The Panthers and Roosters played out a thrilling final in Sydney on Sunday but questions are being asked over why there were so many empty seats at a game between two of the NRL’s top teams.

Penrith claimed a 19-12 win to book a place in the preliminary final, but will be sweating on the availability of star halfback Nathan Cleary after he was sin binned for making contact with Hugo Savala while the Roosters playmaker was kicking.

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The game was held at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, which has been Penrith’s home ground while Penrith Stadium is redeveloped in time for their first game next season in March.

But it was hard not to notice the large sections of empty seats, particularly in the upper section of CommBank Stadium for the qualifying final. The crowd of 22,148 was well short of the venue’s 30,000 capacity.

There are likely several factors behind the low crowd number including fan bases being reluctant to travel and the price of tickets, but it’s concerning that a final between two top-four teams from Sydney can’t sell out a 30,000 stadium.

It comes a day after a small crowd of 17,429 attended the elimination final between Cronulla and North Queensland at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

The game was held at Moore Park instead of Shark Park at Cronulla, but the poor turnout meant there were swathes of empty seats at Allianz Stadium, which has a capacity of 42,500.

“Sharks so-called fans who couldn’t be bothered making the trip to Allianz Stadium should hang their heads in shame. Pathetic,” said Brent Read.

“Their team needed them and they apparently stayed away as a protest. What a joke!!”

The Sharks beat the Cowboys and will next face the Roosters at Allianz Stadium in a sudden death semi-final on Saturday night.

NRL Week 2 Finals

Semi Final: Saturday, September 19, 7.50pm (AEST), Allianz Stadium

Sydney Roosters v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Semi Final: Sunday, September 20, 4.05pm AEST (6.05pm NZ), Eden Park

New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights

Originally published as ‘It’s c***’: Disbelief at unbelievable NRL sight as crowd issue exposed