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There is a real sense of brotherhood at the Penrith Panthers, but the defending NRL champions are also happy for their 2022 grand final rivals Parramatta to be part of the family.
'You can call us daddy,' Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai quipped ahead of the premiership decider on Sunday.
His cheeky comment is about the changing of the guard in Sydney's West, where the Panthers have long been regarded as 'little brother' to Parramatta, even though the Eels have failed to win a premiership since 1986.
Brian To'o and Jarome Luai share a joke after a Penrith Panthers NRL training session
While Parramatta have not been able to bring the Provan-Summons Trophy home since then, the Eels have been regular contenders while the Panthers have struggled to make the eight for long periods of time.
Parramatta has also long been touted as Western Sydney’s breeding ground of rugby league talent
'Things have changed,' To'o told the SMH.
To'o poses for photographs for fans during a Penrith Panthers NRL training session and fan day
Around half of the current Panthers side, playing in their third successive grand final, come from the local area. On top of that, 14 of the 17 players in the decider made their NRL debut for Penrith.
'There aren't that many kids coming through the Parramatta system that are from the west. The majority of the people that are in the Parramatta team come from other countries or other parts of NSW … or even Penrith,' To'o said.
'It's pretty cool to see how many of us Penrith juniors have come through the lower grades up to the big leagues.
'It's pretty special to see like Taylan May and Izack Tago come through this year.'
To'o and Luai celebrate after the 2021 NRL grand final win over the South Sydney Rabbitohs
Luai added that the current Penrith side better represented the people and
