Round 21 of the NRL season kicks off on Thursday night with Parramatta hosting Penrith in the Western Sydney derby. 

The Panthers, who are coming off a loss against Brisbane and have dropped three of their past four matches, will be looking to right the ship against the battling Eels. 

Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our Score Centre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 9:17pm

Sin bin: Isaiah Papali’i

By Nick Campton

The Panthers backrower is off to the bin after he was ruled to have taken out Moses following a Tuilagi break. Rough call I think, to me Moses had grabbed at the Penrith player. Eels on the attack.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 9:12pm

57′ Martin goes over for Panthers

By Nick Campton

A set restart on the last puts the Penrith right on the attack and as they roll through the middle they start to look likely and in the end Lussick hits Martin short for the backrower to power over.

They’re rolling now. Once Cleary converts it’s 18-12 Panthers.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 9:10pm

Injury: Luca Moretti

By Nick Campton

The Eels prop is done for the night after being deemed a Cat 1 HIA.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 9:07pm

52′ Panthers level in controversial fashion

By Nick Campton

Talagi looks to have knocked on for sure just outside the Eels 20 but the referee says play on!

As if on cue, the Panthers go over just a few tackles later as Cleary hits Henry with a nice short ball. Controversial stuff, I thought it was a clear error.

Cleary converts and we’re all square at 12.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 9:01pm

47′ Kelly lets Penrith off the hook

By Nick Campton

Parramatta have done well to win the early exchanges and Kelly makes a strong charge over halfway only to lose it in the play the ball.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:58pm

Second half is underway

By Nick Campton

Parramatta kick us off.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:39pm

Sin bin: Thomas Jenkins

By Nick Campton

We can expect the prolific try-scorer to come back in the 50th minute.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:39pm

Halftime: Eels 12 lead Panthers 6

By Nick Campton

To’o is ruled to have touched a Moses clearing kick – dunno about that one, Snicko wouldn’t have liked it – but the Eels have yet another chance.

Penrith clean up an early Moses kick but a Jenkins error in contact gives it right back to them.

Alamoti takes a kick dead and from the drop out Kelly tries a grubber for himself down the line! We go to the Bunker.

He’s just knocked it on, but Jenkins is ruled to have taken him out and the winger will go to the bin! Penrith will be without their winger for the first ten of the second half.

Moses takes the shot at penalty goal from the sideline as the siren sounds – what a finish, by the way – and though he can’t convert the Eels are on top.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:24pm

29′ Panthers lose their challenge

By Nick Campton

There’s an error from Penrith on their own goal-line after Talagi failed to claim a Moses kick. They burn their challenge on it as well.

Can the Eels extend their lead? Not quite – they test the Panthers plenty but Penrith hold and once they wrap up Kautoga on the last it’s a handover.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:17pm

24′ Eels hold the line

By Nick Campton

A simple error from Volkman at dummy half inside his own 20 gives the Panthers a chance at more points.

Leota nearly pulls through and Lussick goes for it from dummy half. We go to the Bunker, but Lussick has already run straight back to the ten. Held up.

Last tackle, Penrith spread it left but Kelly jams in and shuts down McLean.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:10pm

18′ McLean pulls one back for Penrith

By Nick Campton

Iongi loses the ball three tackles after the restart and the Panthers have a chance to reply.

On the last tackle they go high for Jenkins, he’s well covered but manages to pop a pass to McLean who goes over in the corner courtesy of a fantastic put down!

Excellent footy from both the Panthers and they’re on the board. Cleary nails it from touch and it’s 12-6.

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Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:04pm

13′ Moses strikes again for Parra

By Nick Campton

Another penalty, this time against Smith in the ruck on the last tackle, and the Eels have a chance at even more points.

Moses strikes again, this time with a super short ball to Williams who hits a gap and shows great footwork to score!

An excellent Eels try and once Moses converts they lead 12-0.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 8:01pm

10′ Parramatta let Penrith off the hook

By Nick Campton

After a high tackle the Eels on the attack but Moretti puts it down.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 7:57pm

7′ Teams trade errors

By Nick Campton

Penrith get a penalty to get them out of trouble but they don’t find touch! Then the Eels relieve the pressure as Moses drops it.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 7:54pm

4′ Moses opens the scoring for Parra

By Nick Campton

Iongi puts Moretti through a clean hole and Edgar drags him down but the Eels are on the attack.

Volkman kicks towards the posts, Moses rises high and claims it to score under the posts!

Parramatta strike first through their superstar. He converts his own try and it’s 6-0 Eels.

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Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 7:50pm

And away we go!

By Nick Campton

Penrith kicking off, running right to left.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 7:42pm

Tips

By Nick Campton

Hard to go past Penrith for this one, even accounting for their recent mixed form. Let’s go Panthers by 18 with Casey McLean scoring first.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 6:56pm

Who is Jaxen Edgar?

By Nick Campton

Get to know the young fella playing fullback for the Panthers tonight – the club has a huge wrap on him. He’s another local product and a former Australian Schoolboy.

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Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 6:33pm

Final teams: Panthers turn to young gun

By Nick Campton

Two changes for the Eels with Will Penisini coming in at centre and Luca Moretti starting at second row and Kelma Tuilagi riding the pine.

The big change is at Penrith where Jaxen Edgar will line up at fullback in relief of Dylan Edwards.

Edgar has only played one NRL match and he got just a few minutes in it, but the 20-year old has plenty of big wraps.

Thu 23 Jul 2026 at 6:31pm

Hello and welcome to the ABC’s NRL live blog

By Nick Campton

Hey everyone, Round 21 of the NRL season gets underway with Parramatta hosting Penrith.

The western Sydney derby always delivers so strap in and let’s have some fun.

I’m Nick Campton, you’re a rabid NRL fan, let’s make some plays out there tonight.

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