NRL 2022 LIVE updates: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Penrith Panthers

Jarome Luai could return as soon as next week in a massive boost for the Panthers, who didn’t expect to get their star five-eighth back until the first week of the finals.

Luai watched from the stands at Accor Stadium tonight, while Nathan Cleary watched from the coach’s box. The return of Luai before the finals would be timely. Things just keep getting better for the defending premiers.

Ivan Cleary used Api Koroisau off the bench so he could avoid the “hiss hoss” with all the big boys from the opening whistle. Mitch Kenny came into the starting side. The move paid off tonight.

“I feel great now,” Koroisau grinned on Nine, having rolled the dice by turning his back on Sean O’Sullivan to feed Liam Martin as he charged over for the match-winner.

You wonder if Cleary will do more of the same during the finals run.

He wears one of the most talked about jerseys in the NRL and knows he will have to step aside when Nathan Cleary returns to the fold for the finals.

But stand-in Penrith No. 7 Sean O’Sullivan is relishing every moment he gets on the park with this Panthers outfit, having helped them secure a minor premiership at Accor Stadium tonight.

“Everyone was really upset after last week,” O’Sullivan said on Nine’s post-match coverage.

“I was so excited for tonight. Early on in the year I was actually really nervous about coming into the team, now I’m really comfortable in my role.”

The depth at Penrith is outstanding. No wonder they’re such short-priced favourites to win back-to-back premierships.

That was “a rollercoaster of emotions”, says Liam Martin on Nine’s post-match coverage. Too right.