The Newcastle Knights are headed to the Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters after a thrilling 22-14 win against Penrith.
Here's how everyone ranked.
1. Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights)
Delivered a silky line break on his opposite centre to set up Manuleleua for the opening try. Always seems to step up in the big matches and has done so again with some great attacking efforts on his opposite Talagi, constantly getting around him.
2. Sandon Smith (Newcastle Knights)
Grew as the game went on. Smith engineered a brilliant try for Dominic Young after reading the defence and running the ball on last. He then backed it up with a cracker solo try off a quick tap to catch Panthers defenders napping. Stepped up. Then abcked it up again to win the match with an intercept
3. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
Vintage Gagai, always looking dangerous down the right edge with Young with plenty of high energy involvements. Huge moment when he collected a drop-out on the full to run down-field and build some momentum for the novocastrians.
4. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)
Popped up everywhere and scrambled well when Newcastle threatened, showed his class with big carries and was Penrith's best.
5. Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle Knights)
Early try and try-saving tackle on To'o in the middle of the first half, bringing plenty of energy and no regard for his own body with plenty of aggressive contact.
6. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights)
Poked his nose through on multiple occasions and looks dangerous every time he runs the ball. Crucial try-saver on McLean in the final few minutes. Inspirational tackle on Leota in the dying minutes.
7. Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers)
Courageous and standard Liam Martin performance, all aggression and a great competitor. Put a great shot on to force a knock-on in the last ten minutes, which is classic Martin intensity. Showed his class and is a quality leader in the Panthers pack.
8. Jermain McEwen (Newcastle Knights)
Similar to his second row counterpart, he was everywhere and offered plenty of aggression and always poked his nose through the line when carrying the ball. A star of the future.
9. Dominic Young (Newcastle Knights)
Finished off a brilliant try down the right edge and was a threat every time he had half a gap and always backed himself.
10. Fletcher Sharpe (Newcastle Knights)
Quiet afternoon for Fletcher, but was solid in defence against Liam Martin, who has a reputation for bullying defending five-eighths. Sharpe didn't look out of place in finals-like intensity.
11. Lachlan Crouch (Newcastle Knights)
Stepped up. Crouch is a future star and didn't look out of place in finals-like intensity with some heroic carries to generate some quick play the balls.
12. Cody Hopwood (Newcastle Knights)
Great young forward with a big future in front of him, took it to the Panthers forwards every time he could.
13. Isaah Yeo (Penrith Panthers)
Quiet afternoon to start for Isaah, but given he is playing injured, it is understandable. Was a solid glue between the halves and the forwards and stepped up with some more ball-playing after Cleary went off. Finished the match by giving it his all.
14. Mat Croker (Newcastle Knights)
Solid stint from Croker, heavily underrated but did his job and is a defensive anchor. Jumped on an open ball to shut down a Panthers attacking raid.
15. Harrison Graham (Newcastle Knights)
Good service from Graham after playing more minutes than usual following Crossland's red. Helped stiffen up the middle, which is Crossland's bread and butter, and worked well with the Knights spine.
16. Casey McLean (Penrith Panthers)
Fairly quiet for a McLean performance, but was still solid in defence and almost came up with some big plays.
17. Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers)
Good carries from Bizza but was given some strange last tackle play options which was hard for him to work with.
18. Jack Cogger (Penrith Panthers)
Had plenty of pressure on his shoulders after Cleary went down. Had some strong runs at the line and kept the Newcastle defence reeling with a quick play the ball. Steered the side well after all the adversity surrounding Cleary.
19. Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights)
Was safe under the high ball, did enough for Holbrook to be proud of but didn't leave a memorable impact.
20. Isaiah Papali'i (Penrith Panthers)
Was solid without being outstanding, plenty of offloads to keep the footy going.
21. Tyson Frizell (Newcastle Knights)
Layed the platform nicely to start the game with some great Frizell-like intensity and leg speed.
22. Jack Cole (Penrith Panthers)
Had plenty of work to do in defence and was pressured every time he touched the pill. Ran the ball plenty of times but struggled to make an impact.
23. Lindsay Smith (Penrith Panthers)
Great impact when he came on and immediately took it to the Knights forward pack and went into a grind. Was rewarded for his first stint with a crucial try right before half-time.
24. Luke Garner (Penrith Panthers)
Replaced Martin mid-way through the second stanza. Made some good runs but didn't overly stand out compared to Martin's impact. Filled in at centre to finish the match with Talagi leaving the field.
25. Moses Leota (Penrith Panthers)
Made a crucial error in the first half but delivered some enforcer defence in his second stint to finish the game.
26. Thomas Jenkins (Penrith Panthers)
A few line breaks, but came up with a terrible decision to kick on first tackle in a crucial point of the match, then followed up with another error bringing the Knights into the match.
27. Mitch Kenny (Penrith Panthers)
Quiet afternoon from Kenny but had good service from dummy half, didn't run as much as he should have when Newcastle middles were fatigued.
28. Blaize Talagi (Penrith Panthers)
Delivered a great hit back after his missed tackle led to a try, with one of his own off a nice kick, gave Talagi plenty of confidence for the rest of the match. Finished a tough day with an Achilles injury in the last 13 minutes.
29. Liam Henry (Penrith Panthers)
Standard game up front from Henry, didn't make a huge impact against Knights' engine room.
30. Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
Cleary started off the interchange bench but came on with 25 minutes gone. The two-time Clive Churchill Medallist left the field with a compound fracture, which has ended his season and World Cup campaign.
31. Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers)
Failed to make an impact but wasn't bad, did his job but paled in comparison to some of the other Penrith forwards.
32. Phoenix Crossland (Newcastle Knights)
Tough afternoon for Phoenix. Sent off for his work on hip-dropping Nathan Cleary, will be one to forget, which is a shame because he was outstanding in Auckland.
33. Dylan Lucas (Newcastle Knights)
Returned to the middle of the field but didn't light the world on fire.
34. Pasami Saulo (Newcastle Knights)
Saulo was solid without being outstanding, did his job.
