The Mole's NRL grand final player ratings: 'Ruthless nature' of Panthers brings Eels stars undone

The Panthers have gone back-to-back with a sizzling performance to put the Eels to the sword.

The game was done at half-time, with Penrith eventually crowned champions with a 28-12 win.

So who were the studs and who were the duds?

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Wide World of Sports runs the rule over all 34 players' contributions.

PENRITH PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards

Should have booked himself a World Cup spot with an outstanding game, creating two tries and coming up with a marvellous try-saving tackle… and running over 275 run metres.

Rating: 9

2. Charlie Staines

Had few chances with the ball but nailed the one that did come his way.

Rating: 6.5

3. Izack Tago

Created two tries for his winger To'o in a fine centre's game. Showed maturity and good hands.

Rating: 7

4. Stephen Crichton

Scored the opening try with a burst of pace but came up with one of the game's big plays, saving a certain try to Sivo.

Rating: 7.5

5. Brian To'o

Confirmed his rating as the game's number one winger with an awesome display, scoring two tries and running for 250 plus metres.

Rating: 8

6. Jarome Luai

Not his finest game but did his job and played a key role in one of To'o's tries.

Rating: 6.5

7. Nathan Cleary

The conductor of the Penrith orchestra - watch the highlights and you'll find him involved in just about every try scored.

Rating: 9.5

8. Moses Leota

Played only around half the game but left the Eels battered and bruised with his hard hitting and fearless ball running.

Rating: 7.5

14. Mitch Kenny

Did the early spadework at dummyhalf before being replaced by Koroisau as he game opened up.

Rating: 5

10. James Fisher-Harris

Led the Panthers pack in yardage as he does just about every week and a rock in the centre of defence.

Rating: 8

11. Viliame Kikau

The big man was fairly quiet by his standards, often used as a decoy runner to suck in defenders.

Rating: 5.5

12. Liam Martin

Played his strongest game in many weeks, causing the Eels defence plenty of problems on the right edge and topped the tackle count.

Rating: 8

13. Isaah Yeo

The Panther with the massive motor made the hard yards and was a great link between the halves and the outside men.

Rating: 8

9. Api Koroisau

Didn't run much because he didn't have to - just shovelled the ball to his ball wizards and they did the rest.

Rating: 6

15. Scott Sorensen

A top game from the bench, adding enthusiasm and scoring a crucial try.

Rating: 6

16. Spencer Leniu

Like Sorensen, gave impetus when thrown into the fray and ran for over 100 metres in quick time.

Rating: 7

17. Jaeman Salmon

Only had one run in a brief 12 minute stint as a HIA replacement but did nothing wrong.

Rating: 3

PARRAMATTA EELS

1. Clint Gutherson

Put under loads of pressure but led the Eels well on a tough night and jagged a try.

Rating: 7

2. Maika Sivo

Ran for plenty of metres but bombed the try that could have brought the Eels back into the game with poor hands.

Rating: 6

3. Will Penisini

Had a great finals series but was barely sighted as the Panthers strangled his team's attack.

Rating: 5

4. Bailey Simonsson

Had few chances and then came off with a rib injury midway through the second half.

Rating: 3

5. Waqa Blake

Made less errors than last time the teams met but was unable to make any impact in attack.

Rating: 5

6. Dylan Brown

Ran the ball well but was targeted a couple of times by the Panthers with their planned moves in attack.

Rating: 6

7. Mitchell Moses

Couldn't get his running game going but kicked well in an attempt to roll back the relentless Panthers tide.

Rating: 6.5

8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard

Kept well contained by the Panthers' big men in the trenches, making just 82 metres from 12 runs.

Rating: 6

9. Reed Mahoney

Topped his team's tackle count - as always - but made just two runs - his team needed more.

Rating: 6

10. Junior Paulo

Another Eels run machine whose numbers were kept well down by the red and black wall on the night.

Rating: 6

11. Shaun Lane

A standout in the finals with his passing game, he didn't manage a single offload - another indication of the ruthless nature of Penrith's defence.

Rating: 5.5

12. Isaiah Papali'i

Worked hard throughout and laid on his team's first try for Gutherson but missed a worrying 12 tackles.

Rating: 5

17. Marata Niukore

Made just four runs for little yardage and like many of his team-mates, couldn't find his awesome form of recent weeks.

Rating: 4

13. Ryan Matterson

Made more metres than any Eels forward - a fine effort coming off the bench. Gave his all.

Rating: 7

14. Nathan Brown

Was brought into the Eels' team to be the enforcer but well out-gunned by the aggressive Panthers pack and his inclusion added nothing.

Rating: 4

15. Jake Arthur

Got just five minutes on the big stage but was rewarded with a try in a moment he'll never forget.

Rating: 2

16. Oregon Kaufusi

Another 'invisible' Eels forward who was well shut down by the Panthers, running a mere five times for 46 metres.

Rating: 4

NRL grand final in pictures: Ivan Cleary overcome with emotion after Panthers dominate

NRL grand final in pictures: Ivan Cleary overcome with emotion after Panthers dominate