Ahead of this Saturday night’s Preliminary Final between Penrith and South Sydney, we look back on five of the biggest ever matches between the two clubs…
5. 1968 Round 7 – Panthers 13 Rabbitohs 12
After three previous defeats, Penrith finally secure their first ever win over Souths on May 5, 1968.
A crowd of 14,374 pack into Redfern Oval to watch the Clive Churchill-coached Rabbitohs take on Bob Boland’s newcomers.
Bob landers scores all of Penrith’s points on the day, grabbing a try and five goals to help guide the Panthers to a 13-12 victory.
4. 2010 Round 24 –Â Panthers 54 Rabbitohs 18
Penrith produce a near-perfect first half of football to open up an astonishing 40-0 lead at the break against Souths late in the 2010 season at Panthers Stadium.
The foot goes off the pedal in the second half and Penrith ultimately win 54-18 in a dominant display.
Michael Gordon bags a hat-trick for Penrith while Travis Burns and Sandor Earl both grab doubles. Gordon scores 30 individual points.
3. Round 15 1977 – Panthers 43 Rabbitohs 2
A Don Parish-coached Penrith team demolishes South Sydney 43-2 in 1977, recording one of the club’s biggest ever wins against the famous foundation club.
Just 4,850 rock up at Penrith Park to see Paul Merlo and Mike Stephenson grab doubles, as the Panthers pile on nine tries.
A lone Graham West penalty goal marks South Sydney’s only points of the afternoon. Penrith lead 14-2 at half-time.
2. 2020 Preliminary Final – Panthers 20 Rabbitohs 16
After a COVID-impacted year, Penrith win their way into the Grand Final with a 20-16 win over the Rabbitohs at Accor Stadium in the Preliminary Final.
After leading 14-6 at the break, Penrith confirm victory when Isaah Yeo breaks through and gets the ball to Dylan Edwards, who scores a beautiful try.
Both sides score three tries, but the goal kicking of Nathan Cleary proves the difference.
1. 2021 Grand Final – Panthers 14 Rabbitohs 12
Penrith earned redemption from the previous year’s Grand Final loss with a thrilling victory over the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium, the first time the NRL decider had been played outside of Sydney.
A Stephen Crichton intercept in the second half broke an 8-all deadlock and put the Panthers in the box seat to win the title.
Alex Johnston scored a late try for Souths, but Adam Reynolds missed the sideline conversion that would have tied the game.
Troy Dodds is the Weekender’s Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
