2022 NRL Grand Final#NRL State Championship

{{Infobox rugby league football match

|year=2022

|location= Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

|last=2021

|tournaments=NRL Grand Final

|commentators5=Danika Mason

|commentators4=Brad Fittler

|commentators3=Andrew Johns

|commentators2=Cameron Smith

|commentators=Mathew Thompson

|network=Nine Network

|attendance = 82,415

|referee2=
Phil Henderson (Touch Judge)
Drew Oultram (Touch Judge)

|referee=Ashley Klein

|anthem=Alinta Chidzey

|anthem_title=Advance Australia Fair

|MoM_title=Clive Churchill Medal

|MoM ={{leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Dylan Edwards

|stadium=Accor Stadium

|title=NRL Grand Final

|date=2 October 2022

|away_total=12

|away_half2=12

|away_half1=

|home_total=28

|home_half2=10

|home_half1=18

|away_abbr=PAR {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}}

|home_abbr=PEN {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}}

|away={{leagueicon|Parramatta|50}}
Parramatta
Eels

|away_coach = Brad Arthur

|home={{leagueicon|Penrith|50}}
Penrith
Panthers

|home_coach = Ivan Cleary

|alt=

|imagesize=

|image=2022_NRL_Grand_Final_logo.jpg

|caption=Official logo for the match.

|next=2023

|anthem2_title=Pre Match Entertainment|anthem2=Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes, Johnny Diesel, Midlife Crisis Josh Teskey, Emma Donovan, Bliss n Eso, Sheldon Riley{{cite web | url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/grand-final-entertainment-2022-pre-match-show-nrlw-jimmy-barnes-bliss-n-eso-diesel-performances/c7a3a5f1-e731-412b-8648-fc9afa879f4d | title=Aussie rock legend set to explode at NRL GF }}}}

The 2022 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2022 National Rugby League season in Australia. It was contested between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels on Sunday the 2nd of October at Accor Stadium in Sydney.{{cite web | url=https://accorstadium.com.au/whats-on/2022/10/nrl-grand-final/ | title=NRL Grand Final - Accor Stadium | date=23 May 2024 }} Penrith, who were both the defending premiers and minor premiers, won the match 28–12 to claim their fourth premiership title, and their first back-to-back premierships in the club's 56-year history. Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for being judged as the man of the match.

The match was preceded by the 2022 NRL State Championship and the 2022 NRL Women's Grand Final. The grand final was attended by 82,415 spectators, and was broadcast live throughout Australia by the Nine Network.

Background

File:2022 NRLGF stadium.jpg, where the match was played]]

This was the first NRL grand final between the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels, and the second consecutive year that the grand final featured two Sydney-based clubs. The match-up between both clubs has long been regarded as the Western Sydney Derby, due to the long standing rivalry between the two clubs being closely located among Western Sydney. The Panthers, who became the first side since the Melbourne Storm in 2018 to reach three consecutive grand finals, were aiming for a fourth premiership, after defeating Canberra Raiders in 1991, Sydney Roosters in 2003 and South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2021. It was Ivan Cleary's fourth grand final appearance as a coach, after previously losing with the New Zealand Warriors against Manly Sea Eagles in 2011, and losing with Penrith against Melbourne Storm in 2020.{{Cite web|title=Ivan Cleary - Summary - Rugby League Project|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/ivan-cleary/summary.html|access-date=2021-09-26|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}

Meanwhile, the Eels were aiming for their fifth premiership victory; their most recent being against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 1986. Their last grand final appearance was a defeat to the Melbourne Storm in 2009. It was Brad Arthur's first grand final appearance as a coach.{{Cite web|title=Brad Arthur - Summary - Rugby League Project|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/brad-arthur/summary.html|access-date=2022-09-24|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}

The Panthers finished the 2022 regular season in first place after twenty wins and four losses, of which two were against the Eels. Parramatta finished fourth after sixteen wins and eight losses.{{Cite web|title=Ladder|url=https://www.nrl.com/ladder/?competition=111&season=2022&round=25|access-date=2022-09-24|website=National Rugby League|language=en}}

Route to the final

=Penrith Panthers=

The 2022 Penrith Panthers season was the 56th season in the club's history. Coached by Ivan Cleary and co-captained by Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, the Panthers are competing in the National Rugby League's 2022 Telstra Premiership.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin:0"
+Penrith Panthers' route to the final
scope="col" style="width:25px"\|Round !scope="col" style="width:200px"\|Opposition !scope="col" style="width:70px"\|Score
scope=row style="text-align:center"\|{{Tooltip\|QF\|Qualifying final}} \|Parramatta Eels (H) \|27–8
scope=row style="text-align:center"\|{{Tooltip\|SF\|Semi-final}} \|colspan="2" align="center"\|Bye
scope=row style="text-align:center"\|{{Tooltip\|PF\|Preliminary final}} \|South Sydney Rabbitohs (H) \|32–12
colspan="3"\|Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin:0"

+Penrith Panthers' route to the final

scope="col" style="width:25px"|Round

!scope="col" style="width:200px"|Opposition

!scope="col" style="width:70px"|Score

scope=row style="text-align:center"|{{Tooltip|QF|Qualifying final}}

|Parramatta Eels (H)

|27–8

scope=row style="text-align:center"|{{Tooltip|SF|Semi-final}}

|colspan="2" align="center"|Bye

scope=row style="text-align:center"|{{Tooltip|PF|Preliminary final}}

|South Sydney Rabbitohs (H)

|32–12

colspan="3"|Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue

=Parramatta Eels=

The 2022 Parramatta Eels season was the 76th in the club's history. Coached by Brad Arthur and co-captained by Clinton Gutherson and Junior Paulo, they will compete in the NRL's 2022 Telstra Premiership.{{cite news|title=Junior Paulo & Clint Gutherson Co-Captains|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2022/02/04/junior-paulo--clint-gutherson-co-captains/|website=ParraEels.com.au|date=4 February 2022}} The season saw a club record membership tally of 34,264.{{Cite web|url=https://membership.parraeels.com.au/|title=Parramatta Eels | Become an official member of the Parramatta Eels|website=Parramatta Eels}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin:0"
+Parramatta Eels' route to the final
scope="col" style="width:25px"\|Round !scope="col" style="width:200px"\|Opposition !scope="col" style="width:70px"\|Score
scope=row style="text-align:center"\|{{Tooltip\|QF\|Qualifying final}} \|Penrith Panthers (A) \|8–27
scope=row style="text-align:center"\|{{Tooltip\|SF\|Semi-final}} \|Canberra Raiders (H) \|40–4
scope=row style="text-align:center"\|{{Tooltip\|PF\|Preliminary final}} \|North Queensland Cowboys (A) \|24–20
colspan="3"\|Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin:0"

+Parramatta Eels' route to the final

scope="col" style="width:25px"|Round

!scope="col" style="width:200px"|Opposition

!scope="col" style="width:70px"|Score

scope=row style="text-align:center"|{{Tooltip|QF|Qualifying final}}

|Penrith Panthers (A)

|8–27

scope=row style="text-align:center"|{{Tooltip|SF|Semi-final}}

|Canberra Raiders (H)

|40–4

scope=row style="text-align:center"|{{Tooltip|PF|Preliminary final}}

|North Queensland Cowboys (A)

|24–20

colspan="3"|Key: (H) = Home venue; (A) = Away venue; (N) = Neutral venue

Pre-match

=Team selection=

Dylan Edwards, Stephen Crichton, Brian To'o, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Apisai Koroisau, James Fisher-Harris, Viliame Kikau, Liam Martin, Moses Leota and Isaah Yeo made their third-straight grand final appearance for Penrith, whilst Koroisau also played in the 2014 premiership decider for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Ryan Matterson and Bailey Simonsson were the only players for Parramatta to have played in prior grand finals; Matterson won for the Sydney Roosters in 2018, while Simonsson played for the Canberra Raiders in 2019.{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/09/27/panthers-wing-ruled-out-eels-forward-returns-simonsson-retains-centre-spot/ | title=Panthers wing ruled out; Eels forward returns, Simonsson retains centre spot | date=27 September 2022 }}

=Broadcasting=

The match was broadcast live on the Nine Network and delayed on Fox League in Australia as well as on Sky Sport in New Zealand. Radio broadcasters included ABC, Triple M, 2GB, SEN and Koori Radio.{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/09/27/nrl-2022-when-where-to-watch-grand-final-day/ | title=NRL 2022: When, where to watch Grand Final Day | date=26 September 2022 }}

=Entertainment=

On 23 September 2022, the pre-match entertainment acts for the grand final were announced. This included Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes, A.Girl, Diesel, Josh Teskey, Emma Donovan, Sheldon Riley and Bliss n Eso. The Australian national anthem was performed by Alinta Chidzey.{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/09/23/all-australian-music-line-up-to-put-on-two-unreal-shows-at-2022-nrl-grand-final/#:~:text=The%20NRL%20Grand%20Final%20Pre,Indigenous%20singer%2Dsongwriter%20Emma%20Donovan | title=All Australian music lineup announced for 2022 NRL Grand Final | date=22 September 2022 }}

=Officiating=

Ashley Klein refereed the match, his second NRL grand final. Grant Atkins was the senior review official, and Phil Henderson and Drew Oultram were the touch judges. Gerard Sutton was the standby referee and David Munro the standby touch judge.{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/09/27/2022-grand-final-match-officials-confirmed/ | title=Klein, Badger ready to play their part in Grand Final showpiece | date=27 September 2022 }}

=Attendance=

The 2022 Grand Final was the first since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to have no crowd restrictions. On 27 September 2022, the match was sold out.{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/09/27/2022-nrl-telstra-premiership-grand-final-sold-out/ | title=2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final sold out | date=27 September 2022 }}

=Curtain-raiser matches=

Curtain-raiser matches on the day were the NRL State Championship between the Norths Devils and the Penrith Panthers, and NRLW Grand Final between the Newcastle Knights and the Parramatta Eels. Both were shown live on the Nine Network in Australia.

Match

{{rugbyleaguebox

|bg = #f1f5fc

|event = 2022 NRL Grand Final

|date = 2 October 2022

|time = 19:35 AEDT

|team1 = Penrith Panthers {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}}

|team2 = {{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels

|score = 28–12

|1sthalf = 18–0

|2ndhalf = 10–12

|report = [https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2022/grand-final/panthers-v-eels Report]

|try1 = 5
To'o {{try|18|46}}
Crichton {{try|11}}
Sorensen {{try|28}}
Staines {{try|59}}

|goal1 = 4
Cleary 4/6 {{kick|13|22 pen|29|61}}

|try2 = 2
Gutherson {{try|77}}
Arthur {{try|78}}

|goal2 = 2
Moses 2/2 {{kick|77|79}}

|stadium = Accor Stadium, Sydney

|attendance = 82,415

|referee = Ashley Klein
Bunker: Grant Atkins

|touch = Phil Henderson, Drew Oultram

|potmaward = Clive Churchill Medal

|potmwinner = {{leagueicon|Penrith|12}} Dylan Edwards

}}

width="25"\|	width="25"\|
width="100%" \|valign="top" width="50%"\| {\| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" ! colspan=3 align="centre" style="border: 3px solid teal; background: black; color: silver"\|Penrith Panthers
FB	1	Dylan Edwards
WG	2	Charlie Staines
CE	3	Izack Tago
CE	4	Stephen Crichton
WG	5	Brian To'o
FE	6	Jarome Luai
HB	7	Nathan Cleary
PR	8	Moses Leota
HK	14	Mitch Kenny
PR	10	James Fisher-Harris
SR	11	Viliame Kikau
SR	12	Liam Martin
LF	13	Isaah Yeo
colspan=3\|Interchange:
IN	9	Apisai Koroisau
IN	15	Scott Sorensen
IN	16	Spencer Leniu
IN	17	Jaeman Salmon
{{tooltip\|CS\|Concussion substitute / Reserve}}	18	Sean O'Sullivan
colspan=3\|Coach:
colspan="3"\|Ivan Cleary

|valign="top" width="50%"|

width="25"\|	width="25"\|
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" ! colspan=3 align="centre" style="border: 3px solid blue; background: gold; color: blue"\|Parramatta Eels
FB	1	Clinton Gutherson
WG	2	Maika Sivo
CE	3	Will Penisini
CE	4	Bailey Simonsson
WG	5	Waqa Blake
FE	6	Dylan Brown
HB	7	Mitchell Moses
PR	8	Reagan Campbell-Gillard
HK	9	Reed Mahoney
PR	10	Junior Paulo
SR	11	Shaun Lane
SR	12	Isaiah Papali'i
LF	17	Marata Niukore
colspan=3\|Interchange:
IN	13	Ryan Matterson
IN	14	Nathan Brown
IN	15	Jake Arthur
IN	16	Oregon Kaufusi
{{tooltip\|CS\|Concussion substitute / Reserve}}	18	Bryce Cartwright
colspan=3\|Coach:
colspan="3"\|Brad Arthur

=Statistics=

width=200\|Statistic !width=120\|Penrith Panthers !width=120\|Parramatta Eels
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Tries	5	2
Conversions	3	2
Penalty goals (attempts)	1 (1)	0 (0)
Field goals (attempts)	0 (0)	0 (0)
colspan=3\| Possession
Possession	55%	45%
Total sets	44	36
Completed sets	38	25
Completion rate	86%	69%
colspan=3\| Attacking
All runs	212	200
All run metres	2109	1581
Line breaks	7	3
Offloads	6	19
colspan=3\| Defending
Kick metres	674	736
40/20	0	0
Tackles	154	227
Missed tackles	6	26
Goal line dropouts	0	3
Try saves	0	0
colspan=3\| Discipline
Penalties conceded	5	5
Errors	7	12
Send offs	0	0
Sin bins	0	0
colspan="3"\|Reference: [https://www.nrl.com/draw/nrl-premiership/2022/grand-final/game-1/ NRL Match Centre]

Penrith Panthers:

Most runs: 28 – Dylan Edwards
Most running metres: 299 – Brian To'o
Most line breaks: 3 – Brian To'o
Most tackles: 45 – Liam Martin
Most missed tackles: 5 – Liam Martin
Most errors: 3 – Stephen Crichton

Parramatta Eels:

Most runs: 20 –
Clinton Gutherson
Dylan Brown
Ryan Matterson
Most running metres: 167 – Clinton Gutherson
Most line breaks: 1 –
Clinton Gutherson
Maika Sivo
Dylan Brown
Most tackles: 56 – Reed Mahoney
Most missed tackles: 11 – Isaiah Papali'i
Most errors: 3 –
Clinton Gutherson
Waqa Blake{{col-end}}

Post-match

Parramatta forward Ryan Matterson was charged by the match review with a grade one crusher tackle against Dylan Edwards.{{cite web |title=NRL Judiciary Report - Grand Final |url=https://www.nrl.com/siteassets/2022/2022-nrl-season/2022-judiciary-charges/grand-final---nrl-judiciary-results.pdf |website=NRL.com |access-date=5 October 2022}} Matterson was criticised{{cite web |title='Wouldn't be allowed in our change room': NRL veteran slams 'tightest human' Matterson |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-aaron-woods-ryan-matterson-suspension-4000-fine-wouldnt-be-welcome-eels-dragons-crusher-tackle-grand-final-jarome-luai/news-story/c832db9e4fe5fe27c5486af9a22ce58e |website=foxsports.com.au |date=5 October 2022 |publisher=News Corporation Australia |access-date=5 October 2022}} after taking an early guilty plea and electing to be suspended for three matches instead of taking a $4,000 fine.{{cite web |title=Judiciary Report: Matterson banned for three games |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/03/13/judiciary-report-all-the-latest-charges/ |access-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005211901/https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/03/13/judiciary-report-all-the-latest-charges/ |archive-date=5 October 2022 |date=4 October 2022}} Matterson defended his decision telling reporters "I just feel that $4000 is pretty hefty considering I have already paid close to $4000 in fines this year for things that are absurd", with the forward also suggesting that the charge was not warranted.{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Scott |title=NRL's $4000 was fine too big: Matterson |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrls-4000-was-fine-too-big-matterson-c-8450619 |website=perthnow.com.au |date=5 October 2022 |publisher=Australian Associated Press |access-date=5 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005212526/https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/rugby-league/nrls-4000-was-fine-too-big-matterson-c-8450619 |archive-date=5 October 2022}}

Penrith players were criticised for their celebrations after their victory, with Sydney media identities outspoken against the way they celebrated.{{cite web |last1=Kent |first1=Paul |title=Penrith Panthers' antics are damaging the NRL |url=https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/paul-kent-penrith-panthers-antics-are-damaging-the-nrl/news-story/a712c704e91ba0e44eb973e260245c05 |website=Code Sports |publisher=News Corporation Australia |access-date=5 October 2022 |date=5 October 2022}} Jarome Luai came under scrutiny for a social media post that some found offensive. Former Penrith captain Greg Alexander and coach Ivan Cleary defended the players against the criticism.{{cite web |title='PC gone mad': Panthers legend takes aim at critics as Cleary breaks silence on GF firestorm |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-penrith-panthers-grand-final-celebrations-criticism-ivan-cleary-james-fisherharris-api-koroisau-greg-alexander-responds/news-story/180297463e0d696debc3cc7602aa3b6d |website=foxsports.com.au |date=4 October 2022 |publisher=News Corporation Australia |access-date=5 October 2022}}

Both grand final teams' players featured in squads selected for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup to be played in October–November 2022. Ten Panthers players were selected with the greatest representation (5) to play for Samoa. Parramatta had also had ten players selected, with the greatest representation (3) to play for New Zealand.

As premiership winners, Penrith earned the right to play in the World Club Challenge against 2022 Super League Grand Final winners St Helens. The match was played on 18 February 2023 at BlueBet Stadium.{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/11/10/world-club-challenge-returns-with-2023-pre-season-locked-in/ | title=World Club Challenge returns with 2023 pre-season locked in | date=14 December 2022 }}

Opening Matches

Two opening matches were played on the ground prior to the grand final: the NRL State Championship and NRL Women's Grand Final. Both matches were broadcast live throughout Australia by the Nine Network.

= NRL State Championship =

{{see also|2022 NRL State Championship|2022 New South Wales Cup|2022 Queensland Cup}}

{{Rugbyleaguebox|time=1:35pm (AEDT)|date=Sunday, 2 October|bg=#eeeeee|team1=Penrith Panthers {{leagueicon|Penrith|16}}|team2={{leagueicon|Norths Devils|16}} Norths Devils|score=44 – 10|attendance=11,115|stadium=Accor Stadium, Sydney|points1=Tries:
J'maine Hopgood {{try|7|71}}

Soni Luke {{try|28}}

Eddie Blacker {{try|32}}

John Faiumu {{try|45}}

Robert Jennings {{try|47}}

Luke Sommerton {{try|62}}

Sunia Turuva {{try|79}}

Goals:

Kurt Falls {{kick|9|29|34|63|72}}
(5/7)

John Faiumu {{kick|80}} (1/1)|report=[https://www.nswrl.com.au/draw/nrl-state-championship/2022/nrl-state-championship-panthers-v-devils/ scorecard]|points2=Tries:

Tony Tumusa {{try|64}}

Rashaun Denny {{try|73}}

Goals:

Connor Broadhurst {{kick|75}} (1/2)|manofmatch=|referee=|1sthalf=18 – 0|2ndhalf=26 – 10}}

= NRL Women's Premiership Grand Final =

{{Rugbyleaguebox|time=4:05pm (AEDT)|date=Sunday, 2 October|bg=#eeeeee|team1=Newcastle Knights Women's {{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}}|team2={{leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels Women's|score=32 – 12|attendance=42,921|stadium=Accor Stadium, Sydney|points1=Tries:

Kiana Takairangi {{try|17|63}}

Emmanita Paki {{try|20}}

Romy Teitzel {{try|27}}

Tamika Upton {{try|38}}

Kiana Takairangi {{try|63}}

Jesse Southwell {{try|67}}

Yasmin Clydsdale {{try|69}}

Goals:

Kirra Dibb {{kick|28}}

Jesse Southwell {{kick|68}}|report=[https://www.nrl.com/draw/womens-premiership/2022/grand-final/knights-v-eels/ scorecard]|points2=Tries:

Brooke Anderson {{try|12}}

Simaima Taufa {{try|50}}