Michael Jennings scores a try for Parramatta against Penrith. {Picture: ABC.NET.AU}

The Parramatta Eels made a winning start last night in their NRL opener defeating the Penrith Panthers 20-12 yesterday.

The win came after Michael Jennings, whose sin-binning late in the contest sparked the Panthers revival, was awarded a dubious first-half try.

A resolute Eels defence had kept the home side scoreless for nearly an hour, when the game turned on Jennings’ sin-binning.

The Eels centre denied a maiden NRL try for Maika Sivo when he knocked out Isaah Yeo with a swinging arm.

However Jennings sealed the two points when he took a perfectly timed pass from debutant Dylan Brown in the closing moments.

Meanwhile, in another match, Raiders hammered Titans 21-0.

The Canberra Raiders celebrate a try by Joseph Leilua. {Picture:ABC.net.au}