Staging an impressive prelude to their 2012 season, the mighty Penrith Panthers bagged the Battle of the West Cup and bragging rights with an emphatic 26-10 victory over the Parramatta Eels at Centrebet Stadium on Friday night.

Proceedings on the field began uneasily for the home side as the Eels quickly stormed over the try line courtesy of Ken Sio in the 7th minute.

Undeterred, the Panthers hit back courageously with a stellar run from prop Tim Grant positioning the side's troops just centimetres from their try line.

Relentless five-eighth Travis Burns capitalised and pounced over in the 17th minute, with a Michael Gordon conversion securing Penrith a 6-4 lead.

The sharpshooter then enhanced his campaign to become the team’s first choice fullback with a remarkable try in the 29th minute.

Gordon defied two Eels defenders as he ran almost 20 metres before flying underneath the posts and converting his own effort.

Halfback Luke Walsh delivered a menacing bomb just before the half-time siren and a minor scrimmage outside Penrith's try line ended in Travis Burns and Sandor Earl diving over and almost simultaneously grounding the ball.

Leading 18-4 at halftime, the Panthers maintained their intensity early in the second half with a dominant attacking display allowing the team to make numerous charges toward their try line.

However new Parramatta recruit Chris Sandow also fired up and defused a Jarryd Hayne bomb in the 62nd minute to ultimately narrow the visitor’s deficit to 18-10.

Yet the Panthers were determined to have the last roar of the match- and they indeed made it echo in front of the 8975 onlookers with two stunning tries in the final ten minutes.

A brilliant offload from Panthers young-gun Blake Austin allowed hooker Kevin Kingston to secure a four-pointer in the 72nd minute before winger David Simmons powered down the sideline and over in the corner in the 77th minute.

One major injury concern following the match was that of star Parramatta fullback Hayne, who was dealt a knee grievance in the 70th minute.

The Panthers will return to the Centrebet Stadium turf to launch their upcoming premiership campaign with a round one clash against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs on Saturday March 3.