Thanks for tuning in to our coverage of tonight's match, wherever in the world you are. Till next time, catch you later!!
Well it's time to wrap up now. Been an interesting night. Our man at the ground Adrian Proszenko, we hear, is struggling with technology and finding it hard to file his masterpiece. But no doubt he'll sort it out and you can read up on all the wash up in tomorrow's The Sun-Herald. Something tells me Mr Kearney will enjoy the post-match press conference...
All the stats were in Penrith's favour - possession, sets, completed sets, completion rates, you name it - but after a poor display against the Rabbitohs last week, the Eels just had to turn it on tonight. Sandow copped criticism after last week, but took the ball to the line a bit more tonight and threw a bit of caution to the wind. His reward came in the final minute of golden point time, when he scored the decisive field goal. A great win built on early effort in defence and belief that they could steal the game back after falling behind by two converted tries.
Luke Lewis admits after the game that it hurts more to lose in golden point than otherwise. "But full credit to the boys," he said. "They hung in there and dug deep."
Hindmarsh has a smile on his face. Remember that??
A big jump and a fist pump from the little halfback. It's been a tough season for him, especially. What a moment for Sandow and what a moment for Parramatta. It's their third win of the season.
90min: Sandow's GOT IT!!!!!! The field goal goes over.
89min: Parra has a shot now. Only 20 metres out...
88min: Play is stuck in the middle of the field. Coote takes a long range shot but it falls short. Well short.
86min: Sandow is down now. Copped a swipe to the head while making a tackle. But he's up now and ok.
86min: Sandow drop goal attempt.... It's wide! Out to the left, from distance. Penrith working it up now.
86min: Morgan makes half a break.
86min: Penrith to kick off.
Seems like the pace of this game has increased as the night has gone along.
85min: Hayne goes for a 60 metre drop goal as the siren sounds for half time in golden point. I'm tired just blogging this game!!
85min: Penrith goes down the left wing. It's an overlap - but it's a forward pass!!! Jennings threw it just forward and the touch judge made the call.
84min: Hayne's kick goes over the deadball line.
83min: Turnover. Parra has the ball now at their end of the field.
82min: The ball was rolled into the ingoal by a Blair kick. Coote was trying to shield the ball as Sio came tearing through. He got his arm on the ball almost simultaneously with it crossing the line.. The video ref says NO TRY!!! Wow!!
82min: Last tackle - and it could be a try! Video ref comes into it.
81min: Penrith have possession first. Lewis is back on the field. Siejka kicks on the last and Parramatta has the ball now.
Certainly didn't look like we'd have golden point time in this match, with Penrith ahead by 12. But a great comeback has the game all locked up.
80min: Normal time is up. Austin tried a chip, Hayne grabbed it and chipped back as the siren went. Coote gained possession and was tackled. Extra time now!
79min: Siejka field goal attempt!! It's just wide! Beautiful strike, but he pushed it wide. Parramatta has the ball now.
78min: Six again for Penrith after Hayne plays at a loose ball.
77min: Sandow field goal attempt!! It's........ just wide!! Just wide to the right.. Struck it well but it swung away. Penrith have the ball now.
77min: Big runs by the Eels!! Getting into field goal range.........
75min: Deep kick from Hayne goes over the deadball line. Lewis looks like he won't be back. He's going up the tunnel now.
Parra have had 64 per cent of possession in the past 10 minutes.
Golden point time anyone??
73min: TRY!! Lewis is on the sideline with cramp. Meanwhile, Hindmarsh put Moimoi into a gap, the big forward threw a dummy and then offloaded to Burt, who scored under the posts. He converted his own try and now the scores are level!!! 18-18.
72min: Coote is everywhere! He now makes a break - but the ball's been put over the deadball line. Didn't see who did it... But anyway, the Eels have it.
71min: Sandow's kick is too deep. Coote has no pressure on him.
71min: Parra throwing everything at the Panthers now.
69min: Chip over the top! Paulo had a play at it but couldn't regather... Coote scoops up the mess. That was a big moment. Coote seems to have injured his left ankle. But he's up now and about to play it.
67min: TRY!! Hindmarsh makes the break, draws in a defender and offloads to Burt, who runs towards the black dot unchallenged. That makes it 18-12.
66min: Penrith work it up, put in the kick and Hayne runs it up again. Ball now with Moimoi.
65min: Hayne's kick late in the count goes over the deadball line.
65min: It's back on now. Parramatta with the ball.
Looks like Keating's night is over. That was a nasty clash of heads and then he fell back and hit his head on the turf. Ouch.. Keating's being assisted from the ground. He's looks a bit sick, but thankfully he seems to have his senses about him.
64min: Play has been stopped now. Concern for Matt Keating after a head clash with Nigel Plum. Looked like he was out cold. Hope all's ok.
63min: The Eels on the attack. Hayne punches a grubber through - but again Coote cleans up, hitting the moving ball at pace and taking the ball up.
63min: Still plenty of time for the Eels to come back. Austin now kicks it out on the full for the Penrith.
62min: Kelly's kick goes into the Panthers' in goal and Coote has no pressure on him yet again.
61min: Sio grabs a Parramatta kick and then wins a penalty in the tackle. Parramatta can clear now. They needed that penalty.
60min: Knock on there and Penrith have the ball now.
59min: Parra need to hit back - and they're throwing it around like they know that's what they've got to do.
59min: Could get ugly for the Eels here. Penrith now out 18-6 and looking to go in for the kill.
56min: TRY!! It all started with Luke Lewis's break off the restart. Lewis flew down the wing. On the next play the ball found its way to Simmons, who scored. The conversion by Austin is spot on.
56min: Penrith on the attack again - and David Simmons scores!!
54min: Blake Austin smacks the conversion through and it's 12-6 to Penrith.
53min: TRY!! A runaway try to Uaisele, who pounces on a dropped ball by Hayne. The winger then ran about 80 metres with Sandow in pursuit and got to the line. It came against the run of play but after some good defence from the Panthers.
52min: Walsh has left the field, clutching at his left shoulder.
50min: Paulo runs threateningly but gives a tough offload to his outside man, who knocks on. Penrith working it out now.
49min: Sandow rolls it in behind the line. Coote tries to push it out the dead ball line, but slips, nearly allowing the Eels' chasers to pounce. Coote just got enough on it though. Drop out for the Panthers.
48min: Hayne has it now after a deep but messy kick from the Panthers. No one's making ground here. Pretty one dimensional stuff.
47min: This time it's Kelly who puts it up for Parra. Again Coote fields the ball with little pressure on him.
46min: Knock on now by the Panthers. And it's a turnover, as it was the last.
45min: Six again for Penrith. A lucky break. Looked like Jennings stuffed up the play the ball moments earlier.
44min: Parra's ball now. Hayne puts up a big kick but Coote fields it well.
43min: Coote has the ball now, after a deep kick from Parramatta. Good chase by the Eels.
41min: Jennings comes running on the burst as the Penrith tackle count winds down. But then Siejka kicks it too deep and it goes out the back. Parra's ball now.
And it's on.
Righto, the players are coming back out for the second half.
Well, the Panthers would be unhappy to have scored only six points after having 56 per cent of possession. But Parramatta certainly hung in there defensively, something they've earned respect for in this otherwise tough season for them. They missed 13 tackles but the Panthers had a completion rate of 86 per cent, so the going was difficult. The Panthers have to patient, you'd imagine. They musn't get frustrated at the low flow of points and keep chipping away. Should be a fascinating second half. Anyone's game from here. Back in a few minutes.
39min: Burt scores the conversion to make it 6-6, just as the half time siren goes.
38min: TRY!! Great run down the sideline by Ryan Morgan after receiving the ball from Paulo. Morgan beat a couple of defenders with only a bit of space to work in and got across the line. Well deserved try, I reckon, for the Eels.
37min: Hayne fields a Coote kick deep in Eels territory. Parra now working it out of their 20.
36min: Kelly picked up and dumped. But on the next play Parramatta stretch wide - only for Sio to knock on.
35min: Penalty to Parramatta. A sense that the Eels are coming back.
33min: Sandow puts Smith into a gap, Smith gives it back but Sandown can't hold on. Better signs though from Parramatta in attack. Sandow knows he's got to put a stamp on this match.
32min: Lewis gives up possession with a wayward pass. So much turnover of possession from both sides. Tough going, this match.
32min: The halves need to take responsibility for Parra.
31min: The Eels have a spring in their step now. But Penrith have possession after a pretty poor kick on the last.
30min: That penalty puts Penrith on the attack. But Moimoi makes amends, forcing the mistake from Weston in a big tackle.
30min: A strip now by Moimoi. Looked harsh on replay, as the Penrith player looked to be trying to offload.
29min: Both sides finding it hard to get going, really. Some good defence but little innovation in attack.
28min: But Penrith have lost it now.
27min: Eels on the attack again now. But Sandow throws a hospital pass and Penrith come up with possession.
Cheyse Blair threw a pass around the defender to Sio, who tried to place the ball as he was being tackled. He got the ball nearly down - but for Coote kicking the ball away just as Sio went to put it down. It's NO TRY. Goalline drop out.
25min: They're over !!! But is it a try. The video ref will tell us.
24min: Hayne takes another kick from Walsh. He hands it off to Sio who rushes up to the 20 metre line and gets Parra going. They've won a penalty now, their first of the night, for Penrith being offside.
24min: Penrith attacking yet again.
22min: Hayne is there again to clean up after a kick into the in goal. If they hold on here, they could start to work their way back into the game with only six points conceded.
21min: A deep kick by Parramatta, but they've given away their fifth penalty, this one for a high arm by Hindmarsh.
20min: Great defending by Parramatta as they snap up a sneaky kick. Hayne it was, who grabbed possession. Good effort by the Eels to hold on there.
20min: Tough going for the Eels as Penrith continue their raid.
18min: A little grubber kick has been knocked on by Cheyse Blair, so Penrith get another shot.
18min: They're throwing it around like a hot potato, the Panthers.
17min: Penalty given away by the Eels for a strip, putting Penrith in great field position.
16min: Panthers are on the fifth now. Walsh hooks it across the face of the goal. Ben Smith comes up with it and takes the zero tackle.
14min: Kelly goes to the air. It's a mess as the ball bounces and rolls along the sideline and goes out. It's a Penrith feed.
14min: Fifth tackle now. Walsh drills it low and Burt brings it back for the Eels.
12min: Hayne goes to the air on the last tackle at the end of an ordinary set of six. It's knocked on and Penrith have the ball now.
12min: Seijka kicks and Hayne returns for Parramatta. They're in good position now.
11min: Seijka looks a class act. Working well with Walsh in the halves.
9min: TRY!! Lewis was put into a gap by a deft pass by Harry Seijka. Lewis was impossible to stop from that range. Walsh has potted the conversion. It's 6-0 to the Panthers.
9min: Lewis gets across the line... But they're asking for a video analysis.......
7min: Penrith working the ball up now and are 10 metres out.
7min: Plenty of feeling in this start to the match.
7min: Good defence from Parra as Luke Burt cleans up Walsh's kick into the in goal on the fifth.
6min: Penrith on the attack. Walsh looking in the mood. Just a metre out now..
5min: Jennings makes a half break and Parramatta are penalised after holding on too long.
4min: Scrum now to Penrith inside their own territory.
4min: Panthers in possession again after a deep Eels kick.
2min: Panthers going out wide and Walsh goes to the air..... Knocked on by Coote, who tried to take the bomb above some defenders.
1min: And we're underway! Tim Grant with the first hit up for Penrith - and a penalty!! Tim Mannah and Justin Poore getting caught up in the play the ball.
Parramatta are on the field first. The Panthers coming out now.
Tell you what, they might be struggling this season, but you just suspect something special could happen tonight between Penrith and Parra. There will be no love lost as each side does its best to prove they are better than their position on the ladder. Two proud Sydney sides going at it. Just minutes to go until we get underway.
G'day everyone. Some team news - and it's pretty interesting too. Ben Roberts has been dropped by Stephen Kearney. Mid-season signing Luke Kelly comes into the side. Also, Tulima Tautai has been scratched for Taniela Lasalo.
For the Panthers, David Simmons comes in and Josh Mansour goes out. Dayne Weston goes to the bench and Nigel Plum comes into the starting lineup.
Join David Sygall as greater western Sydney hosts the battle of the cellar dwellars.
PREVIEW
Centrebet Stadium, Penrith, Saturday 7.30pm (AEST)
Last meeting: Round 4 2012 - Panthers 39 bt Eels 6 at Parramatta Stadium
Head-to-head: Panthers 32 Eels 51 drawn 1
Referees: Jared Maxwell/Adam Devcich
TV: Live, FoxSports 2
TAB Sportsbet: Panthers $1.70 Eels $2.20
FootyTab: Eels +2.5
Greg Prichard writes: The battle of the battlers. The Panthers, after two losses in a row and eight from their last 10 games, are second last, while the Eels, with just two wins all season, are last. The Eels played well to beat the Sharks three rounds back, but then came out of a bye to play without any lustre in losing to the Rabbitohs. The Panthers are slight favourites at home. It’s a toss-up.
AAP writes: A match between one team that struggles badly to win at home and one who can't win away. The Eels look like they could be capable of something, sometimes, while any momentum the Panthers might have had after a big win over Manly has stalled following back-to-back shockers after their bye. The stick that is the wooden spoon, rather than the carrot of finals football will be the prime motivator here.
Key: Chris Sandow. Sooner or later he has to put it together for the Eels.
PANTHERS: Lachlan Coote, Etu Uaisele, Michael Jennings, Geoff Daniela, Josh Mansour, Harry Siejka, Luke Walsh, Dayne Weston, Kevin Kingston (c), Tim Grant, Clint Newton, Cameron Ciraldo, Luke Lewis. Interchange (from): Nigel Plum, Chris Armit, Ryan Simpkins, Blake Austin, Arana Taumata
EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Ryan Morgan, Cheyse Blair, Ken Sio, Ben Roberts, Chris Sandow, Tim Mannah, Matt Keating, Justin Poore, Nathan Hindmarsh, Matthew Ryan, Ben Smith. Interchange (from): Joseph Paulo, Fuifui Moimoi, Mitchell Allgood, Taulima Tautai, Taniela Lasalo.
