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It’s worse than losing a State of Origin series because of the mateship at Melbourne, says Storm prop Brett White.
And that wasn’t hard to believe as the tears flowed while players embraced in the losing dressing room after the Storm’s record 40-0 NRL grand final loss to Manly last night.
“Origins are tough losses but these blokes, we spend years together,” NSW prop White said.
“I’ve been here four years. Those pre-seasons when you’re doing long hill runs together, you’re going through the pain together, you’re going through blood, sweat and tears for years.
“We basically live with each other, we’re all best mates.”
The Storm join the likes of the Sea Eagles’ mid-1990s sides and the Sydney Roosters between 2002-2004 as teams to play three straight grand finals for just one win.
Melbourne flogged Manly 34-8 last year but went down 15-8 to Brisbane a year earlier.
“2006 was hard but this is getting a lot harder,” White said.
“2006 we were just happy to be in a grand final. This year we knew exactly what we had to do and I guess it wasn’t done.”
The loss was made all the worse by the knowledge foundation player Matt Geyer (retiring), centre Israel Folau (Brisbane) and forwards Michael Crocker (Hull), Antonio Kaufusi (North Queensland) and Jeremy Smith (St George Illawarra) were leaving.
Suspended captain Cameron Smith said their bonds were unique.
“I think friendship and how close all the boys are at our club is bigger than anything else involved in footy,” Smith said.
“I think it’s quite unique at our club, what we’ve got, and I think the most disappointing thing for us was probably not losing, but not sending the boys out that are leaving on the best note we could.
“Obviously it’s hard to take, losing a grand final, but the guys that are finished at our club now are not having the finish that they wanted to.”
MANLY’S IMPROVEMENT EACH YEAR SINCE COACH DES HASLER WAS APPOINTED:
2004: 13th
2005: Qualifying finalists
2006: Semi-finalists
2007: Runners-up
2008: Premiers
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