Jarryd Hayne scored two tries to lead Parramatta to an 18-10 win over Penrith in their NRL trial match at CUA Stadium on Saturday night.

The Eels held a 12-4 lead at halftime before a runaway try to Panthers halfback Jarrod Sammut put the home side back within reach, just two points behind.

But an length-of-the-field try to Hayne in the 81st minute sealed the win for the Eels in a three-tries-to-two victory.

The Hayne experiment at five-eighth had mixed results in a mostly dour affair as both sides struggled to shake off the off-season rust.

Hayne was placed on report in the 11th minute for a high hit on Panthers winger Shane Elford, but soon made amends by scoring the night's opening try.

His mixed night continued in the second half, however, when Hayne bungled a certain four-pointer, spilling the ball 20 metres out with an open run to the try line ahead of him.

In the following set of six, the former Blues Origin winger opted to send a grubber in behind the Panthers defence, only for the ball to be scooped up by Sammut.

Sammut, wearing neon green boots, sprinted the length of the field with Hayne in pursuit but the Panthers No.7 was too quick, celebrating his runaway try after planting the ball under the posts.

But Hayne repaid the favour in the 81st minute, bolting 80m to score his second try for the night, leaving a chasing Sammut in his wake and sealing the win for the Eels.

The outnumbered Eels fans at CUA Stadium cheered each time recalled winger Eric Grothe touched the ball.

Grothe, who hasn't played in the NRL since round nine, 2008, made some storming runs, hit the ball up hard and was solid in his support play despite a couple of knock ons in the messy affair.

Eels coach Daniel Anderson said his side's win, while scrappy at times, was still encouraging.

"I thought we just battled and we had to and I think we showed some little signs in the game that we've made some forward progress, even since last week when most of the big boys didn't play," Anderson said.

"We've still got some areas that we can work on, which is important."

Panthers coach Matthew Elliott was pleased with his side's effort in defence.

"We did some really good stuff and showed some intent defensively, obviously in attack, we've got some work to do."

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