Your Ultimate Guide To The 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final – Penrith Panthers V Parramatta Eels

The Battle of the West will decide the NRL Telstra Premiership at Accor Stadium on Sunday 2 October . . . with the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels the last two teams standing in season 2022.

The Panthers are the reigning premiers striving to go back-to-back and have featured in the last three Grand Finals. The Parra Eels will be looking to break a 36-year premiership drought, having last won in 1986. They lost Grand Finals in 2001 and 2009.

The Penrith and Parramatta clubs will each have two teams involved on Grand Final Day so fans are encouraged to arrive at the Stadium early on Sunday.

The NRLW Telstra Women’s Premiership Grand Final will feature the Newcastle Knights against Parramatta Eels. The State Championship Grand Final – Brisbane Devils v Penrith Panthers – will kick off proceedings at 1:20pm.

The Panthers v Eels NRL Grand Final will be the first all-Sydney Grand Final played at Accor Stadium since 2014.

A capacity crowd of above 80,000 will attend this year’s Grand Final – the biggest Grand Final crowd since 2019.

Parramatta Eels active supporters will fill the Northern Stands of Accor Stadium (the Blatchys Blues end) while Penrith Panthers active supporters will be in the south in front of the Great Southern Screen.

In the NRLW, the Newcastle Knights will take on the Parramatta Eels, with both sides chasing their first ever NRLW Premiership, while the winner of the State Championship will also be decided when Queensland Cup winners North Brisbane Devils take on NSW Cup winners Penrith Panthers.

It’s not just footy on offer though, with entertainment from 6:30pm headlined by Australian icon Jimmy Barnes, as well as Diesel, Josh Teskey, Sheldon Riley and Bliss N Eso.

Grand Final Day Schedule

11am: Grand Final Day celebrations in Sydney Olympic Park
1pm: Accor Stadium Gates Open
1:20pm: State Championship Grand Final: Brisbane Devils v Penrith Panthers
3:55pm: NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership Grand Final: Newcastle Knights v Parramatta Eels
6:30pm: Grand Final Pre-Match Entertainment
7:30pm: 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final Sydney: Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels

Ticketing

Tickets for the NRL Grand Final are SOLD OUT! Purchasing tickets via unauthorised resellers such as Viagogo is strongly discouraged, as entry to the venue cannot be guaranteed. 

It is strongly recommended event tickets for Accor Stadium events be purchased only through Ticketek (the authorised seller of tickets to NRL Grand Final event) to ensure peace of mind on the date.

Important Traffic & Transport Advice

Fans are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the fact all tickets include travel on Public Transport to and from Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park.

All Sydney Olympic Park car parking stations are now FULLY BOOKED. If fans have not booked parking, they should NOT drive to the game. 

Getting to the Grand Final

• From Central, express train services will run every 15 minutes between 1pm and 2pm, then every 10 minutes from 2pm.
• From Penrith, limited-stop train services will run every 15 minutes from 1pm.
• Sydney Olympic Park Major Event Buses will run on all 9 routes from the Hills District, Inner West, North Western Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Southerland Shire and Southern Suburbs.  

Getting home from the Grand Final

• To Central: express services will leave Olympic Park every 6 minutes from 9:30pm until 12:30am.
• To Blacktown: limited-stop services will leave Olympic Park every 6 minutes from 9:30pm until 1am, stopping at Lidcombe, Granville, Parramatta, Westmead, Seven Hills then Blacktown. 
• To Penrith: limited-stop services will leave Olympic Park every 15 minutes.
• Sydney Olympic Park Major Event Buses will run on all 9 routes to the Hills District, Inner West, North Western Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Southerland Shire and Southern Suburbs.

All the Grand Final Transport Information

Last time they met

The Eels enjoy a 2-1 head-to-head record over the Minor Premiers Penrith this season, with stunning victories in rounds 9 and 20. However the Panther dominated the pair’s Qualifying Final meeting three weeks ago, posting a 27-8 win at BlueBet Stadium.

In the NRLW, the Knights and the Eels have a history of close games, with Newcastle victorious 18-16 in their most recent meeting in Round 3, while the Eels claimed a 13-12 victory in enemy territory last season.

Food and Beverage

It will be an exciting day for Premium Experience patrons, who will enjoy food inspired by Australian food icon Matt Moran. On the menu will be a tender chargrilled harissa Bannockburn chicken and slow-roasted Moran family lamb shoulder, among other mouth-watering dishes.

Punters in the stands will be able to tuck into the new Matt’s Burger, a bespoke creation by Matt with a 180g pure Angus Beef patty, bacon and the freshest produce. Other stadium favourites, including chips and pizza will also be available, as well as a new range of beverages including Gravity Seltzers. To explore our full range, click here.

Attendees are also encouraged to make the most of the day by arriving early to enjoy the wide range of restaurants and bars in the Sydney Olympic Park Precinct, including The Locker Room and The Brewery.

Weather

The forecast for Sydney Olympic Park for Sunday is a possible shower (40% chance), light winds with a maximum of 19C. We recommend dressing for the conditions, especially as not all seats are undercover. Umbrellas may be brought into the Stadium but for the comfort of others should not be put up. For the latest forecast, please click here.

Entry requirements

All bags will be subject to the security screening process. To help avoid delays, it’s best to leave your bag at home. On all event days bag sizes are limited to 30x40cm. Umbrellas are permitted but for the comfort of other patrons, they should not be opened in the seating bowl. Food and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought into the stadium. Please note: No glass or cans are permitted. For more information on conditions of entry, please click here.

Enjoy the big game!