The Panthers have become just the second team in the NRL era to win back-to-back premierships and they did in style on Sunday night.
Penrith burst out the blocks and made Eels fans relive their horror first half of 2001 to lead 18-0 and it finished 28-12 in front of 82,415 fans at Accor Stadium.
It was a masterclass from fullback Dylan Edward, who won the Clive Churchill Medal, while props Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris ran like mad men all night.
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Eight Panthers had more run metres than in the first half than Shaun Lane, who led the Eels with just 53m from eight carries.
Brian To’o ran for 241 metres and scored two tries, while Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau both put in strong performances in their final game for the club.
Penrith are now the first club in rugby league history to win all four grades after also taking out the SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup.
They are already $4 favourites to win the competition again next season and become the first time since Parramatta in 1983 to win three straight titles.
“There hasn’t been a poor player for Penrith across the park,” Cameron Smith said in commentary on Channel 9.
Here are the Penrith player ratings for the 2022 NRL grand final.
1. DYLAN EDWARDS – 10
An epic performance from the Panthers fullback who ran for 228 metres from 22 carries and set up two tries to win the Clive Churchill Medal.
Edwards put Stephen Crichton over for the first try of the match with a nice switch pass. Put Cleary through a hole in the 20th minute.
Had 122 metres from 12 carries in the first half and in the second half made a tackle reminiscent of Scott Sattler’s epic in the 2003 grand final on Eels winger Bailey Simonsson.
“Does that put him in the Australian team? All effort and saves the day, what a player,” Andrew Johns said on Channel 9.
2. CHARLIE STAINES – 7
Scored the fourth try in the 60th minute after cutting back inside to leave Clint Gutherson flat footed. Celebrated wildly. “It’s the try that probably wins the grand final and means the trophy stays in Penrith,” Matt Thompson said in commentary.
Finished with 104 metres from 12 carries, two tackle busts, a linebreak and a try.
3. IZACK TAGO – 7
Set up the second try of the match with a nice catch and pass to Brian To’o and then did it again in the 45th minute to give the winger his double.
Copped a head knock in the 52nd minute and went off for an HIA but returned to finish with 93 metres from 12 carries, but conceded two penalties.
4. STEPHEN CRICHTON – 8
Scored the opening try of the grand final after running a strong line and collecting a switch pass from Dylan Edwards. He had plenty of work to do from 29 metres out and stepped past Clint Gutherson to score in style.
Dropped one late in the half pressuring the Eels’ line but made a try-saving tackle on Maika Sivo in the 56th minute.
“What a play, a huge play, he scored the first try of the night and he’s there to save one, wonderful effort.” Cameron Smith said.
Ran for 113 metres from 11 carries and had three tackle busts to go with his try and made 22 tackles.
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5. BRIAN TO’O – 9.5
An enormous game from the star winger, topped the metres with 241 from 24 carries and scored two tries to go with a whopping 10 tackle busts.
Scored the second try of the match with a strong finish in the corner and catching the ball behind him but kept his body low and made sure of it.
Forced a dropout in the 26th minute which led to the Panthers third try. Ran for 142 metres in the first 40 minutes which Cameron Smith described as an “unbelievable half.”
Scored the first try of the second half which commentators Smith and Andrew Johns said shouldn’t have been awarded. Has now scored seven tries in the past five games.
6. JAROME LUAI – 7.5
Busy early and looked dangerous with the ball, almost scored just before halftime but couldn’t reign in a Nathan Cleary grubber.
Defused a chip on his own line on the stroke of halftime and set up two tries while running for 53 metres from seven carries.
7. NATHAN CLEARY – 8.5
Controlled the game with his boot and put up some nice floating bombs in the first half then put a deft grubber through to set up the third try for Scott Sorensen.
Hit Shaun Lane with a tackle that forced a turnover in the 50th minute. Almost scored with 12 minutes left but grounded the ball just short and lost it.
Set up a try but had two errors and conceded a penalty.
8. MOSES LEOTA – 8.5
The Panthers prop played with a relentless intensity from the opening minute and made a try-saving tackle on Dylan Brown in the 70th minute as his team led 28-0.
“Moses Leota is on a search and destroy mission,” Andrew Johns said.
Ran for 78 metres from 15 carries and made 15 tackles, but his performance was a case of quality over quantity.
14. MITCH KENNY – 7
Started the game but played just 33 minutes in the match. Made 16 tackles and ran for 53 metres.
10. JAMES FISHER-HARRIS – 9
Took some big hit-ups early and ran like a madman all night to finish with 149 metres from 18 carries. Also made 29 tackles and had a tackle bust to go with his one offload.
11. VILIAME KIKAU – 7.5
Fell centimetres short of scoring twice in the first half and finished with 76 metres from eight carries while producing four tackle busts.
12. LIAM MARTIN – 8.5
Made the first half-break of the game in the fifth minute which brought the Panthers faithful to their feet.
Went close to scoring in the 15th minute with some nice and strong fends. “He’s been so strong,” Andrew Johns said.
Ran for 125 metres from 15 carries and led the tackle count with 39.
13. ISAAH YEO – 8
Ran for 131 metres from 15 carries and made 31 tackles as the flawless link man delivered again and will be wearing a Kangaroos jersey at the World Cup next month.
“We executed our game plan really well, we’ve been working really hard in defence.” We need to stay connected in the middle,” Yeo said at halftime.
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9. API KOROISAU – 7.5
A nice grubber forced a dropout in the 20th minute and when Clint Gutherson put the short kick out on the full, Nathan Cleary booted the two points. Made 33 tackles.
15. SCOTT SORENSEN – 7
Scored the third try of the match after chasing through a Nathan Cleary grubber to score next to the posts. Ran for 78 metres from 10 carries.
16. SPENCER LENIU – 7
Ran for 83 metres from nine carries and had two tackle busts in his 21 minutes.
17. JAEMAN SALMON – 7
Went on when Izack Tago went off for an HIA and put in a solid 15 minutes, received a standing ovation from the Panthers squad players sitting in the stands behind the bench.
