It was a perfect end to the 2022 campaign for the Panthers — but a host of other clubs can’t say the same.
The Sharks and Cowboys shook up the NRL world order before just falling short, while the Broncos’ resurgence fell flat and the Tigers picked up the wooden spoon leaving them with plenty of work to do in the off-season.
Read on for every team’s 2022 NRL report card.
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Panthers called out for ‘childish’ jabs | 01:13
PENRITH PANTHERS
2022 Record: W23 L4 – 85.19% win rate
Ladder finish: 1st
Finals outcome: Premiers
Season grade: A+
Analysis: The Panthers became just the second team in the NRL era to secure back-to-back premierships with a big 28-12 win over the Eels. Superstar halfback Nathan Cleary was once again brilliant and his halves partner Jarome Luai delivered in big moments. Fullback Dylan Edwards capped off an impressive season, winning the Clive Churchill Medal and coming desperately close to a Kangaroos call-up. Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and James Fisher-Harris were also outstanding throughout the campaign. Ivan Cleary’s side only lost four times in 2023, twice to Parramatta and once each to the Storm and Cowboys while missing several key players. Those losses were the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season which cemented this Panthers team as one of the greatest in the modern era. As a club, the Panthers became the first ever team to take a clean sweep, winning the SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and NRL premiership.
CRONULLA SHARKS
2022 Record: W18 L8 – 69.23% win rate
Ladder finish: 2nd
Finals outcome: Semi-final (out in straight sets)
Season grade: A
Analysis: The Sharks were one of the big improvers in 2022 climbing from ninth to second in Craig Fitzgibbon’s first season in charge. Nicho Hynes was the buy of the year on the way to his record Dally M Medal win and gave the team real X-factor in attack. Matt Moylan wound back the clock in a return to some of his best form at five-eighth and earned a new contract. Dale Finucane and Cameron McInnes added some real starch to their pack and they finished with the third best defensive record in the NRL. Siosifa Talakai had a breakout year in the centres and was rewarded with an Origin berth after blowing the competition away on the edge. Unfortunately a few key injuries and a Valentine Holmes field goal in golden point saw the Sharks knocked out of the finals in straight sets, but Fitzgibbon has this team set up for a bright future in the years to come.
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NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
2022 Record: W17 L7 – 70.83% win rate
Ladder finish: 3rd
Finals outcome: Preliminary final (out in week three)
Season grade: A
Analysis: The Cowboys shocked the rugby league world with a third-place finish after the regular season. Coach Todd Payten managed to get the best out of his talented roster filled with young talent. Marquee recruit Chad Townsend, who was billed as the worst signing of 2022, ended up being one of the best and was crucial to North Queensland’s finals charge. Every single player in the Cowboys squad saw huge improvements this season and the club unearthed some stars. Jeremiah Nanai, in his first full NRL season, won the Dally M Rookie of the Year and Back-rower of the Year. Tom Dearden was brilliant, Reece Robson was one of the most consistent players in the NRL and Reuben Cotter cemented himself as a cult-hero. Valentine Holmes shrugged off criticism of his million-dollar salary to have a career-best season, while Jason Taumalolo was back to his best. Despite being dumped out of the finals by the Eels — North Queensland’s faithful have a lot to look forward to.
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PARRAMATTA EELS
2022 Record: W18 L10 – 64.29% win rate
Ladder finish: 4th
Finals outcome: Grand Final (Runners up)
Season grade: A
Analysis: The Eels did extremely well to reach their first grand final since 2009, but their 2022 season was anything but smooth sailing. Inconsistency haunted the team in the regular season, despite being the only team to beat both the Panthers and the Storm twice. Luckily their strong forward pack and brilliant seasons from Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown saw them peak at the right time of year. Shaun Lane and Clint Gutherson started to drive their standards in terms of consistency at the back end of the season. However, their bad habits in the regular season came back to bite them in two losses to the Panthers in the finals series. Unfortunately with seven of their grand final stars moving to other clubs, including hooker Reed Mahoney, their premiership window looks to have closed for now. Still, not many teams would have beaten the red hot Panthers side and this team can stil be proud of their season.
MELBOURNE STORM
2022 Record: W15 L9 – 62.5% win rate
Ladder finish: 5th
Finals outcome: Elimination final (out in week one)
Season grade: B
Analysis: The Storm began the 2022 campaign getting off to a flyer, sitting on top of the table after Round 10. However, Melbourne’s joy would end there and a horror run of injuries dampened the club’s premiership credentials. Craig Bellamy’s side lost to the Raiders in the first week of finals, but were without a host of big names. Ryan Papenhuyzen, George Jennings, Christian Welch, Reimis Smith and Xavier Coates were all out for extended periods. While the Storm were unable to be fighting for the title in the finals, a lot of positives can be taken from the season. Cameron Munster was outstanding, Nick Meaney showed he can cut it at an elite club and Jahrome Hughes proved why he was a priority re-signing. Harry Grant also excelled, while Josh King became a reliable presence in the middle of the park. Melbourne’s 2022 campaign wasn’t up to their lofty standards of years gone by and Bellamy announced next season will be his last. Expect the Storm to come back with a vengeance in 2023, despite a host of big names departing including Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Felise Kaufusi and Brandon Smith.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
2022 Record: W15 L10 – 60.00% win record
Ladder finish: 6th
Finals outcome: Elimination final (Out in week one)
Season grade: B
Analysis: The Roosters were one of the pre-season premiership favourites, but had a very slow start to the season as consistency eluded Trent Robinson’s men. Sam Walker and Luke Keary struggled to fire as a combination, before a mid-season switch saw them find their groove in the back half of the year. James Tedesco and Joey Manu were at their consistent best and kept the Roosters in finals contention with some brilliant individual performances. Joseph Suaalii had a breakout year and showed he is a future superstar. Injuries in the forwards hurt the Roosters, before mid-season signing Matt Lodge helped them get back on track to finish sixth. However, the Roosters just left themselves with too much to do and they were knocked out by the Rabbitohs convincingly in week one of the finals in a disappointing end to their 2022 campaign.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
2022 Record: W16 L11 – 59.3% win rate
Ladder finish: 7th
Finals outcome: Preliminary finals (out in week three)
Season grade: A
Analysis: Many pundits wrote the Rabbitohs off after they sat in 13th place after four games. Adam Reynolds and Wayne Bennett left the club in the off-season, and Souths’ premiership hopes seemed to be slipping away. Rookie halfback Lachlan Ilias was struggling alongside Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell’s hamstring injury was a major blow. However, under rookie coach Jason Demetriou, the Redfern club turned it all around. Mitchell played some of his best football to close out the season, Walker was firing and Ilias was named the club’s Rookie of the Year with an impressive debut campaign. Campbell Graham delivered once again and Tevita Tatola developed into one of the most damaging middle forwards in the competition. While the Rabbitohs were once again bundled out of the premiership race by the Panthers, South Sydney faithful have a lot to look forward to in 2023. The Rabbitohs were the only club outside the top four to make the preliminary finals and were able to beat their cross-town rivals, the Roosters, when it meant the most.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
2022 Record: 15W 11L – 57.69% win record
Ladder finish: 8th
Finals outcome: Semi-final (out in week two)
Season grade: B
Analysis: The Raiders had a horror start to the season to sit at 15th at one stage as injuries to key positions saw the return of their old “Faders” moniker. However, the return of Jamal Fogarty halfway through the season brought out the best in Jack Wighton and the team found their groove in attack. But it was the forward pack led by a career season form Joseph Tapine and a reborn Josh Papalii that saw this team charge home to scrape into the top eight. Tapine is considered by many experts to be the premier front-rower in the game now and someone the club can build their pack around for years to come. Xavier Savage also came of age as an NRL fullback in a breakout season. However, the Raiders ran out of steam against the Eels in the finals, despite a big win over the Storm the previous week and were ultimately left to rue their slow start to the year.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
2022 Record: W13 L11 – 54.17% win rate
Ladder finish: 9th
Season grade: C+
Analysis: A season that started with so much promise ended up becoming a nightmare for coach Kevin Walters. Brisbane sat in the top four in Round 19 and Walters claimed his side will win a premiership. By the time finals came around, the Broncos were out of the premiership race and left scratching their head once again. While their 2022 campaign was a major improvement on a number of tumultuous years, the club’s late season fade cannot be ignored. The Red Hill side boast a number of exciting young players, lead by Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell, and were unable to sustain their intensity throughout the full 25 round season. Payne Haas’ contract situation de-stabilised the squad and despite winning the Dally M Front Rower of the Year award, he had a disappointing season by his own standards. Although, It isn’t all doom and gloom in Brisbane. Pat Carrigan had a breakout year and became one of the competition’s best middle forwards, Ezra Mam showed glimpses of quality and the pairing of Reynolds and Capewell will be hoping to lead the club forward for years to come.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
2022 Record: W12 L12 – 50.00% win rate
Ladder finish: 10th
Season grade: C+
Analysis: The Dragons’ inconsistent season was highlighted by the fact they lost as many games as they won in an up and down campaign that saw them too often follow up an impressive victory with a confounding loss to miss the finals. Their defensive woes followed them all season to concede a whopping 569 points, which ultimately cost them a chance of featuring in September for the second straight season. Anthony Griffin’s penchant for changing his key positions hurt the side’s fluency in attack and he failed to show any real faith in young guns Tyrell Sloan and Jayden Sullivan to the team’s detriment. Luckily, skipper Ben Hunt was a shining light on his way to a second placed finish in the Dally M Medal in his best season in Dragons colours. However, Griffin’s decision to go for a massive pack filled with ageing forwards past their prime saw the team struggle to compete against the top teams consistently and they have plenty of work to do on their roster to return to the finals.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
2022 Record: W9 L14 – 37.5% win rate
Ladder finish: 11th
Season grade: D
Analysis: Sea Eagles fans were left with a sour taste in their mouth after the club’s 2022 campaign. The pride jersey saga completely derailed any finals chances and brought unwanted attention which had a negative impact on the playing group. Seven players made the decision to stand down from Round 20’s must-win clash to stay in touch with the top eight. After that it was all downhill. Des Hasler’s position has come under fire and his long-term future is far from secure. Meanwhile, reports of infighting within the playing group surfaced and Manly’s campaign came to disappointing end with an 11th placed finish. One of the only positives came in the form of breakout speedster Tolu Koula. The 20-year-old, who spent the majority of the season in the centres, transitioned into the NRL seamlessly and averaged 112 running metres and three tackle busts per game.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
2022 Record: W7 L17, 29.17% win rate
Ladder finish: 12th
Season grade: D
Analysis: The Bulldogs’ much hyped recruitment drive failed to yield any noticeable improvements early in the season, which ultimately caused Trent Barrett to be the first coach sacked in 2022. The team struggled in defence, which ultimately left them with too much ground to make up with their attack, which failed to click early on. Luckily, interim coach Michael Potter was able to make improvements with ball in hand and the Bulldogs became one of the more entertaining teams as they threw off the shackles in the back half of the year. Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr formed a devastating combination, while Kyle Flanagan improved as the year progressed as Burton’s halves partner after starting the year in reserve grade. Jeremy Marshall-King had his best season at dummyhalf and is a handy pick-up for the Dolphins, while Jake Averillo blossomed into a livewire at fullback. However, Tevita Pangai Jr and most of the forward pack failed to fire and the club can’t get Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney on board quick enough. The Bulldogs did well to climb out of the bottom four, but incoming coach Cameron Ciraldo still has plenty of work ahead of him to return the side to the finals.
GOLD COAST TITANS
2022 Record: W6 L18 – 25% win rate
Ladder finish: 13th
Season grade: D-
Analysis: For a team that many tipped to play finals football for a second year running, the Titans 2022 campaign was a disaster. Justin Holbrook’s Gold Coast outfit only managed six wins and scraped to that total with victory in Round 24 and 25. The Titans have an outfit littered with big-name stars but one big decision came back to haunt them. Holbrook allowed experienced halfback Jamal Fogarty to walk, handing the reigns to young gun Toby Sexton. Unfortunately for 21-year-old, he was unable to steer the side around the park and ultimately Gold Coast were rudderless in attack. Erin Clark didn’t stamp his mark on the hooker position and Titans bosses went to the market, securing talented Roosters No.9 Sam Verrills. The emergence of Jojo Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s consistency were two big positives, but for a team that boasts David Fifita, Mo Fotuaika and AJ Brimson, they need to improve in 2023.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
2022 Record: W6 L18, win rate 25.00%
Ladder finish: 14th
Season grade: D-
Analysis: The Knights had high hopes after winning their first two games of the season, including an upset of the Roosters, but it all went down hill from there as dire pre-season predictions proved correct. After missing out on a plan to lure Luke Brooks to the club in the off-season the club never replaced their most important player in Mitchell Pearce after letting him leave early to take up a Super League deal in France. The team looked rudderless in attack all year and the mid-season signing of Anthony Milford failed to get the ship back on course. Ultimately Kalyn Ponga was left with too much to do for the side in attack as Adam Clune and Jake Clifford failed to fire. Ponga’s season came to a disappointing end due to multiple concussions and the toilet cubicle saga summed up the Knights’ season. Ultimately the Knights need to work out how to get a performance like Ponga produced in Origin III on a consistent basis at club level because he commands a large chunk of their salary cap. However, if the Knights don’t fix their woeful defence and sign a halfback, they won’t climb up the ladder in a hurry and it is a massive off-season for under siege coach Adam O’Brien.
WARRIORS
2022 Record: W6 L18 – 25% win rate
Ladder finish: 15th
Season grade: F
Analysis: : It was another turbulent season for the team across the Tasman and after coach Nathan Brown parted ways with the club, the Warriors were facing an uphill battle. Many pundits tipped an improvement from New Zealand after a 12th place finish in 2021, but the Warriors only managed six wins. Interim head coach Stacey Jones was left with a difficult task to find an improvement in his side. Despite being lacklustre in attack for majority of the season, the Warriors looked a better team after leaving their makeshift Redcliffe base. Against the Tigers in Round 16 Warriors fans were treated to a huge homecoming and a 22-2 win. The Warriors can be excused for a disappointing year, with majority of the playing group not having returned to their home country for several years. With a full pre-season at their Auckland base and with incoming coach Andrew Webster joining the club in 2023 — things are looking up. Rookies Edward Kosi, Viliami Vailea and Ronald Volkman were also impressive in their limited appearances.
WESTS TIGERS
2022 Record: W4 L20 16.67% win rate
Ladder finish: 16th (wooden spoon)
Season grade: F
Analysis: The Tigers were never in the hunt for the finals in a dismal season that saw them cruise to the wooden spoon by four points, as many as the Panthers won the minor premiership by. Back-to-back one-point wins over the Eels and Rabbitohs was about as good as it got for the Tigers, before Michael Maguire became the second coach sacked at the halfway point of the season. The club threw a massive hospital pass to interim coach Brett Kimmorley and the team got worse from then on, culminating in a record 72-6 loss to the Roosters and a thrashing by the Raiders in the final rounds. Adam Doeuihi provided a glimmer of hope in his return from injury, but the club have confoundingly failed to lock him and Daine Laurie, who were their best all season in long-term. Nothing short of landing Mitchell Moses and Cameron Munster (on a $7m deal) after their audacious bid for the star duo can turn this club around in the short-term. The Tigers had the worst points differential in the NRL and until they improve their woeful defence and rudderless attack, incoming coaches Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall have a mountain of work to do. The signing of Api Koroisau and Isaiah Papali’i provides a glimmer of hope for the future, but even those two players don’t seem confident the club can turn it around given their recent behaviour.
