A potentially season-ending shoulder injury to Penrith Panthers star Jarome Luai has stolen the headlines as the Parramatta Eels stunned the reigning premiers 32-18 at BlueBet Stadium.
Resting a couple of stars, the Panthers cruised into this contest as heavy favourites and were matched against an Eels side with an improbable chance of making finals with a win.
Parramatta started off looking the likelier to open the scoring, pushing Penrith on the back foot and seeing the majority of the ball in the early stages.
The strong start from the Eels was rewarded in the third minute when Dylan Brown dragged in multiple Penrith defenders before throwing a perfect flick pass to Maika Sivo, who strolled over for the opening try.
After being denied a 12-point lead courtesy of a knock-on from Ryan Matterson, the Eels were forced to pay when Tyron Peachey got the hosts on the board moments later.
A shocking miss from the usual sharpshooter Nathan Cleary ensured the Eels would retain a two-point lead, which would be extended shortly after as Sivo crossed over for his second.
With a rare eight-point try given to Sivo for his second, Parramatta looked to seal the result before the halftime break when the Fijian winger secured a first half hat trick.
The biggest turning point of the game came in the 25th minute when Jarome Luai was denied a try on the line and came out with a dislocated shoulder, ending his night and possibly his season.
As the Panthers licked their wounds without their five-eighth, Parramatta pounced as Clint Gutherson produced a brilliant solo try to put the lead out to 18 points heading into the break.
It was much of the same for Parramatta to start the second half, pushing the lead out to 24 just moments after the restart as Gutherson secured his second.
The middle sector of the second half consisted of very little action with neither side coming close to scoring another try until the 60th minute when Gutherson succumbed to a knee injury.
With their fullback seemingly on one leg, Penrith capitalised through their captain and star Nathan Cleary who gave his side a glimmer of hope with 15 minutes to play.
A couple of late tries for the Panthers reduced the deficit to 14 but it was too little too late as the Eels walked from Penrith with a monumental upset.
The Eels will need the Cowboys and Roosters to lose their respective games to retain a chance of finishing in the top eight.