the mighty panthers STATISTICS
RESULTS | SEASONS | PLAYERS | COACHES | HEAD TO HEAD | RECORDS
Premiership | Pre Season | Mid Week | Sevens | Nines | World Club Challenge | World Club Championship
PRE SEASON
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Formal pre season competitions were conducted from 1967 to 1981
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With the exception of the 1975 season (which was a knock out format), it was in a pools qualifying format with finals
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Some of these seasons also included officially sanctioned trial matches |
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Wills Cup Game 1: 24th February |
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Wills Cup Game 2: 5th March |
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Wills Cup Game 3: 11th March |
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Wills Cup Game 4: 19th March |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 24th February | Cronulla | Penrith Park | 12-10 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 2nd March | Western Suburbs | Lidcombe Oval | 8-8 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 9th March | Balmain | Lidcombe Oval | 7-7 |
| Wills Cup Game 4: 16th March | St. George | Penrith Park | 13-4 |
| Wills Cup Semi Final: 20th March | Parramatta | Sydney Sports Ground | 9-4 |
| Wills Cup Final: 24th March | Newtown | Sydney Sports Ground | 28-12 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 22nd February | Manly | Brookvale Oval | 5-9 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 1st March | Canterbury | Belmore Sports Ground | 13-7 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 8th March | Newtown | Penrith Park | 14-5 |
| Wills Cup Game 4: 14th March | Western Suburbs | Penrith Park | 16-22 |
| Wills Cup Semi Final: 19th March | Western Suburbs | Sydney Sports Ground | 4-30 |
| Wills Cup Play Off: 19th March | Manly | Sydney Sports Ground | 22-8 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 20th February | Western Suburbs | Lidcombe Oval | 4-4 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 1st March | Cronulla | Endeavour Field | 11-16 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 7th March | Wentworthville | Penrith Park | 34-7 |
| Wills Cup Game 4: 14th March | Canterbury | Penrith Park | 11-13 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 19th February | South Sydney | Redfern Oval | 8-12 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 28th February | Newtown | Penrith Park | 6-12 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 7th March | Eastern Suburbs | Penrith Park | 4-6 |
| Wills Cup Game 4: 14th March | St. George | Jubilee Oval | 0-30 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 19th February | Western Suburbs | Lidcombe Oval | 11-14 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 27th February | Parramatta | Cumberland Oval | 10-8 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 4th March | Eastern Suburbs | Penrith Park | 2-10 |
| Wills Cup Game 4: 10th March | Canterbury | Belmore Sports Ground | 6-8 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 17th February | Manly | Brookvale Oval | 5-22 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 25th February | Cronulla | Endeavour Field | 6-26 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 3rd March | Canterbury | Penrith Park | 10-13 |
| Wills Cup Game 4: 10th March | Newtown | Henson Park | 14-21 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 24th February | Parramatta | Cumberland Oval | 14-16 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 1st March | South Sydney | Redfern Oval | 5-13 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 9th March | Balmain | Penrith Park | 22-11 |
| Wills Cup Game 4: 16th March | Manly | Penrith Park | 7-18 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 22nd February | Parramatta | Cumberland Oval | 13-16 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 22nd February | South Sydney | Redfern Oval | 11-10 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 28th February | Manly | Brookvale Oval | 10-18 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 7th March | North Sydney | Penrith Park | 18-11 |
| Wills Cup Game 1: 18th February | South Sydney | Redfern Oval | 10-12 |
| Wills Cup Game 2: 27th February | Parramatta | Cumberland Oval | 16-4 |
| Wills Cup Game 3: 6th March | North Sydney | Penrith Park | 8-20 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 1: 24th February | St. George | Belmore Sports Ground | 4-2 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 2: 4th March | Parramatta | Cumberland Oval | 10-16 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 3: 11th March | Canterbury | Belmore Sports Ground | 2-12 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 1: 24th February | Parramatta | Cumberland Oval | 17-26 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 2: 4th March | Western Suburbs | Penrith Park | 16-9 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 3: 11th March | Balmain | Penrith Park | 16-17 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 1: 1st March | Canterbury | Penrith Park | 16-10 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 2: 7th March | South Sydney | Redfern Oval | 15-31 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 3: 16th March | Parramatta | Cumberland Oval | 11-13 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 1: 27th February | North Sydney | Penrith Park | 6-10 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 2: 8th March | Parramatta | Penrith Park | 0-26 |
| Craven Mild Cup Game 3: 13th March | Western Suburbs | Lidcombe Oval | 16-7 |
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Officially sanctioned trial matches were played from 1982 to 1989 |
| Trial Match: 6th February | Cronulla | Chris Cunningham Field | 10-13 |
| Trial Match: 14th February | Parramatta | Penrith Park | 16-19 |
| Trial Match: 6th February | Group 11 | Pioneer Oval | 14-0 |
| Trial Match: 13th February | Illawarra | Penrith Park | 8-16 |
| Trial Match: 20th February | Camden | --- | 74-0 |
| Trial Match: 3rd March | Orange United | Wade Park | 40-14 |
| Trial Match: 10th March | Group 6 and 7 | Windsor | 38-0 |
| Trial Match: 17th March | Central Coast | St. Marys | 56-10 |
| Trial Match: 24th February | Parramatta | Penrith Park | 3-2 |
| Trial Match: 2nd March | Illawarra | Wollongong Showground | 6-14 |
| Trial Match: 23rd February | Parramatta | Penrith Park | 10-28 |
| Trial Match: 1st March | Illawarra | Orana Park | 6-16 |
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Wests Knockout: 31st January |
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| Trial Match: 7th February | Group 10 | Penrith Park | 18-0 |
| Trial Match: 14th February | Canberra | Penrith Park | 10-28 |
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In 1988, a seven a side short form tournament was introduced as part of the pre-season |
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Nissan Sevens: 6th February |
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| Trial Match: 13th February | Orange CYMS | Wade Park | 42-8 |
| Trial Match: 20th February | Parramatta | Penrith Park | 21-14 |
| Trial Match: 27th February | Narromine | Cale Oval | 66-6 |
| Trial Match: 11th February | Narromine | Cale Oval | 98-6 |
| Alpha Romeo Challenge: 19th February | Cronulla | Maitland | 6-14 |
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Trial Match: 25th February |
Armidale |
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| Nissan Sevens: 4th March | Parramatta Stadium | ||
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Formal pre season competitions were conducted from 1990 to 1995, with a greater emphasis on staging matches outside of the Sydney metropolitan area
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These competitions were in a knockout format, therefore in some seasons it also included officially mandated trial matches |
| Channel 10 Challenge Cup Game 1: 11th February | Brisbane | Athletic Oval | 18-10 |
| Channel 10 Challenge Cup Qualifying Final: 23rd Feb | Gold Coast Seagulls | Lavington Sports Ground | 22-12 |
| Channel 10 Challenge Cup Semi Final: 2nd March | Western Suburbs | Carrington Park | 21-10 |
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Channel 10 Challenge Cup Final: 7th March |
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| Nissan Sevens: 11th March | Parramatta Stadium | ||
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Nissan Sevens: 10th February |
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| Lotto Challenge Cup Game 1: 24th February | South Sydney | Port Macquarie Regional Stadium | 40-8 |
| Lotto Challenge Cup Qualifying Final: 23rd February | Eastern Suburbs | Apex Oval | 20-0 |
| Lotto Challenge Cup Semi Final: 2nd March | Canterbury | Eric Weissel Oval | 34-6 |
| Lotto Challenge Cup Final: 7th March | Brisbane | Rugby League Park | 16-20 |
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Nissan World Sevens: 7th, 8th and 9th February |
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| Tooheys Challenge Game 1: 18th February | North Sydney | Marathon Stadium | 8-2 |
| Tooheys Challenge Qualifying Final: 1st March | Western Suburbs | Eric Weissel Oval | 14-16 |
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Coca Cola World Sevens: 5th, 6th and 7th February |
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| Trial Match | Parramatta | --- | 22-14 |
| Tooheys Challenge Game 1: 24th February | Cronulla | Parramatta Stadium | 0-10 |
| Trial Match: 28th February | Brisbane | Mackay | 22-22 |
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Coca Cola World Sevens: 4th, 5th and 6th February |
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| Trial Match | Mackay | --- | 44-4 |
| Tooheys Challenge Game 1: 24th February | Illawarra | Penrith Stadium | 10-20 |
| Trial Match | Canterbury | Belmore Sports Ground | 12-22 |
| Trial Match | Manly | Brookvale Oval | 4-22 |
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Coca Cola World Sevens: 3rd, 4th and 5th February |
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| Tooheys Challenge Game 1: 12th February | Parramatta | Parramatta Stadium | 14-8 |
| Tooheys Challenge Qualifying Final: 18th February | North Sydney | Bega Recreation Ground | 18-19 |
| Trial Match | Illawarra | Steelers Stadium | 22-18 |
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In the 1996 pre-season, Penrith participated in Super League aligned trials, however in March the Federal Court handed down a decision that prevented any alternative rugby league competition being held until 2000, and later participated in the 1996 Optus Cup. |
| Super League Trial | North Queensland | --- | 50-22 |
| Super League Trial | Brisbane | Port Morseby | 4-22 |
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Super League successfully won their March 1996 appeal in October, and hence was a participant in the 1997 Telstra Cup competition |
| Trial Match | Hunter Mariners | --- | [No result known at this date] |
| Trial Match | Canterbury | Coffs Harbour | 40-16 |
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In December 1997, both the Australian Rugby League and Super League brokered a peace agreement, leading to the formation of the National Rugby League
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Officially sanctioned trial matches were played from 1998 to 2022 |
1998
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| Trial Match: 14th February | Canterbury | Ballina | 12-38 |
| Trial Match: 20th February | Western Suburbs | Carrington Park | 60-16 |
| Trial Match | St. George Illawarra | Batemans Bay | 24-22 |
| Trial Match: 27th January | Melbourne | Albury | 18-40 |
| Trial Match: 2nd February | Sharks | Port Macquarie | 24-16 |
| Trial Match: 23rd February | Canberra | Goulburn Workers Arena | 20-44 |
| Trial Match | Newcastle | Cessnock Showgrounds | 32-32 |
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In 2003, a seven a side short form tournament returned as part of the pre-season (the tournament was indefinitely suspended after 2004) |
2003
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Cougar World Sevens: 1st and 2nd February |
Aussie Stadium |
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Trial Match |
New Zealand Warriors | Invercargill | 28-20 |
2004
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Cougar World Sevens: 24th and 25th January |
Aussie Stadium |
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Penrith participated in the 2004 World Club Challenge versus Bradford |
| Trial Match | New Zealand Warriors | North Harbour Stadium | 34-12 |
2005
| Trial Match | Newcastle | Carrington Park | 44-20 |
| Trial Match | Sydney Roosters | Gold Coast | 34-12 |
2006
| Trial Match | Newcastle | Alice Springs | 38-30 |
| Trial Match | Parramatta | Port Macquarie | 26-24 |
2007
| Trial Match: 24th February | Newcastle | Richardson Park | 18-30 |
| Trial Match: 2nd March | Gold Coast Titans | Carrara Stadium | 6-28 |
2008
| Trial Match: 16th February | Windsor | --- | 30-0 |
| Trial Match: 22nd February | Parramatta | --- | 30-28 |
| Trial Match | Bulldogs | --- | 18-36 |
2009
| Trial Match: 14th February | South Sydney | Coffs Harbour International Stadium | 4-38 |
| Trial Match: 21st February | Parramatta | Credit Union Australia Stadium | 10-18 |
2010
| Trial Match: 20th February | Parramatta | Credit Union Australia Stadium | 32-12 |
| Trial Match: 27th February | Newcastle | Port Macquarie | 41-16 |
2011
| Trial Match: 19th February | Newcastle | Port Macquarie | 28-22 |
| Trial Match: 26th February | Parramatta | Centrebet Stadium | 0-30 |
2012
| Trial Match | Newcastle | --- | 18-18 |
| Trial Match | Parramatta | Centrebet Stadium | 26-10 |
2013
| Trial Match | New Zealand Warriors | --- | 32-18 |
| Trial Match | Parramatta | Centrebet Stadium | 10-10 |
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In 2014, a nine a side short form tournament was introduced as part of the pre-season (from 2014 to 2017, and returning again for the solitary season in 2020) |
2014
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Trial Match: 8th February |
Wests Tigers--- |
Kirkham Oval--- |
8-32--- |
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Dick Smith Auckland Nines: 15th and 16th February |
Eden Park |
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Trial Match: 23rd February |
Newtown--- | Sportingbet Stadium | 52-8-- |
2015
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Dick Smith Auckland Nines: 31st Jan and 1st Feb |
Eden Park |
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Trial Match: 13th February |
Wyong Roos |
Morrie Breen Oval |
36-8 |
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Trial Match: 22nd February |
Parramatta |
Pepper Stadium |
22-30 |
2016
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Downer Auckland Nines: 6th and 7th February |
Eden Park |
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Trial Match: 6th February |
PNG Hunters |
Oil Search National Stadium |
20-12 |
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Trial Match: 13th February |
Canterbury |
Pepper Stadium |
24-20 |
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Trial Match: 20th February |
Parramatta |
Pepper Stadium |
8-22 |
2017
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Downer Auckland Nines: 4th and 5th February |
Eden Park |
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Trial Match: 11th February |
Canterbury |
Port Macquarie Regional Stadium |
20-10 |
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Trial Match: 18th February |
Parramatta |
Panthers Stadium |
18-6 |
2018
| Trial Match: 17th February | Sydney Roosters | Panthers Stadium | 30-18 |
| Trial Match: 23rd February | Canterbury | Belmore Sports GGame | 10-24 |
2019
| Trial Match: 23rd February | South Sydney | Redfern Oval | 28-8 |
| Trial Match: 2nd March | Parramatta | Panthers Stadium | 20-0 |
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NRL Perth Nines: 4th and 5th February |
Eden Park |
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| Trial Match: 22nd February | Wests Tigers | Panthers Stadium | 32-4 |
| Trial Match: 29th February | Parramatta | Bega Recreation Ground | 22-22 |
| Trial Match: 20th February | Mounties | St. Mary's Leagues Stadium | 18-12 |
| Trial Match: 27th February | Parramatta | Panthers Stadium | 16-6 |
| NRL Pre Season Game 1: 20th February | Cronulla | CommBank Stadium | 34-6 |
| NRL Pre Season Game 2: 26th February | Parramatta | BlueBet Stadium | 0-36 |
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In 2023, the NRL Pre Season Challenge was introduced - each team would play two matches with no finals, and a points system to declare the overall winner
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In 2023, it was an 18 team competition (17 premiership teams plus English club St. Helens) and the World Club Challenge was counted as one of the two matches for Penrith |
| NRL Pre Season Challenge Game 1: 11th February | Parramatta | BlueBet Stadium | 22-16 |
| NRL Pre Season Challenge Game 2 (WCC): 18th Feb | St. Helens | BlueBet Stadium | 12-13 (in Golden Point) |
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Penrith did not participate in the 2024 Pre Season Challenge as they travelled to the UK for the 2024 World Club Challenge versus Wigan |
| Witzer Pre Season Challenge Game 1: 7th February | Canberra | Sharks Stadium | 16-22 |
| Witzer Pre Season Challenge Game 2: 21st February | Manly | Leichhardt Oval | 38-22 |
Page last updated 13 June 2025