HOW PENRITH AND MELBOURNE PLAYERS PERFORMED IN THE NRL GRAND FINAL
PANTHERS
1. Dylan Edwards – A constant threat in attack but limited opportunities – 7
2. Josh Mansour – Unlucky not to get a first half try but made it count in second half – 8
14. Tyrone May – Unhappy night that opened when he kicked out at the ball for the Storm’s penalty try – 5
4. Stephen Crichton – Obstructed to deny his team an early try but repaid with a second-half four-pointer – 7
5. Brian To’o – Scored try to get his team on the board – 6
6. Jarome Luai – Kept the Storm on their toes with attacking options – 7
7. Nathan Cleary – Threw an intercept pass for a Suliasi Vunivalu try but better second half to give his team a sniff – 8
8. James Tamou – Solid effort but team needed more from the captain – 6
9. Apisai Koroisau – Sniping runs put the Storm on notice and made 51 tackles – 7
10. James Fisher-Harris – Late hit on Brandon Smith cost his team two points – 8
11. Viliame Kikau – Caused havoc whenever he had the ball in hand – 8
12. Liam Martin – Got through a stack of tackles – 7
13. Isaah Yeo – Big tackle numbers and ate up the metres – 8
Interchange
3. Brent Naden – A late switch back to bench which proved costly – 6
15. Kurt Capewell – Solid dig with his minutes – 6
16. Moses Leota – Tackled hard in his minutes – 7
17. Zane Tetevano – Limited minutes to make an impact – 6
STORM
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen – Ever dangerous, created an early second-half try out of nothing – 9
2. Suliasi Vunivalu – Scored runaway first-half try to sink a dagger into Panthers’ hearts – 9
3. Brenko Lee – Nervous start in first grand final but settled nicely – 7
4. Justin Olam – Was awarded the Storm’s opening penalty try – 7
5. Josh Addo-Carr – Not a lot of opportunities but didn’t put a foot wrong – 7
6. Cameron Munster – Busy game but not at his best – 7
7. Jahrome Hughes – Came in for early Viliame Kikau attention but kept toiling away until late sin-bin – 7
8. Jesse Bromwich – Stood up through some heavy pack injuries – 8
9. Cameron Smith – If the grand final is his last game he made it count – 8
10. Christian Welch – Suffered early head knock but returned to give his all – 8
11. Felise Kaufusi – Solid effort but not spectacular – 7
12. Kenneath Bromwich – Some loose carries but kept at it – 6
13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona – Massive effort to terrorise the Panthers’ defence – 8
Interchange
14. Brandon Smith – Only lasted 12 minutes before a first-half head knock but returned for second half stint – 6
15. Tino Faasuamaleaui – Youngster stood up in fhis maiden grand final – 7
16. Dale Finucane – HIA in the second half dented his contribution – 6
17. Nicho Hynes – Did not play