Panthers vs Eels Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Spot in Prelim Final Awaits Winner
NRL Heavyweights Collide
The NRL finals are finally here and it starts with a cracking game between the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels.
Penrith won the minor premiership and it has been well-backed to beat the surging Eels, but it’s going to be a tough contest.
Parramatta has hit top gear entering the finals and NRL odds have it at +190 to cause an upset on Friday.
Let’s review the latest rugby picks, stats, injury reports, and rugby odds for Panthers vs Eels. We’ve plenty of rugby predictions for you to consider.
Panthers Welcome Reinforcements
The back end of the regular season wasn’t easy for the Panthers, but they welcome back their dynamic halves pairing.
Nathan Cleary has served his suspension and Jarome Luai returns from injury, which could see the Panthers hit top gear in an important finals game.
The loser doesn’t get knocked out, but the Panthers won’t want to undo all their hard work of qualifying top of the table.
We’re not surprised with the sportsbook installing them as -275 favorites. We thought they could be shorter, but they are giving credit to the Eels for playing so well recently.
The Eels are also the Panthers’ bogey team, which makes Friday’s contest even more exciting.
We expect to see Reagan Campbell-Gillard at full flight for the Eels against his old team.
“The very, very strong rumor in the game was that Campbell-Gillard did not enjoy a great relationship with most of his former Penrith teammates,” NRL analyst Braith Anasta said.
“He left Penrith in unhappy circumstances. He made a few comments which Nathan Cleary and Ivan were not all that happy about. He is playing to win a grand final anyway, but he will be extra pumped.”
It won’t be easy for the Panthers, but they have been the best team by some margin.
Eels Riding High
Betting on the Eels typically comes with a headache, but they have been surprisingly consistent heading into the finals.
They won their last three games to book a top-four spot, which gives them a second life should they lose to the Panthers.
They kicked off their winning streak with a comfortable 42-6 win over the Bulldogs before handling the Broncos 53-6 and the Storm 22-14.
The win over Melbourne was not only a betting online upset, but it gives the Eels a stack of confidence knowing they can beat the best teams in the NRL.
With two wins against the Panthers already in 2022, they know the recipe for success. It’s another boost for the Eels, but we do have some worries.
They’re not used to playing finals games and the Panthers, who won last year, are. The lack of experience at key moments could be their undoing.
Panthers vs Eels Head-to-Head
The Panthers have a narrow 24-23 advantage all-time against the Eels, but it has been one-way traffic in 2022.
The Eels won 22-20 on the road in May before doubling down and winning 34-10 in July when the Panthers had some players missing.
Panthers vs Eels Game Information
- Game: Panthers (20-4) vs Eels (16-8)
- Location: BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
- Day/Time: Friday, Sept. 9, 5:50 a.m. ET
- Panthers vs Eels Live Stream: RugbyPass
Panthers vs Eels Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total |
| Penrith Panthers | -6½ -120 | -275 | 37½ -120o |
| Parramatta Eels | +6½ -120 | +190 | 37½ -120u |
Panthers vs Eels Prediction
The 6½ line is a tricky one for NRL betting markets. However, given the nature of this game, we’re going with the Panthers to cover the spread.
They are awfully tough to beat in big games and that experience should be enough to see the game in their favor.
Once they repel the Eels attack, expect the Panthers to dial up the pressure and start wearing them down in the second half.
