August197820 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval9,140
Saturday, 5 May19797 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval6,992
Saturday, 21 July197918 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium10,732
Sunday, 4 May19806 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium13,423
Saturday, 14 June198012 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval5,775
Sunday, 27 June19817 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium14,736
Sunday, 2 August198118 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCumberland Oval9,682
Sunday, 21 March19824 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersBelmore Oval6,453
Sunday, 27 June198218 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium16,478
Saturday, 12 March19833 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersBelmore Oval5,024
Sunday, 19 June198317 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium9,584
Sunday, 27 May198413 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersBelmore Oval9,086
Sunday, 26 August198426 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium20,523
Sunday, 21 April19856 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium14,607
Monday, 15 July198519 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersSydney Cricket Ground8,080
Sunday, 20 April19867 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium15,360
Sunday, 20 July198620 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium21,049
Sunday, 24 May198713 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium20,002
Monday, 31 August198726 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium8,155
Sunday, 27 March198818 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium11,611
Friday, 22 July198819 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium9,174
Sunday, 2 April19893 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium12,070
Saturday, 29 July198918 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium8,481
Sunday, 18 March19901 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium15,036
Saturday, 14 July199016 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium13,137
Sunday, 16 June199112 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium12,349
Sunday, 14 June199211 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium11,006
Sunday, 14 March19931 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium10,782
Sunday, 16 July199316 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium13,191
Sunday, 24 April19947 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium12,045
Sunday, 28 August199422 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium10,819
Sunday, 12 March19951 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium10,340
Sunday, 27 August199522 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium6,020
Sunday, 30 August199622 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium3,870
Saturday, 14 March19981 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium12,222
Saturday, 8 August199822 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium10,214
Sunday, 4 April19995 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium13,027
Sunday, 8 August199923 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium19,060
Saturday, 8 April200010 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium16,172
Sunday, 7 September200016 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium18,371
Saturday, 17 February20011 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersANZ Stadium54,833
Sunday, 27 May200114 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium14,019
Sunday, 17 March20021 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium13,348
Sunday, 7 September200326 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium22,304
Saturday, 26 June200416 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium20,567
Saturday, 28 August200425 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium14,280
Friday, 1 April20054 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium15,119
Sunday, 5 June200513 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium18,519
Sunday, 9 April20065 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium14,194http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2006/round-5/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Friday, 19 May200611 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium16,764http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2006/round-11/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Friday, 13 April20075 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium18,746http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2007/round-5/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Saturday, 3 May20088 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium18,724http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2008/round-8/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Sunday, 6 July200817 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium14,012http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2008/round-17/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Sunday, 5 July200917 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium16,845http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2009/round-17/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Friday, 28 August200925 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium20,237http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2009/round-25/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Saturday, 17 July201019 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium22,582http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2010/round-19/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Friday, 18 March20112 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium15,974http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2011/round-2/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Saturday, 16 July201119 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium17,333http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2011/round-19/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Friday, 23 March20124 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium13,788http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2012/round-4/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Saturday, 23 June201216 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium15,275http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2012/round-16/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Monday, 29 April20137 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium14,211http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2013/round-7/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Saturday, 29 March20144 Parramatta Eels[10] Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium14,448http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2014/round-4/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Friday, 29 May[11] 201412 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium19,141http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2014/round-12/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Saturday, 29 May201512 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium17,821http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2015/round-12/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Saturday, 8 August201522 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersTIO Stadium8,340http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2015/round-22/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Sunday, 3 April20165 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersParramatta Stadium15,600http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2016/round-5/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Sunday, 17 July201619 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsPenrith Stadium15,251http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2016/round-19/penrith-vs-parramatta/summary.html
Saturday, 22 April20178 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersANZ Stadium14,070http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2017/round-8/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Sunday, 11 March20181 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersBlueBet Stadium21,506http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2018/round-1/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Sunday, 8 April20185 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersStadium Australia10,061http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2018/round-5/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Sunday, 17 March20191 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsBlueBet Stadium12,604http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2020/round-1/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Thursday, 23 May201911 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersBankwest Stadium16,228http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2020/round-11/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Friday, 12 June20205 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersBankwest Stadium507http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2020/round-5/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Friday, 11 September202018 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsBlueBet Stadium3,955http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2020/round-18/parramatta-vs-penrith/summary.html
Friday, 2 July202116 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsBlueBet Stadium0
Friday, 3 September202125 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersCbus Super Stadium8,580
Friday, 6 May20229 Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsBlueBet Stadium21,348
Friday, 29 July202220 Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersBlueBet Stadium26,912

Finals series

This table only shows competitive finals series matches.

Date Round Home team Score Away team Venue Attendance Report
7 September 1985QF Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersSydney Cricket Ground18,939
12 August 2000SF Parramatta Eels Penrith PanthersSydney Football Stadium25,746
18 September 2021SF Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsBB Print Stadium6,011
9 September 2022QF Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsBlueBet Stadium21,863
2 October 2022GF Penrith Panthers Parramatta EelsAccor Stadium82,415

NRL Nines

Playing in the NRL Nines does not count as a senior first grade appearance.

Statistics

Most appearances

Player Team Games
25
Geoff Gerard20
Parramatta Eels20
Isaah Yeo 19
19
19
19
18
18
18
Mark Levy18
18

Top pointscorers

Player Team Tries Goals FG Points
11 73 0 181
9 55 0 146
Nathan Cleary 3 48 3 111
9 32 1 101
Mitchell Moses 0 30 1 61
3 22 0 56
2 23 0 54
5 16 0 52
5 15 0 50
12 0 0 48

Top tryscorers

Player Team TriesGames
12 12
11 18
11 18
9 19
9 13
David Simmons 9 9
8 18
Stephen Ella 8 11
Brian To'o 8 12
Maika Sivo 8 10
7 10

Attendances

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: What is the greatest rivalry in the NRL?. 25 February 2014. foxsports.com.au.
  2. Web site: Parramatta Penrith like chalk and cheese. www.7news.com.au. 9 June 2020 .
  3. Web site: NRL 2009 - Round 25 - Rugby League Project. Ferguson. Shawn Dollin and Andrew. Rugbyleagueproject.org. 2018-09-29.
  4. Web site: Hayne leads Parramatta comeback over Penrith. i.stuff.co.nz. 17 July 2010 .
  5. News: Friday Night Results. ABC News. 12 June 2020 .
  6. Web site: Found peace with his anger': Moses new-found calm orchestrates rival upset. www.foxsports.com.au. 6 May 2022 .
  7. News: Mitchell Moses leads Parramatta Eels to 17-16 NRL win over Penrith Panthers with golden-point field goal. ABC News. 23 March 2023 .
  8. Web site: Luai anomaly to frighten Panthers fans as star set for sideline stint; Gutho's captain's knock - Big Hits. www.foxsports.com.au. 24 August 2023 .
  9. Web site: Panthers produce comeback for the ages to break Eels hearts. www.nrl.com.
  10. News: McCullough. Ian. Eels too strong for Penrith in western Sydney derby. 24 August 2014. The New Daily. 29 March 2014.
  11. News: Boulous. Chris. NRL western Sydney derby excites the fans. 24 August 2014. St Marys Star. 26 May 2014.

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