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They swarmed, they strangled, they tore the Eels apart, and then they coasted home in a consummate team performance.
Penrith are your deserved 2022 NRL premiers and have gone back to back – here’s how they all performed.
1. Dylan Edwards: 9.5
A worthy Clive Churchill Medallist with a magnificent game to cap a magnificent season.
Highlights were everywhere – the lovely ball to set up Stephen Crichton for the game’s opening score, his rock solid work at the back, his legs churning out metres, and of course, that second-half tackle on a flying Bailey Simonsson, replicating Scott Sattler on Todd Byrne in ’03.
2. Charlie Staines: 7
Scored a try to finish a nice move on an otherwise solid night. A couple of defensive misses, but by that time it didn’t matter.
3. Izack Tago: 7.5
Ran the ball well and laid on two tries. Played his part to get the job done after a spell off the field for an HIA.
4. Stephen Crichton: 7.5
Good angled run for the opening score. Was great in defence all night, but particularly crucial with a play to stop Maika Sivo from scoring in the 55th minute.
5. Brian To’o: 9
A massive game. Scored two tries, built pressure early with his ball running, and just couldn’t be taken down. Finished with 299 metres run, and 97 post contact. A great night.
6. Jarome Luai: 6.5
Nice catch to keep the Eels out just before half time. Didn’t do anything really above and beyond, to be honest, but is now a dual premiership player.
7. Nathan Cleary (c): 7.5
Good not great by his lofty standards, but still took on the line, laid on a try and kicked the Eels backwards all night.
8. Moses Leota: 9
A great early shift when the game was red hot. He hit everything and anything he could. Well and truly set the scene for the game’s biggest stage.
14. Mitch Kenny: 8
Delivered just what Penrith needed when the game was there to be won. Crisp with his delivery at dummy half before moving for Koroisau; and while he didn’t run much, he timed them well to punch holes in the Eels’ line.
10. James Fisher-Harris: 9
Brilliant big bopper work from one of the best forwards in the game. Ran over the Parra pack early, then backed over them and did it again and again and again.
11. Villiame Kikau: 7.5
Played the game like it was his last and was a beast early when it was red hot.
12. Liam Martin: 9
Tormented Parra’s left side and was impassable in defence. On another night, may have had a shot at the Clive Churchill Medal with 46 tackles and 147 metres.
13. Isaah Yeo: 9
Everything Penrith did that was good, Yeo was involved in at some point. Much like Martin, on any other night would have been a worthy Clive Churchill Medallist.
9. Api Koroisau: 7
A solid game. When he came on, all he needed to do was keep steering the ship and sticking his tackles, and he did it well.
15. Scott Sorenson: 8
Came off the bench and just started rolling, which was the last thing Parramatta wanted to deal with. Scored a first-half try, then forced an error just after half time leading to a To’o try which all but sealed the win.
16. Spencer Leniu: 7
Injected huge energy when he arrived off the bench to keep the pressure on, keep the Eels off balance and leave them unable to take a breath.
17. Jaemon Salmon: 4
Only on the field for 28 minutes and didn’t do anything of note… but he’s now a premiership player.
Coach – Ivan Cleary: 10
A perfect season. Prepared and timed to the second to get his club primed for this repeat campaign.
Ivan has fine-tuned a defensive monster that is just impassable and impossible for any opponent to stick with for a full game.