Parramatta have held off a brave second half comeback from Penrith to score a thrilling 26-20 derby win at Pepper Stadium on Friday night.
The Panthers were staring at a 14-0 hole when playmaker Jamie Soward joined Matt Moylan on the sideline after a late hit from Pauli Pauli midway through the second half that saw the Eels forward placed on report.
Moylan limped off in just the 10th minute with a suspected ruptured ankle.
But, led by makeshift five-eighth Bryce Cartwright, the hosts crossed three times in eight minutes to level the game with a quarter of it to go.
However the Eels regained their lead as quickly as they lost it through Semi Radradra, who touched down on a miracle grubber from Brad Takairangi in the 61st and then finished a left-side sweep in the 64th.