Panthers steal victory in CRAZY finish as late Gutho miss denies ...

The Panthers scored three tries in three minutes at the death to snatch a 36-34 victory from the jaws of defeat against a devastated Eels side on Friday night.

Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson had a chance to send the game into golden point with a long-range penalty shot in the 79th minute, but he shanked it.

The Eels were on the cusp of a major upset when they lead the Panthers 34-20 in the 70th minute with Penrith second rower Liam Martin in the sin bin.

But another stunning finish led by Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary saw the three-time reigning premiers get home in a game they had no right winning.

MATCH CENTRE: Eels vs Panthers live updates, score, stats

Parramatta stunned the visitors with two tries in the first 10 minutes and the opener came from teen sensation Blaize Talagi after just 75 seconds at CommBank Stadium.

The Eels crossed again down the left edge in the 10th minute when Talagi turned provider to put Jake Tago over out wide.

The Panthers hit back with the usual suspects Cleary, Isaah Yeo, and Brian To’o linking up and then equalised when Cleary put in a deft grubber for Izack Tago to pounce and score just minutes after his brother.

Cleary booted a penalty goal in the 27th minute to give the visitors the lead for the first time before the Eels retook it with a Sean Russell try just be fore halftime.

Martin was binned for a late shot on the kicker, Daejarn Asi, and the hosts took the two points on offer before Gutherson bagged a double which looked to seal it.

But late tries from Panthers trio To’o, Sunia Turuva and Tago saw the Panthers draw level before Cleary booted a tough conversion to win it.

Here are the biggest talking points out of the match from NCA Newswire.

PANTHERS STILL IN THE HUNT

The win kept Penrith’s minor premiership hopes alive and next Thursday’s match against Melbourne is set to be the game of the season.

Penrith’s champion qualities came through and just like in last year’s grand final they scored the final three tries of the match to leave Parramatta players and fans stunned.

For all their greatness during their five-year dynasty, the Panthers haven’t been able to register a winning record against their arch rivals in non-final matches.

Penrith backrower Scott Sorenson was ruled out after 10 minutes with a hamstring injury to make it even tougher.

The match showed just how much Penrith is missing Dylan Edwads and James Fisher-Harris.

To make matters worse, Jarome Laui was put on report for kneeing Sean Russell in the head when he was on the ground in the 14th minute.

Liam Martin’s sin-binning for contacting the kicking leg of Daejarn Asi in the 62nd minute looked to be the final nail in the coffin.

“Penrith have lacked discipline to start the second half. You never see this from Penrith, no matter what situation the game is in,” Fox Sports commentator Cooper Crock said.

But tries to Brian To’o, Suina Turuva and Izakc Tago in the blink of an eye changed to mood in the stadium.

Nathan Cleary doesn’t know when to quit and he was the iceman again as he slotted a goal from near the sideline to put the premiers in from with three minutes to go.

POOR PARRA

Parramatta fans haven’t had much to cheer for 18 months and their supporters had to sit and watch them blow a 14-point lead with a Panther in the sin bin.

The fans would’ve been proud of their team as they completed at over 90 per cent and looked to be playing tougher than Penrith.

But it’s a club without a winning culture.

While Penrith is the opposite and that showed in the final 10 minutes.

When down and out, Penrith just went up a gear and stole it.

BLAIZE ON FIRE

Parramatta centre Blaize Talagi is reportedly off to Penrith next season and Ivan Cleary would’ve liked what he saw from the young gun.

He has a real presence about him and looks so threatening in attack.

He scored the first try and set up the second for Jake Tago.

DEFENSIVE WEAKNESS?

Is Penrith’s right edge the area team can exploit in the finals series?

Nathan Cleary and Izack Tago defend next to each other on that side of the field but they’re not the quickest pairing going around.

They’re actually both great tacklers but just lack speed over 10m.

Teams with a slick backline can target the pair off the back of a quick play the ball.

It happened in the grand final last year when Reece Walsh beat both of them to send Ezra Mam over for his third try.

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