Both are bottom-three, but there is nothing low-key about this iconic Western Showdown between old foes. The Eels seek to continue their upward trajectory to win 3-straight for the first time in two years. The Panthers, after a disastrous Bathurst trip, host the Eels in a vital match for the last-placed defending premiers.
Both welcome back their Origin stars. Mitchell Moses and Zac Lomax boost the Eels, while the Panthers welcome back their Big five - Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo - to make them warm favorites having dominated the Eels in recent seasons.
Team Lists
Panthers (17th) vs Eels (15th) Sunday, 1 June 2025, 4.05pm AEST at CommBank Stadium
Weather: Expected to be fine,
Ground: Expected to be good
Sportsbet: $1.56 Penrith $2.42 Eels
Referees: Peter Gough (on-field referee), touch Judge: Liam Kennedy (touch judge), Grant Atkins (Senior Review Official)
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Bench: 14. Luke Sommerton 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Luron Patea 21. Daine Laurie
18th man: 17. Harrison Hassett
Cut: 18. Brad Schneider 19. Riley Wake 20. Preston Riki 22. Jack Cole 23. Paul Alamoti 24. Austin Dias
Head Coach: Ivan Cleary
Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Sean Russell 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 15. Luca Moretti 13. J’maine Hopgood
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 12. Kitione Kautoga 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Joash Papali’i
18th man: 18. Matt Doorey
Cut: 19. Joey Lussick 20. Toni Mataele 21. Dean Hawkins 22. Samuel Loizou
Head Coach: Jason Ryles
All seven NSW Origin Stars are backing up.
Moretti starts, Tuilagi to the bench. Laurie comes onto the bench.
Dean Hawkins was finally cut, and didn't play in reggies.
Stats That Matter
• The Panthers have dominated recently v Eels - they have won 4 of the last 6
• The Panthers are winless at CommBank this year (0-3)
• The Eels have won 3 of the last 4 at CommBank
• Brian To’o: 10 tries in 13 games vs Parramatta
• Eels are chasing 3 straight wins for the first time in 2 years since 2023
By the numbers
Here are the season's overall attack and defence rankings (R1-R12).
| Scored | ppg | Conceded | ppg | |
| 1 | Storm (4th) | 33.8 | Bulldogs (1st) | 18.4 |
| 2 | Raiders (2nd) | 27.8 | Knights (14th) | 18.9 |
| 3 | Broncos (8th) | 26.2 | Warriors (3rd) | 19.6 |
| 4 | Bulldogs (1st) | 25.1 | Storm (4th) | 20.3 |
| 5 | Dolphins (13th) | 24.5 | Sharks (5th) | 20.7 |
| 6 | Sharks (5th) | 24.3 | Dolphins (13th) | 21.0 |
| 7 | Roosters (11th) | 24.2 | Rabbitohs (6th) | 21.2 |
| 8 | Manly (9th) | 23.5 | Manly (9th) | 21.8 |
| 9 | Cowboys (7th) | 22.8 | Raiders (2nd) | 22.0 |
| 10 | Dragons (10th) | 22.8 | Broncos (8th) | 22.4 |
| 11 | Panthers (17th) | 22.7 | Dragons (10th) | 23.9 |
| 12 | Titans (16th) | 21.0 | Panthers (17th) | 24.6 |
| 13 | Tigers (12th) | 20.6 | Tigers (12th) | 25.5 |
| 14 | Warriors (3rd) | 19.6 | Cowboys (7th) | 26.0 |
| 15 | Eels (15th) | 19.0 | Roosters (11th) | 26.0 |
| 16 | Rabbitohs (6th) | 16.5 | Eels (15th) | 26.2 |
| 17 | Knights (14th) | 13.9 | Titans (16th) | 31.0 |
The Panthers' premiership-defence is a shadow of itself.
For five years (2020-2024) they leaked between 11.90 to 16.42 pg. This year it's almost 25 pg.
That's their worst in 15 years, since 2008-09 when they were bottom-four defensively.
Pain and Promise
Here are snapshots of the seasons of both teams.
| The Eels | Score (pg) | Concede (pg) | ||
| R1-2 | LL | Blowouts | 12.0 | 44.0 |
| R3-5 | LLW | Life | 14.3 | 22.3 |
| R6 | L | Blowout | 12.0 | 50.0 |
| R7-12 | WBLLWW | Rising | 26.0 | 17.2 |
| The Panthers | Score (pg) | Concede (pg) | ||
| R1-6 | WLLLLL | The Fall | 22.0 | 28.3 |
| R7-12 | WLWDBL | Rising | 23.6 | 20.2 |
For both, it's been a tale of two seasons.
The first six weeks saw both hit rock-bottom. But since then, both have improved over the last six weeks.
Since round 7, the Eels are 2nd in defence and 7th in attack, while the Panthers are 4th in defence and 9th in attack. The ladder since then, would see the Eels fifth and Panthers seventh.
Last Week
The Eels looked electric in a 30–10 demolition of Manly — and they did it without Momax. It was their most complete performance of the season, possibly years.
Despite less possession (49%-51%), they dominated in the key areas with and without the ball — more go-forward (1884m to 1777m), more linebreaks (5-3), fewer errors (8-9). That's three wins from the four games they've had fewer mistakes than the opposition.
Meanwhile, the Panthers were poor. Missing their big five, were dominated 25-6 by the Knights - the worst attacking team in the comp.
The Panthers missed 50 tackles and were sliced open by Fletcher Sharp and Dylan Lucas (line breaks 9-2 to the Knights). Possession slipped away (46%-54%). They lost the metre battle (1751m-2125m). Their ball control was shaky (79% completions vs 85%, 10 errors to 8). Throw in more penalties conceded (8-7), and it was lights out.
Where is that ruthless, high-speed grind that made them four-time premiers and will it return? With five Origin reps, once they get cohesion with their young guns, it could. In a sense, cohesion and consistency with so many youngsters and changing players has been part of both the Eels and Panthers' issues this year.
The passion of the plentiful Eels' young guns has been a highlight of their big win last week and the Ryles rebuild. Is it all coming together and will we see continued resilience and consistency?
Final Word
Penrith will be desperate to reassert their authority after last week's stumble. Expect them to come out with intent, looking to remind everyone why they’ve been the benchmark for five years.
The Eels, meanwhile, are hunting redemption. After years in the doldrums, they’ve shown signs of life — and nothing would spark a revival like knocking off the reigning premiers.
There’s pride, points, and plenty at stake. Don’t blink — this one could erupt.
The Eels celebrate last win's big win over Manly with gutso.
Replies
Faark huge match, Penrith will turn it on. Their 14,15,16,17 is where we are stronger they'll be out to make a statement.
Our 1-17 will need to be onsong for the full 80min
Run directly at Blaize
The key to todays game is the arm wrestle and lessen the errors.
All of Riffs key players are backing up we have to complete high and just drag this game into the deep water and wear these guys out.You could see it last night with the Cows key guys when the Tigers started asking questions in the second half the Cows just about folded.
This is where the arm wrestle is key and digging Riff into the deep end and come over the top of them in the last qtr of the game.Unlike the Tigers we don't want to be chasing we want to be in front.
The middle is huge today and as per it goes without saying limiting there back 5 is always a challenge but you go a long way to doing a job on them if you do so.
3 in a row for the first time in 2 yrs!!!....goddamn...gotta have goals i s'pose.
Go Eels
ps. WTF is the gay font under Parradise is.....Curs........it is not as :"classy" as the marketing knobs think it is
Hope Eels win and put a gap on the table. I'll tip Eels by 12
Nice to see those stats improving HOE. Penrith have been robbed of there team over the last few years.Wonder if and when other teams will do the same for us? Storm have done a wonderful job keeping their team together for a long time. Wonder what the secret is.?
Good question how do they do it keep good players.
I no whatever it is we need to somehow find out what it is and add the same.
Sssh Tad....the secret is a secret, unlike when we had our own secret
Don't ever tell me a secret Randy.I would make a lousy spy.
Hey Mitchell I've asked you to put a few shorter bombs up so we can compete for them in the air and you've ignored me!
Edwards doesn't like to be opposed mid-air, so I have to insist.
SUCCESS!!!
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