2022 in Review: Panthers Back-To-Back, Qld Origin Champs and Kangaroos Win World Cup

It's the end of 2022. It's been the first year since 2019 unaffected by Covid lockdowns and removal of border restrictions.

Penrith Panthers won the 2022 NRL Grand Final against Parramatta Eels. Dylan Edwards was a Clive Churchill Medal winner. Penrath have only lost eight premiership matches in their last 69.

Queensland won the State of Origin series 2-1 over New South Wales. It was the 23rd time the Sunshine State has won it. Billy Slater made his debut as head coach of the Maroons. 13 players made their debut during the series.

Kangaroos won the World Cup title for the third consecutive time. They defeated Samoa 30-10 in the final. Samoa came second. Australia have regained the number one spot in IRL rankings. Josh Addo-Carr made a statement after being snubbed for New South Wales during their 2022 campaign.

The Dolphins have struggled to sign a marquee player. The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles' jersey design backfired. Anthony Seibold will take over as coach at the Dolphins.  The last team to make the finals in their debut season was St George-Illawarra Dragons. They won their first title in second season. Manley-Warrringa Sea Eagle's jersey was appalling. It backfires. Ian Roberts is the only official gay player to play in the men’s game. He is also the last player in rugby league. Toby Rudolf said in an interview that despite being identified as a heterosexual, his sexuality is fluid.

Nicho Hynes was a halfback at Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. He won the Porter-Gallen Medal, the Dally M Player of the Year and NothingButLeague Player Of The Year awards. The Sharks finished second in 2022.

The New Zealand Warriors have been in Australia for 1,038 days. They played at Moreton Daily Stadium in Redcliffe. Ken Maumalo scored the last try at Mount Smart Stadium on August 30, 2019 in their loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs. Captain Tohu Harris scored their first try in the win over the Wests Tigers 22-2.

Jeremiah Nanai made his debut for Queensland and Australia during 2022. North Queensland Cowboys were the biggest moving team during the year. Johnny Raper died in February. Paul Green passed away in August. The NothingButLeague team has selected their best players of the season. They also include Xavier Savage, Shaun Lane, Siosifa Talakai, Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young. The team also mentions the rugby league greats who died this year, including Olsen Filipaina, Frank Curry, Rockie Laurie, Bill Ashurst, Kevin Beardmore, Paul Broughton, Bob Cooper and Ken Wilson.

2022 in Review: Panthers Back-To-Back, Qld Origin Champs and Kangaroos Win World Cup.