Captain Ibis
Squad Member
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/10/03/grand-final-player-ratings-penrith-panthers/
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/10/03/grand-final-player-ratings-south-sydney-rabbitohs/
Player ratings for the Penrith Panthers team in their Telstra Premiership grand final clash with the South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
1. Dylan Edwards: Hardly trained all week due to a foot injury that required a moon boot but the fullback dug deep and let no one down. Energetically brought the ball back and gained 224 metres. 8/10
2. Stephen Crichton: Pinched a try and the title when he intercepted a Cody Walker pass deep in the second half. Chalked up more than 200 metres. Even on the wing, he brings immense X-factor. 7.5
3. Paul Momirovski: Reliably went about his work and had a few strong surges. Made 20 tackles with only two misses. Knows what success looks like having now been part of three premiership-winning squads. 7
4. Matt Burton: Ran a beautiful line to open the scoring and was a handful all evening. Produced a big play to bundle Jaxson Paulo into touch after he fielded a bomb. Has become such a classy centre. 7.5
5. Brian To'o: Capped off a tremendous season with a trademark powerhouse performance. Ended the night with 238 metres from 29 runs. And he did it with a lingering ankle problem. 8.5
6. Jarome Luai: Claimed an early victory with a successful captain's challenge of a knock-on. Played with confidence and threw the pass to put Burton over. Threatened when he took on the line and placed some effective kicks. 8
7. Nathan Cleary: Kicked the Panthers to victory. If he wasn't forcing drop-outs, he was pinning the Rabbitohs in their own half with pinpoint bombs. Aside from a missed tackle that led to a try, it was a performance to savour from the Clive Churchill Medalist. 9
8. Moses Leota: Bent the line with some damaging carries including one where he trampled Cameron Murray. Overcame a calf injury to take the field and helped nullify the opposing middles. 7.5
9. Api Koroisau: A workhorse in defence, making 50 tackles (though he was marked down for 15 misses). Gave slick service that benefitted his playmakers. 7
10. James Fisher-Harris: Built up a head of steam when he carried the ball, often hurtling into the opposition. Made 117 metres from 13 runs as well as 21 tackles in a powerful display. 7.5
17. Liam Martin: Only knows one way: hard and straight. Began on the edge before moving into the middle and contributing solidly. Did everything at speed and with total commitment. 8
12. Kurt Capewell: What a way to finish his time at the Panthers. Quiet in attack - only six runs for 38 metres - but gave his all defensively with 41 tackles. 7
13. Isaah Yeo: Did as he always does, working to a standstill in the middle. Again an important link between the forwards and the halves, often digging into the defence before passing the ball. 8
Interchange
11. Viliame Kikau: A man possessed. Explosively exorcised the demons from last year's grand final. At his destructive best with the ball and came up with a couple of massive defensive plays. 8.5
14. Tyrone May: Only given 14 minutes, doing a solid job as a ball-playing lock. Came up with an untimely error when his team was on the attack but wasn't made to pay. 5.5
15. Scott Sorensen: Very busy when brought into the fray. Punched out 85 metres from eight carries. Fantastic impact from the bench all season. 7.5
16. Spencer Leniu: Only had a few touches but showed an impressive mix of footwork and power. Earned a result for his team with kick pressure on Adam Reynolds. 7
Player ratings for the South Sydney Rabbitohs team in their Telstra Premiership grand final clash with the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium.
1. Blake Taaffe: Produced plenty of high-pressure takes. Was forced in-goal multiple times but none were his fault. Didn't get much of a chance down Penrith's end but never stopped trying and other than one unforced error off a scrum he played beyond his experience. 6/10
2. Alex Johnston: Scored a crucial late try under pressure but a quiet game otherwise. Safe hands at the back but not much sting carrying the ball out of yardage. 5.5
3. Dane Gagai: Spent time off early due to a HIA and hobbled late by an ankle injury but in between came up with some powerful carries with his 12 busts easily a match-high for either side and passed for Johnston's late try. 7
4. Campbell Graham: Produced some wonderful early moments in defence but one poor one, leaving the gap for Matt Burton's opening try. 5.5
5. Jaxson Paulo: Given a torrid examination at the back with a couple of forced errors but never stopped trying, topping 100 metres. 5
6. Cody Walker: Came up with one of the great grand final tries in the first half when his team desperately needed it and his passing was a constant threat throughout – unfortunately one overly ambitious pass landed with Stephen Crichton for a match-turning try. Bounced back to set up a grandstand finish. 8
7. Adam Reynolds: Kicking game was mostly reliable but will be haunted by the late missed conversion from the sideline to tie it up. Had some moments with ball in hand and effort could not be faulted but ultimately unable to find the big plays when needed. 6
8. Mark Nicholls: Came up with a great steal to get Souths out of trouble early on. Played just under half the match and let no-one down. 6
9. Damien Cook: Huge effort in the middle with 45 tackles and his running game became more of a factor as the game wore on. Can be proud of his efforts. 7.5
10. Tevita Tatola: A rock in the middle, with a big contribution both in terms of carries and defence, making 36 tackles with none missed and making 107 metres. 7
11. Keaon Koloamatangi: A perpetual motion machine in the middle. Koloamatangi has truly come of age this year and he was immense on both sides of the ball in his 57-minute stint. 8
12. Jaydn Su'A: Had one poor unforced error after Souths drew level at 8-all but it didn’t end up proving costly. Was solid otherwise, getting through 36 tackles. 6.5
13. Cameron Murray: Played all bar five minutes of the contest despite being rocked in one of the first tackles of the game, making over 50 tackles and chiming in on his side's rare attacking raids. Still had the energy to make a line break in the dying moments to give his side a late chance. Immense performance in a losing side. 8.5
Interchange
14. Benji Marshall: Was on after just 12 minutes to cover Dane Gagai's HIA at centre and acquitted himself well but not called on again until late, with minimal impact in the closing stages. 5
15. Jacob Host: Given a big 48-minute stint but not a huge input to show four it with 19 tackles and four missed and just 40 run metres. 4
16. Thomas Burgess: Monstrous off the bench once again, topping the metres for his side with 139 and missing no tackles while making 23. 8
17. Jai Arrow: First stint lasted barely a minute thanks to a high shot from Kikau which ultimately ended his night due to delayed concussive symptoms. 2
https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/10/03/grand-final-player-ratings-south-sydney-rabbitohs/
Player ratings for the Penrith Panthers team in their Telstra Premiership grand final clash with the South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.
1. Dylan Edwards: Hardly trained all week due to a foot injury that required a moon boot but the fullback dug deep and let no one down. Energetically brought the ball back and gained 224 metres. 8/10
2. Stephen Crichton: Pinched a try and the title when he intercepted a Cody Walker pass deep in the second half. Chalked up more than 200 metres. Even on the wing, he brings immense X-factor. 7.5
3. Paul Momirovski: Reliably went about his work and had a few strong surges. Made 20 tackles with only two misses. Knows what success looks like having now been part of three premiership-winning squads. 7
4. Matt Burton: Ran a beautiful line to open the scoring and was a handful all evening. Produced a big play to bundle Jaxson Paulo into touch after he fielded a bomb. Has become such a classy centre. 7.5
5. Brian To'o: Capped off a tremendous season with a trademark powerhouse performance. Ended the night with 238 metres from 29 runs. And he did it with a lingering ankle problem. 8.5
6. Jarome Luai: Claimed an early victory with a successful captain's challenge of a knock-on. Played with confidence and threw the pass to put Burton over. Threatened when he took on the line and placed some effective kicks. 8
7. Nathan Cleary: Kicked the Panthers to victory. If he wasn't forcing drop-outs, he was pinning the Rabbitohs in their own half with pinpoint bombs. Aside from a missed tackle that led to a try, it was a performance to savour from the Clive Churchill Medalist. 9
8. Moses Leota: Bent the line with some damaging carries including one where he trampled Cameron Murray. Overcame a calf injury to take the field and helped nullify the opposing middles. 7.5
9. Api Koroisau: A workhorse in defence, making 50 tackles (though he was marked down for 15 misses). Gave slick service that benefitted his playmakers. 7
10. James Fisher-Harris: Built up a head of steam when he carried the ball, often hurtling into the opposition. Made 117 metres from 13 runs as well as 21 tackles in a powerful display. 7.5
17. Liam Martin: Only knows one way: hard and straight. Began on the edge before moving into the middle and contributing solidly. Did everything at speed and with total commitment. 8
12. Kurt Capewell: What a way to finish his time at the Panthers. Quiet in attack - only six runs for 38 metres - but gave his all defensively with 41 tackles. 7
13. Isaah Yeo: Did as he always does, working to a standstill in the middle. Again an important link between the forwards and the halves, often digging into the defence before passing the ball. 8
Interchange
11. Viliame Kikau: A man possessed. Explosively exorcised the demons from last year's grand final. At his destructive best with the ball and came up with a couple of massive defensive plays. 8.5
14. Tyrone May: Only given 14 minutes, doing a solid job as a ball-playing lock. Came up with an untimely error when his team was on the attack but wasn't made to pay. 5.5
15. Scott Sorensen: Very busy when brought into the fray. Punched out 85 metres from eight carries. Fantastic impact from the bench all season. 7.5
16. Spencer Leniu: Only had a few touches but showed an impressive mix of footwork and power. Earned a result for his team with kick pressure on Adam Reynolds. 7
Player ratings for the South Sydney Rabbitohs team in their Telstra Premiership grand final clash with the Penrith Panthers at Suncorp Stadium.
1. Blake Taaffe: Produced plenty of high-pressure takes. Was forced in-goal multiple times but none were his fault. Didn't get much of a chance down Penrith's end but never stopped trying and other than one unforced error off a scrum he played beyond his experience. 6/10
2. Alex Johnston: Scored a crucial late try under pressure but a quiet game otherwise. Safe hands at the back but not much sting carrying the ball out of yardage. 5.5
3. Dane Gagai: Spent time off early due to a HIA and hobbled late by an ankle injury but in between came up with some powerful carries with his 12 busts easily a match-high for either side and passed for Johnston's late try. 7
4. Campbell Graham: Produced some wonderful early moments in defence but one poor one, leaving the gap for Matt Burton's opening try. 5.5
5. Jaxson Paulo: Given a torrid examination at the back with a couple of forced errors but never stopped trying, topping 100 metres. 5
6. Cody Walker: Came up with one of the great grand final tries in the first half when his team desperately needed it and his passing was a constant threat throughout – unfortunately one overly ambitious pass landed with Stephen Crichton for a match-turning try. Bounced back to set up a grandstand finish. 8
7. Adam Reynolds: Kicking game was mostly reliable but will be haunted by the late missed conversion from the sideline to tie it up. Had some moments with ball in hand and effort could not be faulted but ultimately unable to find the big plays when needed. 6
8. Mark Nicholls: Came up with a great steal to get Souths out of trouble early on. Played just under half the match and let no-one down. 6
9. Damien Cook: Huge effort in the middle with 45 tackles and his running game became more of a factor as the game wore on. Can be proud of his efforts. 7.5
10. Tevita Tatola: A rock in the middle, with a big contribution both in terms of carries and defence, making 36 tackles with none missed and making 107 metres. 7
11. Keaon Koloamatangi: A perpetual motion machine in the middle. Koloamatangi has truly come of age this year and he was immense on both sides of the ball in his 57-minute stint. 8
12. Jaydn Su'A: Had one poor unforced error after Souths drew level at 8-all but it didn’t end up proving costly. Was solid otherwise, getting through 36 tackles. 6.5
13. Cameron Murray: Played all bar five minutes of the contest despite being rocked in one of the first tackles of the game, making over 50 tackles and chiming in on his side's rare attacking raids. Still had the energy to make a line break in the dying moments to give his side a late chance. Immense performance in a losing side. 8.5
Interchange
14. Benji Marshall: Was on after just 12 minutes to cover Dane Gagai's HIA at centre and acquitted himself well but not called on again until late, with minimal impact in the closing stages. 5
15. Jacob Host: Given a big 48-minute stint but not a huge input to show four it with 19 tackles and four missed and just 40 run metres. 4
16. Thomas Burgess: Monstrous off the bench once again, topping the metres for his side with 139 and missing no tackles while making 23. 8
17. Jai Arrow: First stint lasted barely a minute thanks to a high shot from Kikau which ultimately ended his night due to delayed concussive symptoms. 2
