But one thing that may have gone unnoticed is the big economic boost the NRL provides for the Bathurst economy.

According to Bathurst Regional Council, the NRL match has created six full-time equivalent jobs and almost a third of million dollars in household income.

"The economic impact of holding an NRL game in Bathurst in one year is estimated to have created six full-time equivalent jobs and $340,000 in household income," Bathurst mayor Graeme Hanger said.

"It has also generated an additional $710,000 into the Bathurst economy."

The game has also provided a boost in junior participation, as well as junior clubs in the like sof St Pat's and Eglinton getting the chance to raise extra funds.

"The rugby league community benefits with increased participation in the sport with the professional athlete presence through the Panthers' community engagement activities such coaching clinics for school children," Cr Hanger said.

"The clubs also have the opportunity to raise funds on game night which goes directly back to them to purchase uniforms and training equipment."

Of the almost 4000 tickets sold before the game, some 75 per cent were sold from outside the 2795 postcode, making Bathurst a destination for a large portion of the strong crowd on March 30. 

The attendance of 10,973 was a record crowd for a rugby league match at Carrington Park, eclipsing last year's gate of 10,289, which in turn was a record-breaking attendance.

It was the sixth consecutive season Penrith had brought at least one of its home's game west of the Blue Mountains.

It's expected the local economy will continue to receive a strong boost for the NRL for almost another decade, with the Panthers agreeing in 2017 to play games in Bathurst until at least 2028.

Panthers played the Cronulla Sharks in the first year of the Bathurst deal in late July, the Gold Coast Titans in mid-March in the second year (which drew the smallest crowd of the deal so far of just over 6000 people) and the Canberra Raiders in late April in the third year in 2016.

The match was returned to a winter fixture in 2017, against Canberra, before an early-May match against the Johnathan Thurston-led North Queensland Cowboys in 2018, which saw the team from Townsville claim a 26-20 win.