NRL grand final player ratings: Who sizzled and who fizzled

It was an intense grand final that was in the balance until the death. Some men sizzled, while others fizzled. Here’s how the players from each side rated after 80 minutes.

Penrith

Dylan Edwards: 7
Produced a solid game. While he missed a tackle on Cody Walker which resulted in a try, he was the last line of defence. He was always around the ball, made plenty of runs and did a solid job.

Stephen Crichton: 7
He’s a threat no matter where he sits in the backline. He made plenty of metres and broke the line several times. Nabbed an intercept to score a try. Brilliant read.

Paul Momirovski: 6.5
Kept busy. Forced the first dropout of the match, made a handling error but had some wonderful runs too. He’s a first-grader. Gone are the days of the centre playing second fiddle or being used as currency to make a player trade.

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Matt Burton: 8
Remember when Burton played in the halves? Seems like a lifetime ago, but he looks every bit the classy centre. He opened the scoring and threw Paulo into touch with the game in the balance to hand Penrith possession 10m from the Souths line. Huge play.

Brian To’o: 8.5
He is a weapon. The winger runs at the opposition like a bull to a red rag. His energy is infectious. He’d run for 148 metres in the first half alone. And his post-match marriage proposal was accepted too!

Jarome Luai: 8
A headache for the opposition. He’s creative and composed. Set up a try for Burton.

Nathan Cleary: 9.5
Brilliant kicking. Actually, that doesn’t do it justice. Perfect. There’s a reason Andrew Johns rates this No.7 as the premier half in the game. Managed the game and kicked with accuracy but his poor defensive decision opened the door for a Rabbitohs try. Given his shoulder issue, we can forgive his D.

Moses Leota: 6.5
Did the job you would expect of the big man. Nothing flashy, just no-nonsense runs and made his tackles.

Api Koroisau: 7
A very intelligent player. Ran when he needed to, gave swift service to his playmakers and made 50 tackles.

James Fisher-Harris: 7
The leader of this pack. Set the tone from the kick-off with a fearless carry. Ran for over 100m.

Kurt Capewell: 7
Played a part in the missed a tackle on Walker which led to a try and gave away a penalty which gifted a penalty goal but don’t let that sway your opinion of the edge. He was solid. Was one of the first leading the kick chase line or applying pressure to the Souths kicker.

Liam Martin: 7
Ran a wonderful decoy which sucked Graham in and opened the space for Burton to score the first try. His quick play the ball saw Penrith secure a penalty which claimed two-points. Did a great job in his 55 minutes.

Isaah Yeo: 8
A workhorse who does his job so well. Crazy to think he’s only 26. Made metres and made his tackles. You couldn’t ask for much more.

Viliame Kikau: 7.5
Found himself on report for a high shot on Arrow. Made a try saving tackle on Paulo – a winger and later forced a handling error on the winger with a wicked shot. He’s the jukebox and he produced some chart toppers on Sunday.

Tyrone May: 4
Had a 14-minute stint. Made a costly unforced error with the game in the balance and a fresh set just 10m from the Souths line.

Scott Sorensen: 6
Made the most of his time on-field with a busy performance. Ate plenty of metres. Did a great job continuing the momentum started by the middle men.

Spencer Leniu: 4.5
Played 13 minutes. Had three runs for 24 metres.

South Sydney

Blake Taaffe: 5
If he was a cocktail, he’d be more shaken than stirred. At times he looked nervous under the high ball, while other times he attacked it. The grand final was his eighth appearance in first grade.

Alex Johnston: 8.5
Reliable. Produced a wonderful defensive play to shutdown Momirovski who had an overlap. We admire him for his try scoring ability but this winger has all the tools. Oh, and yes – he scored a try. I mean, he always does.

Dane Gagai: 7
He missed 10 minutes with a HIA following a poor attempted tackle but has always been a handful when attack is concerned. That hasn’t changed. Had a try assist and plenty of tackle breaks.

Campbell Graham: 5.5
Had a mixed night. A poor defensive read resulted in Penrith opening the scoring.

Jaxson Paulo: 6
He celebrated his 22nd birthday on Sunday but that’s where the celebration stopped for the winger. He tried hard. Ran hard but not his best performance.

Cody Walker: 7
When he has the ball, things happen. Things you can’t coach. Scored a solo try in the first half. Sadly, overplayed his hand in the second half which led to a Crichton try. Shades of Brett Kimmorley being intercepted by Matt Bowen in Origin.

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Adam Reynolds: 7
What injury? He was running with confidence and creating plenty of headaches in the process. Had a goal kick from touch to level up and (insert Maxwell Smart voice) ‘missed it by that much’. Attempted a two-point field goal at the death and again, fell short.

Mark Nicholls: 6
Produced a one-on-one strip in the seventh minute to kill Penrith’s momentum as pressure started mounting. A solid outing.

Damien Cook: 6.5
Made a try saver on his opposing number in the second half. In fact, he did a lot of tackling but didn’t dazzle. Souths could’ve used one of those big game performance we’ve seen him produced for NSW.

Tevita Tatola: 7
He did plenty of defending and averaged 10 metres per run. A solid showing.

Keaon Koloamatangi: 6.5
A solid performance. Ran hard and made his tackles.

Jaydn Su’A: 7
Produced a try saver on To’o in the 13th minute. He made 36 tackles in a solid showing.

Cam Murray: 8.5
You could make an argument that Murray was the hardest working on the field. Tackled his backside off. Just didn’t stop. Brilliant in a beaten team.

Benji Marshall: 5
A 10-minute first-half stint in the centres saw the veteran make seven tackles. His second stint saw him make another eight tackles. Never had the opportunity to show the Benji brilliance we know and love.

Jacob Host: 5
Ran for 40 metres and made 19 tackles.

Tom Burgess: 6.5
He ran for 140 metres. Did a fine job off the bench. He’s a big body who rolls up the sleeves.

Jai Arrow: 4
Gifted Penrith a penalty goal by not clearing the ruck and was ruled out of the game early in the second half after failing a HIA. Played about 17 minutes, made a handful of runs and 13 tackles.