The Penrith Panthers are the reigning National Rugby League (NRL) premiership holders, having defeated the Parramatta Eels in the 2022 grand final. The club also won the 2021 grand final, and has won the minor premiership in 2 of the past 3 seasons. In short, they are currently one of the NRL’s toughest teams. Whilst their squad has undergone some changes prior to the 2023 season – a swap deal with Wests Tigers has allowed former Panther Tyrone Peachey to re-join the club, and 2022 Challenge Cup runner-up Jack Cogger has joined from Wigan Warriors, whilst high-profile players such as Viliame Kikau and Apisai Koroisau have left the Penrith fold – the side is still expected to be one of the strongest on show this year.
2023 Squad
Head Coach
Ivan Cleary (AUS)
Backs
Nathan Cleary (AUS) “C”
Jack Cogger (AUS)
Stephen Crichton (SAM)
Dylan Edwards (AUS) “VC”
Tom Jenkins (AUS)
Jarome Luai (SAM)
Taylan May (SAM)
Jaeman Salmon (AUS)
Izack Tago (SAM)
Brian To’o (SAM)
Sunia Turuva (FIJ)
Forwards
Eddie Blacker (AUS)
Matthew Eisenhuth (AUS)
James Fisher-Harris (NZ) “VC”
Luke Garner (AUS)
Zac Hosking (AUS)
Mitch Kenny (AUS)
Spencer Leniu (SAM)
Moses Leota (NZ)
Soni Luke (TON)
Liam Martin (AUS)
Tyrone Peachey (AUS)
Chris Smith (AUS)
Lindsay Smith (AUS)
Scott Sorensen (NZ)
Isaah Yeo (AUS) “C”
“C” = Captains / “VC” = Vice-Captains
2023 Schedule
Like every team in the NRL, the Penrith Panthers will play 24 regular season matches in 2023. Of those 24 matches, 12 will be played at home, and 12 away from home. The Panthers will play twice (once home, and once away) against 8 of their 16 fellow teams. They will play once only against the other 8 teams. Penrith Panthers’ first match of the season is on Friday 3 March, at their home venue the BlueBet Stadium, against the Brisbane Broncos; the Panthers will end their regular season campaign on Saturday 2 September, against the North Queensland Cowboys, also at home.
You can find the full 2023 Penrith Panthers schedule here.
2023 Rivals
In 2023, the Penrith Panthers will play against the Brisbane Broncos, Canberra Raiders, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Dolphins, Gold Coast Titans, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights, New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, Parramatta Eels, South Sydney Rabbitohs, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Sydney Roosters, and the Wests Tigers.
The club’s stand-out rivals are the Parramatta Eels. The 2 teams are not only located in very close geographical proximity to each other on the west side of Sydney, but have also clashed many times since Panthers’ admission to the NRL in 1967, with finals qualifications and premierships at stake during many of those fixtures. The Panthers and Eels are scheduled to meet twice in the regular season:
If both sides qualify for the NRL play-off finals, they may also meet for a third time; in 2022 the sides met in the grand final!
2023 NRL Finals
The Panthers' grand final win against their bitter rivals in 2022 secured their second premiership in a row, following victory in 2021. In total, the club has won the NRL premiership on 4 occasions: as well as triumphing in 2021 and 2022, Penrith Panthers won grand finals in 1991 and 2003. In 1990 and 2020 the team reached the grand final, but lost-out to the Canberra Raiders and Melbourne Storm respectively.
The 2023 finals will take place across 3 weeks, starting in early September after the conclusion of the regular season, and culminating in the NRL grand final, which is expected to be played on Sunday 1 October. A total of 8 teams qualifies for the finals, which involves a knock-out bracket; depending on where they finished in the regular season table, teams can be knocked-out after 1 or 2 losses. By the end of finals week 3, only 2 sides are left, and it is these teams which contest the grand final.
2023 Tickets & Prices
The Penrith Panthers’ regular home stadium, the BlueBet Stadium in Sydney, holds 22,500 fans; across the 2022 season, the team recorded an average attendance of just over 18,000. Ticket prices vary per match, but at the time of writing the most affordable adult tickets generally start at around AUD $30, with the most expensive premium tickets costing closer to AUD $80. The average price of an adult ticket at a Penrith Panthers home match is between AUD $45-55, depending on the opposition, although it should be noted that not all of the Panthers’ 2023 fixtures are yet on sale.
Standard Tickets
Standard tickets for Penrith Panthers matches at the BlueBet Stadium are available in several categories:
- South Hill – a general admission section behind the posts at the south end of the ground; typically some of the most affordable tickets at the BlueBet Stadium
- Alcohol-Free Zone (Family Hill) - an alcohol-free, family friendly general admission section behind the posts at the north end of the ground; typically some of the most affordable tickets
- Family Hill – a family friendly general admission section behind the posts at the north end of the ground; typically some of the most affordable tickets
- Bronze Reserved – grandstand seating near to the corners of the pitch
- The Den – an East Grandstand section reserved for Panthers’ loudest fans!
- Silver – grandstand seating located both near to the halfway line, and near to the try lines
- Gold – grandstand seating located close to the halfway line
- Platinum – grandstand seating located at the halfway line
- Diamond – grandstand seating located at the halfway line; the most expensive standard tickets at the Panthers’ home matches
Premium, Hospitality, & VIP Tickets
Premium match day packages at Penrith Panthers home matches are available on an enquiry basis. Options include:
- Allam Homes Chairman’s Club – premium seats, a sit-down dinner package, and hospitality extras
- Jim Beam & Hertz Club Box – hospitality box located by the halfway line, with food and drink included
How to get Cheap Tickets
Match tickets for Penrith Panthers’ home matches generally vary based on the visiting opposition. Tickets for matches against stronger teams or rival teams will typically be more expensive than those for matches which involve weaker or smaller teams. The date and round number of the fixture may also affect price, with important fixtures late-on in the season sometimes commanding higher prices than less significant matches earlier in the year. Koobit compares the prices offered by both primary and secondary sellers, to help you find the perfect ticket at the most affordable price possible.
Where to Buy Tickets
Penrith Panthers tickets can be easily purchased online, with fans given the option to download and present their tickets digitally, or download and then print-off their tickets. Purchasing tickets online also allows fans to quickly compare prices, and provides a convenient way of accessing ticket sales as soon as they become available.
How to Get to a Game
Penrith Panthers home games are played at the BlueBet Stadium, which has free and paid match day parking options, and is also easily accessible on public transport. Visit the BlueBet Stadium parking & travel page for more information. For event-specific information including away games, click through to an event and view the Travel & Parking section.
To stay up to date with the latest schedule and ticketing information for this season and beyond, visit the Penrith Panthers page.