These are the final days. We’re counting down to the 2021 NRL grand final. The mighty mountain men from Penrith and the glory of those from Redfern. We haven’t run out of yarns just yet.
We’ve put together season player ratings for both sides. Funnily enough, they all deserve to be there.
Penrith Panthers
DYLAN EDWARDS: 7.7
The type of player every coach loves having in their team. Safe as houses, and while he lacks the X factor of others in September, he always seems to get the job done.
Stephen Crichton: 7.9
No doubt he is a superstar in the making and his time will come, but he has switched between several positions in the outside backs in 2021 for the betterment of the team.
Paul Momirovski: 7.5
He has some slight flaws in his defensive game but has been pretty solid for Ivan Cleary.
Matt Burton: 8.6
It’s incredible to think that Canterbury hit the media earlier in the season trying to get Burton out of his current contract. The Panthers knew what they had, and he has become one of the season’s top centres.
Matt Burton. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Brian To’o: 9.0
He’s an absolute freak. He’s quickly become one of the modern era’s great wingers. He’s a monster metre-eater out of his own end and one of the NRL’s best finishers.
Jarome Luai: 8.5
He’s stagnated a touch this season but is finding some of his best form in his combination with his halves teammate. He’s an outsider for the Clive Churchill Medal.
Nathan Cleary: 8.9
It’s hard to say he has had a better year than he did in 2020, but he is the heartbeat of this Panthers outfit. His kicking game is lethal, but you know Penrith are purring when he’s challenging the line.
Moses Leota: 8.7
He missed the preliminary final but is an unsung hero of the Panthers pack – a rampaging, fearless prop who loves the dirty work.
Apisai Koroisau: 8.4
He lost plenty of footy early in the season due to injury, but he’s a legitimate gun in this Penrith team.
Apisai Koroisau (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
James Fisher-Harris: 9.1
He’s probably my favourite player in the NRL right now alongside Brandon Smith and easily one of the best front-rowers of this generation. Anything good Penrith do usually comes off the back of Fisher-Harris.
Viliame Kikau: 8.8
Big Kikau has had another huge year, but you have to question the decision to slide him onto the bench since Round 23. Some take it well, but I don’t think Kikau is the kind of guy that likes starting a big match on the pine.
Kurt Capewell: 8.3
It was a genius roster management move to get him across from Cronulla. He’s a classy forward who can cause damage if he does have to shift to the outside backs.
Isaah Yeo: 9.2
What a year from the leader. He’s battled concussion concerns but leads from the front, and when he speaks the team listens. I’m rating Yeo’s season output higher than his teammates for his efforts.
Isaah Yeo (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Tyrone May: 7.4
He’s seemingly loved by teammates and is a good guy to have on your roster. He can cover spots across the field and doesn’t let you down.
Scott Sorensen: 8.6
What a great year. He’s not the biggest guy on the field but gets it down.
Spencer Leniu: 7.7
He’s a local junior who gets his chance with Tevita Pangai Junior ruled out. He’s a future starter at the Panthers and never shirks his responsibilities.
Liam Martin: 8.2
He had a huge start to the year and was richly rewarded with State of Origin selection. I don’t think he’s been as good since the end of the series, but he might find some good work in the middle of the paddock in the grand final.
Panthers total: 142.5
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Blake Taaffe: 7.7
It is difficult to rate the youngster’s season, but when you consider what he has done since Latrell Mitchell’s suspension, it’s hard not to think he’s on the cusp of being South Sydney’s newest premiership-winning fullback. Amazing.
Alex Johnston: 8.5
Another year and another season of Johnston meat pies. He’s a clinically classy finisher who can’t stop scoring.
Dane Gagai: 8.6
I’m happy to concede I once bagged Gagai that he always kept his best footy for the representative season. That has changed. He’s a quality centre.
Campbell Graham: 8.2
I have a feeling this guy and Penrith’s Stephen Crichton will be fighting for New South Wales jerseys for years to come. He’s a consistent performer who has had a fair season.
Jaxson Paulo: 7.3
It’s hard to gauge the young winger’s season. He struggled at times under the high ball and felt the wrath of Wayne Bennett’s selection pen on a couple of occasions in 2021.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Cody Walker: 8.8
He feels the game better than almost anyone else in the sport. He continues to play what’s in front of him. He’s a big dilemma for Penrith.
Adam Reynolds: 8.5
He doesn’t usually get the accolades his rivals in the same position do, but you can’t measure the quality of his kicking game. He’s a true halfback.
Mark Nicholls: 8.9
If only all props had the opportunity to develop their game in the last decade the way Nicholls has. It’s the toughest position to play in the game and takes the longest to harness.
Damien Cook: 8.5
I still have question marks over his pass selections close to the line, and aspect of his game he’s trying to improve, but he’s still arguably the most damaging player on the park on the back of momentum from halfway or even further back.
Damien Cook (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Tevita Tatola: 8.0
He’s one of those guys every club needs. Tatola will get through his work and won’t let anyone down.
Keaon Koloamatangi: 8.4
What a freak. He’s a future representative gun of the game. I’m not sure if it’s time just yet, but he has a chance to help his Rabbitohs to their first premiership since 2014.
Jaydn Su’A: 7.7
He’s another guy you need in your squad. He’s played more games in the NRL this year than another season and represented the Maroons, but he’s drifted off in the final stages of the campaign.
Cameron Murray: 9.1
He’s already one of South Sydney’s favourite sons. If he wins a premiership this weekend, he’ll become a legend of the club. That’s how good he is.
Benji Marshall: 7.7
He has only had to do what he’s been asked to do. God knows how important he’s been in the sheds or on the training field.
Jacob Host: 7.5
His career was in jeopardy at the Dragons as he struggled with injury and form. He’s had a really good season with the Rabbitohs.
Tom Burgess: 7.9
He’s seemingly fixed up a lot of the errors in his game and is a worthy starter in the Souths No. 17 this weekend.
Jai Arrow: 7.7
A star signing from the Gold Coast, Arrow has been solid and done a job for Wayne Bennett thus far.
Rabbitohs total: 139.0
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
2021 Nicholls averaged 115m over 26 games and has been as consistent as he’s been resilient, scored a few tries, created a few try assists and captained a young Rabbitohs team to their round 25 win v Dragons. Pretty awesome in my books. If Scott Sorensen gets a 8.6, then Nicholls deserves a 9+.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
chance to play the ball quickly...
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
The Eels were crippled at the advantage line without Mahoney and throwing a back rower with only 24 NRL games into dummy half was never the answer when they had Will Smith on the bench. They also had two halves that didn't offer much of a threat throughout the whole game. All that aside, Moses being held back by Luai should have been a sin-bin at a minimum. It easily could have resulted in a try that would have won the game. Penisini being held back also robbed the Eels of an almost certain chance to score. Gutherson was denied the chance to play the back quickly after a line break late in the game, when the Panthers defence was shot to pieces because Nathan Cleary held onto his leg and effected a second tackle. That went unpenalised and in any other game would have seen any other player sin-binned. Kikau getting his leg strapped in the Eels attacking line when they wanted to play on quickly and take advantage of a Panthers penalty was a cynical exercise to deny the Eels yet another attacking opportunity. So too was the Panthers stopping the game near the end when the Eels had the Panthers on their line and ready to crack. It was an illegal stoppage of play by the Panthers to replace a player because... someone stepped on their players' foot! Then there was Capewell's cynical attempt to waste time by kicking the ball 20 metres down field, and the referee refused to stop the clock when the Eels protested (which would have happened in any other game). Throw in a 7-2 penalty count in the Panthers favour and TS I fail to see how so many manifold injustices could have evened the score for your Eels. No mate. They were robbed! Rest assured if all that, along with the result, went the Eels way there would be plenty of Panthers fans on this forum protesting about it.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
And I forgot the greatest winger in history, Matt Sing! Inu drops out.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Never have and never will blame decisions by refs, generally it will all even out, Parra were simply not good enough :thumbup:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
That's what threw me TS. That you are an Eels fan who jumped on the Panthers bandwagon after they kicked the Eels off theirs and hijacked their ride to the prelim final. The Eels would absolutely robbed, mate! How could you throw your lot in with a team that knifed your boys in the back and stole their dream from under their noses? Last year I was all for the Panthers against the Storm, but after their behaviour this year I would have supported Manly, or worse the Roosters, against them in this GF. I deplore che@ts and the in 2021 the Panthers sit at the top of that tree.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Scott Sorensen: 8.6 v Tom Burgess 7.9...hahaha this is the funniest thing I have read on the Roar. Author definitely the Panther's trainer.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
100% Parra, got a soft spot for the Panthers and love the way they play and have jumped on the Penny's Bandwagon, they have a really big representation of guys from the area I grew up in playing for them :thumbup:
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I wanted Nicholls gone from the Rabbitohs until around the run to the finals last year. Since then, he has steadily improved, and now he is a keeper. I felt the same way about Corey Allan until his form at the back end of the season for Souths last year. Then I was torn. In hindsight, it was best for him, Souths and Blake Taaffe.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
He didn't. Nicholls has been in career best form this year, but that would still score him about the same as what Cody Walker would get on an average day.
Glory Bound
Roar Rookie
I am trying to remember which team you support, mate? The Eels? Because after some of your recent comments, I thought you supported the Panthers.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’ve always been a big fan of that. No point starting with your best props if the standard falls off a cliff after 20 minutes Des did it with the Dogs in 2012. James Graham was the best prop at the club but Des would start with Kasiano and Tolman and have Graham off the bench after 20 minutes with no discernible drop of momentum I’ve liked Tatola since he came into first grade but have thought Nicholls a bit of a plodder. He’s really improved this year
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
There is some heartbreak right there and some unbelievable talent :thumbup: great list
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Last 25 Years - Played and lost (and retired) 1 Bowen 2 Rogers 3 Bowman 4 ET 5 Inu 6 Barrett 7 Jones 8 Cayless 9 Payne 10 Bailey 11 Hindmarsh 12 Lauititi 13 Gillett 14 B Hunt 15 Timmins 16 Moi Moi 17 Graham Sure I missed a big name or ten.
chris
Guest
Yeah lost all credibility with Burgess (and Reynolds) scoring way too low. Author must be a Panthers fan.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Yeah I was going for the never won one, that would hurt more I think. Playing and losing :thumbup:
rayner
Roar Rookie
Of course many will debate the ratings but one that stands out to me for correction is Tom Burgess. Only 7.9?? Almost the same as Leniu (heard of him?) The comment he has got things out of his game and improved makes me ask What things? Please don't say dropping the ball. He has never been one to do that unlike his twin. Yet commentators don't look at the details, just follow the crowd. If you look at details you will see how damaging he has been running the ball. He rarely, if ever, runs for less than 100 metres and sometimes he runs over 200. His missed tackles are a very low number. But, hey, he's a Burgess.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Fair call. If they were 4 points down at their own 20 metre line with 90 seconds to go, I don't know who you would throw it to.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Played in one at least.
EagleWal
Roar Rookie
From memory only - Super pack of forwards but back line never fired as it should have even though they had some great players. They had the players, Florimo, Jackson, Halligan, Kiss, Seers, Jason Taylor, even Phil Blake and one of my favourite wingers ever Sean Hoppe. But they always seemed to be just a little lacking....