Match day guide and preview for the 2022 NRL Grand Final between the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels.

Match details

• Who: Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels
• When: Sunday 2 October, 7.30pm AEDT
• Where: Accor Stadium, Sydney
• Tickets are sold out
• Weather: min 13, max 19. 60% chance of rain, 0 to 4 mm
• Head-to-head record: Played 106. Panthers 45 wins. Eels 60 wins. 1 draw.

The NRLW Grand Final between the Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights will kick-off at 3.55pm AEDT, with both sides to play in their first decider in the competition’s five-year history. The Eels won just one game in the regular season before upsetting the Roosters 24-10 to reach the final, while the Knights finished second on the ladder and thumped the Dragons 30-6 in the other semi. Click here for more details on the match.

Grand Final Entertainment

• Mahalia Barnes, A.GIRL, Emma Donovan, Jimmy Barnes, Diesel, Josh Teskey, Sheldon Riley, Bliss n Eso featuring JOY, Alinta Chidzey

Line ups

The Panthers have kept the same 17 that beat the Rabbitohs with Taylan May still out due to a hamstring issue.

Brad Arthur has made a surprise change to his Eels side, with veteran Nathan Brown returning on the bench for Bryce Cartwright.

2022 Finals summary

Penrith

The Panthers came into the finals as clear favourites and they have lived up to that title with two impressive victories.

After a tense opening half against Parramatta in week one of the finals, Penrith put their foot down to claim a 27-8 victory at home.

They then had a week off and despite being down 12-0 early against the Bunnies, once again the Panthers took control to take an easy 32-12 win and book their third straight Grand Final appearance.

Penrith have an even contribution from their squad with stars all across the park, but Dylan Edwards has probably been the pick of the lot over the first two finals.

Parramatta

The Eels have gone the long way to the Grand Final, losing their first final before winning their next two on the trot.

They took it up to Penrith for the first 50 minutes but just couldn’t keep up the intesity for the full 80 minutes, while losing halfback Mitchell Moses also hurt their chances.

Parramatta responded to that loss with a 40-4 thrashing of Canberra in Semi-Final before claiming a comeback 24-20 victory over the Cowboys to seal their first Grand Final appearance since 2009.

They’ve had a number of players step up over the last two weeks but Shaun Lane might be the pick of the lot and shapes as a key figure if Parramatta are to claim their first premiership since 1986.

Key match ups

Halfback – Nathan Cleary (Panthers) v Mitchell Moses (Eels)

The two No.7s have been pivotal to the success of their respective sides this year and the grand final will be no different. Panthers half Cleary was in peerless form against the Eels in the first final with his towering and floating bombs too hard to handle for winger Waqa Blake. Like all the great players he has so much time to pass, kick or run and he nearly always takes the right option.

Moses does not get the same rave reviews but his game has gone to a new level in 2022. The Eels playmaker, who became a father last week to a baby daughter, also has a stellar kicking game and when he puts the foot down he is capable of carving up the best defences. Moses has 23 try assists from 25 appearances this year and Cleary has 17 try assists from his 16 games.

Fullback – Dylan Edwards (Panthers) v Clint Gutherson (Eels)

It is hard to imagine two fullbacks with more willpower, passion and attention to detail than these two. Edwards and Gutherson are everywhere, all the time.

The big play and the one-percenters are both as important to the duo. Edwards, averaging 220m per game this year, had a season-high 14 tackle busts last week in the preliminary final win over South Sydney. He is in rare form even for him. 

The man known as ‘King Gutho’ is not as prolific with his run metres but functions as an extra playmaker as his 18 try assists for the season highlight. Whoever has the best game could well decide the grand final.

Prop – James Fisher-Harris (Panthers) v Junior Paulo (Eels)

Vastly different as players these are two of the leading props in the game and set the tone for how their teams perform. Panthers warrior Fisher-Harris and Eels wrecking ball Paulo are both averaging 146m per game.

Fisher-Harris also has a tackle efficiency of 95.1 per cent. Those stats don’t explain the venom and purpose with which he approaches his work. He provides a real fear factor.

Paulo’s 45 offloads for the year, compared to his opponent’s 15, showcase where they differ. Paulo creates the second phase play for the Eels and has a pass any halfback would be proud of.

Last 5 meetings

• 2022 Qualifying Final: Penrith 27 – 8 Parramatta at BlueBet Stadium
• 2022 round 20: Parramatta 34 – 10 Penrith at CommBank Stadium
• 2022 round 9: Penrith 20 – 22 Parramatta at BlueBet Stadium
• 2021 Semi Final: Penrith 8 – 6 Parramatta at BB Print Stadium
• 2021 round 25: Parramatta 6 – 40 Penrith at Cbus Super Stadium

This will be the fourth clash between the sides this season, with the Eels claiming the first two before Penrith won the Qualifying Final.

It will also be the third finals meeting in the past two seasons after Penrith just held on against Parramatta in a Semi Final last season.

Pre match predictions

Top prop: James Fisher-Harris to be the best prop on the ground with 175+ run metres and two offloads.

Shake ‘n Blake: Waqa Blake to shake off a tackle to score a try.

Score: Penrith 20 – 14 Parramatta

Clive Churchill Medal: Dylan Edwards

With AAP