Western Sydney footy fans in a grand final frenzy: pictures
The scenes around Sydney post-Grand Final were a mix of misery and elation, with one Panthers fan stripping down to his undies in celebration. See all the best pictures from around the grounds.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The battle for the west was more of a bloodbath in which 36 years of pent-up Parramatta hopes and dreams drowned in the roar of jubilant Penrith fans.
The crowd at Penrith Rugby League club erupted in shouts and cheers as the Panthers took out the 2022 NRL grand final premiership.
The crowd was celebrating every step of the way, with people chanting Brian To’o and Nathan Cleary’s names.
It seemed as if the whole of Penrith poured out onto the streets to party.
Cars stretched along the road past the League Club for kilometres, wildly honking and waving Panthers flags.
Utes covered in streamers did burnouts and revved their engines.
People were chanting and singing. Some had stripped down to their underwear and were dancing.
Despite a stellar victory, some fans felt the match should have been closer.
“I wish they’d (Parramatta) had put up more of a fight,” Paul Jackson said.
“They didn’t even make us sweat.”
Harrison Bryan took to the floor with some dance moves after the Panthers win. For him, it was one of the best nights of his life.
“The match was amazing!” yelled Harrison.
“We smashed them!
“We might not win again next year but I reckon we’ll get close.”
After the women’s Knights pummelled the Eels 32-12 in the NRLW grand final, Parramatta fans were hoping for redemption in the mens showdown with Penrith.
However with the Panthers leading 18-0 at half time, an end to the club’s 36-year Premiership drought was looking less and less likely. The final scoreline of 28-12 barely reflected the dominance of Penrith’s performance.
A sombre feeling of deja vu was felt throughout the live sites at CommBank Stadium and the Parramatta Leagues Club after the fast-starting Panthers ran away with the hopes and dreams of their western rivals.
The sluggish start from the Eels was eerily reminiscent of the opening 40 minutes in their last grand final loss in 2009.
The Parramatta faithful’s worst fears were confirmed when Charlie Staines crossed over in the 58th minute, stretching the margin to 28.
“It’s disappointing for everyone really, the players, the fans, and the town of Parramatta,” diehard Eels fan Mary Francis said.
“It’s a sad way to end what was a really exciting year.”
While some departed the live sites before full time, others looked completely shattered as they sat in silence coming to terms with the heartache of another grand final loss.
SYDNEY’S DAY OF GRAND FINAL DELIRIUM
It was a day of feverish anticipation for the NRL decider.
Queues of traffic snaked through the streets of Parramatta this afternoon where exuberant fans hugged in the middle of the road.
Premier Dominic Perrottet dropped into Peter Wynn’s sports store on Church St for a spot of merchandise shopping with the Eels great.
With the match itself sold out, thousands were headed to watch on big screens at Parramatta’s home ground, CommBank Stadium, and the Panthers Penrith Leagues Club.
Parramatta fan Marty Walter of Oran Park showed up to the stadium with his Eels tattoo proudly showing around his left leg. For his opponents in the crowd, oversized depictions of
Panthers playmaker Jerome Luai and Pride of Penrith flags were the weapons of choice.
It will be first premiership since 1986 for Parramatta if coach Brad Arthur’s side are able to upset Penrith, who the bookies were rating $1.38 favourites over the Eels at $3.10.
Spirits were soaring on the iconic O’Connell St as thousands of fans smothered in yellow and blue gathered at the communal live sites within Commbank Stadium and the Parramatta Leagues Club.
It seemed like the entire community was riding the wave of elation as the sound of car horns echoed through the air while fans cheered and marched their way into the venues.
Diehard supporter Brad Hanns ventured all the way from Wollongong to get amongst the action.
“I’ve been a Parramatta supporter my entire life,” Mr Hanns said.
“I would go to the games back when they were played at Cumberland (Oval).”
The proud supporter said he would be brought to tears if his Eels break their 36-year Premiership drought.
“It would just be so good, I would probably cry.”
There was a buzz of excitement at Panthers Penrith Rugby League Club, as fans waited for the big game.
It was a festival atmosphere, with music pumping and kids covered in black, red, green and yellow streamers kicking footballs around.
Families sitting on beanbags sipped back beers, confident their team can take the premiership.
Father of four, Pat Rositano is convinced the Panthers will win the night.
“I’m pretty confident,” he said.
“They’re playing very well.”
Mr Rositano and his kids have been life-long Panthers fans, whose family has lived in Penrith for generations.
For Harry Rositano, 7, he can’t wait to see co-captain Nathan Cleary play. His brother Christian, 9, is excited to see winger Brian To’o.
“He’s my favourite because he’s so fast,” said Christian.
Penrith fan Erin Roberts has been looking forward to watching the game for weeks. She works as a midwife at Penrith’s birth unit.
To celebrate the game all new babies born on Sunday have been given Panthers beanies.
“We’ve also renamed all the rooms after Panthers players,” Ms Roberts said.
The 36-year-old brought her two kids Harvey, 7 and Darcy, 3 to the Penrith League Club to soak up the excitement.
“They were born into a Panthers family’” Ms Roberts said.
“They love the game.”
Despite only being three, Darcy loves fullback Dylan Edwards best as his kids go to the same swimming lessons.
Whereas Harvey loves Nathan Cleary best.
Presley van Wyhe spent some of the first months of her life watching the Panthers play.
Now the 18-month-old is getting to watch her first grand final.
Her parents, Bianca, 30 and Jordan van Wyhe, 29, say she gets excited despite being so young.
“She loves going to the stadium,” said Ms van Wyhe.
“She always claps a lot right at the end and she loves the fireworks.
When Presley grows up her mum hopes she’ll continue to be a Panthers fan.
“We’re from Penrith and all our family have been fans our whole lives,” she said.
“Presley won’t have any choice but to go for Penrith when she gets older.”
Join the conversation
Crackdown on killers scouting for love on dating apps
Killers being kept in mental health facilities will need a judicial officer to agree they deserve to be let out into the community after The NSW Government listened to the outcry from victims’ families over ‘soft touch justice’.
Read more
NSW in turmoil: 26,000 working days lost to strikes under Premier Minns
Friday’s chaotic strike action that will grind Sydney’s train network to a halt is just the latest in a long line of industrial disputes which have up-ended the lives of people across the state.
Read more