What we do know is that the 2022 NRL season will come to a close on Sunday. What we don’t know is who will be hoisting the Provan-Summons Trophy when all the dust settles.
One would think that this is the Penrith Panthers’ match to win. They’ve been the class of the NRL all season, winning the minor Premiership with a 20-4 record and 42 points, four points clear of second place Cronulla.
Penrith is also the reigning Premiership winner after their 14-12 victory over South Sydney in last year’s Grand Final. What you cannot do in Sunday’s match is instantly count out the Parramatta Eels.
They handed Penrith two of their four losses during the regular season and are anxious to break a 36-year Premiership drought, the longest current active streak, and the third biggest gap between titles in NRL history.
NRL Previous Scoreboards
In the Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels betting analysis, do you take more credence in the Eels winning the two regular season head-to-head matchups or the Panthers getting a 27-8 win in this year’s qualifying final on September 9th?
The win in the qualifying final may have been the most important one of the year for Penrith, as it gave them the bye the following week while Parramatta had to play the Raiders in the semi-final.
The Eels cruised to a 40-4 win, but rest is more preferable to playing a match, especially this late in a long season.
Both clubs were in action last weekend, with the Eels pulling off a 24-20 victory over North Queensland while Penrith handled South Sydney 32-12.
Penrith’s Advantage
Another advantage Penrith has is playing in the Grand Final for the third straight season, winning last year and losing 26-20 to Melbourne in 2020.
Parramatta hasn’t been to the Grand Final since 2009, and they haven’t won the Premiership since 1986. Is the high-pressure situation going to be too much for the Eels, especially against the seasoned Penrith squad?
Penrith Panthers vs. Parramatta Eels Betting Analysis
The Panthers are -8.5 favorites in the Panthers vs Eels betting analysis. That line may actually be on the low side, with Ivan Cleary’s squad easily rolling over the Eels 27-8 in the qualifying finals when Penrith actually had most of their full squad intact.
Penrith is also -295 on the moneyline rugby picks just in case they find themselves in a tight, low-scoring affair like last season’s two-point win over South Sydney in the Grand Final.
The Panthers had one-point and a two-point win over Parramatta during their four-game win streak in the head to head series in 2020 and 2021, so these teams do play each other relatively close.
Experience the Biggest Asset for Penrith?
The Eels are trying to chase history and break a 36-year Premiership drought for the franchise, so it’s not like there’s enough pressure just playing in the Grand Final as it is.
This is where Penrith may have a huge advantage as it’s just another game for them, here for the third straight time.
Nathan Cleary won the Clive Churchill medal last year, and he can become not just the third player to ever win the award more than once but the first to do it in consecutive seasons.
Cleary’s Suspension
Cleary may have actually gotten a benefit from being suspended in the last few games of the regular season, as he looks refreshed.
The whole Penrith team looks energized thanks to their clinching the minor Premiership with weeks left to play, which allowed for some much-needed rest. The Eels meanwhile
Parramatta the Feelgood Story
Almost everybody outside of Penrith fans are rooting for the Eels to snap their drought. Parramatta fought hard against the Panthers in last year’s semi-final before ultimately falling 8-6.
Now either Penrith is going to end Parramatta’s season for a second straight year, or the Eels are going to be crowned Premiership winners for the first time in nearly four decades.
We will see if karma is kind to Mitch Moses, who missed the birth of his child last weekend to try and play Parramatta into the Grand Final.
Why Eels Won So Easy?
One of the big reasons why Penrith got such an easy win over the Eels in the qualifying final was because Moses had to come off with a concussion. It was 13-8 when he left, and the Panthers scored 14 straight after that.
NRL Injury Report
It’s all on the line in the Grand Final, so both teams have their top playmakers in the lineup.
Panthers vs. Eels Betting Preview
Penrith has been the best team in the NRL all season and really for the past couple of seasons now. The Eels look like they’d have some value in the Panthers vs Eels betting analysis, but this one is the Panthers to take home.
Penrith Panthers vs. Parramatta Eels Betting Prediction
A lot of things come to a head here for the Eels. They’ve had to play an extra match after losing in the qualifying final, and this is a huge moment with a lot of pressure.
Penrith was able to rest down the stretch, had the semi-final bye, and are used to the immense moment of the Grand Final, having played in it the last two seasons. Take Penrith -8.5
CFL Pick: Panther -8.5
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