Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers - Round 21, 2026
The result
Parramatta led at halftime 12 to 6 after Mitchell Moses crossed in the third minute, but Penrith reeled them in and won 24 to 18 at CommBank Stadium. The Eels' best look after the break got them within 4 points before the Panthers pulled clear again.
How it unfolded
Penrith made 45 tackle breaks to the Eels' 32 and got through 16 offloads to the Eels' 4, signs of a Panthers pack that kept the ball alive under pressure. Parramatta still edged the completion rate, 85 percent to Penrith's 80, and ran for more metres overall, 1781 to 1679.
Against projection
Liam Martin ran riot off the bench, scoring 71 against a projection of just 43, while Jack Williams also cashed in with 78 against a 53 projection. Thomas Jenkins badly undershot his, managing only 22 against a projection of 54, and Ronald Volkman scored 23 against a 48 projection.
Price moves
Sam Tuivaiti rose $19,000 after scoring 35 against a break even of just 17, and Jordan Samrani climbed $16,000 with 32 points against a break even of 9. On the other side, Casey McLean fell $22,000 despite his try, well short of a break even of 74, while Jack De Belin dropped $23,000 after managing only 13 points from 24 minutes.
Ownership outcome
Nathan Cleary, likely among the most owned and captained players in the game, delivered with 88 points and two try assists, doubling up nicely for anyone who threw the armband on him. Isaah Yeo added 49 in support, while Isaiah Papali'i's 55 points came from just 65 minutes, a return well worth having for coaches who carry him at lower ownership.
