With only two weeks until the finals roll around, I’m calling it now.
Cameron Smith will lift the Provan-Summons Trophy on 1 October in Sydney as the Melbourne Storm win the 2017 premiership – but it will be for a reason different to what you might expect. Their departing club legend, hero and integral ‘big three’ member Cooper Cronk’s fairytale premiership story will lead them to victory.
The Storm have been the best team of 2017, and the ladder shows it. Despite losses to Parramatta, Cronulla and the Roosters and a shock loss to the Titans, the Storm have been convincing all season, particularly in their 18-13 win against the Sharks without Cronk, their 42-12 thumping of the Broncos and their 40-6 walloping of Manly in Cameron Smith’s 350th game.
The Storm’s youngsters, like Brodie Croft, Jahrome Hughes, Brandon Smith, Cameron Munster and Nelson Asofa-Solomona have shown that the retirement of the big three is not the end of the Storm.
But when it comes down to it, the biggest case for the Storm winning the premiership is the happily-ever-after formula.
When analysing most of the recent premiers, a theme can be noted. The Sharks’ breakthrough premiership was a feel-good story and a fairytale story for the ages. The Storm had no hope of winning the title from the moment the Sharks booked their place in the big dance a week before, despite Cameron Smith’s wonky pass after the siren almost certainly losing the Storm the grand final.
In 2015 the Cowboys ended their wait for a premiership in style, with hero and future immortal Johnathan Thurston sealing the passage of the Provan-Summons trophy to North Queensland. While the Broncos played for the fairytale of Wayne Bennett’s homecoming season and the retirement of Broncos hero and legend Justin Hodges culminating in a premiership, the drought-breaking story of the Cowboys was too much for them.
In 2014 another drought-breaking win gave the South Sydney Rabbitohs their 21st premiership over the Bulldogs. The fairytale story sold papers and stirred interest in the game even before the Rabbitohs made the grand final – indeed even before the finals began there were stories about the Rabbitohs’ big chance to break their drought.
(Image: AAP Image/Joe Castro)
Papers need headlines to sell, which raises an important point: a side’s talent or potential to play a better game than their opponents doesn’t make headlines, but a dramatic story like a fairytale retirement premiership or a drought-breaker certainly does.
Even in 2013 the advertisements for the grand final won by the Sydney Roosters were based on Sonny Bill Williams’ return to the game and his fairytale deliverance of a title to the eastern suburbs.
It was not that the minor premiers were looking to hammer home their dominance or that the Roosters had returned to finals football that captured attention but rather that the fairytale story involved the Prodigal Sonny Bill.
In 2012 the Storm sought vengeance against the NRL for what they believed was an unfair punishment of stipped 2007 and 2009 premierships for cheating the salary cap. The headlines for the game involved both the Storm’s fairytale premiership victory and Bulldogs’ coach, Des Hasler’s, back-to-back titles with Manly and Canterbury. It was not about the dominant Bulldogs as minor premiers or the meeting of first and second on the ladder.
For those who think I have my tinfoil hat on or who think it’s all a big conspiracy, I’d like to put your suspicions to bed. In 2012 the Storm deserved their title. The Roosters dominated 2013 and were the best side. Souths were completely deserving of their fairytale title in 2014 and so were the Cowboys in 2015. The 2016 Sharks were undisputedly the form side of the competition.
All those teams deserved the title and were the best teams of the year.
But if we are going for a fairytale big game in 2017, then the NRL grand final will be played between the Parramatta Eels and the Melbourne Storm in a replay of the 2009 grand final. The Eels are another side with a premiership drought, the longest in the game, and look the goods on form despite a shock loss to the Knights.
But the Storm’s fairytale story of Cooper Cronk’s departure from the club and the splitting up of the big three should be enough to see them continue the trend of happy endings and take the trophy to send Cooper Cronk out on a high if it is indeed his last season in the NRL.
And they all lived happily ever after. The Brothers Grimm would be proud.
Steve
Guest
Lol less then storm and bulldogs um think you need to check your facts they were over by more then what the storm were.
BleakCity
Roar Rookie
Parramatta were well under the cap in 2016 but had their illegal TPA's from previous years added to their 2016 payments which left them notionally over the cap for 2016. That was the only way the NRL could justify taking points off them for 2016. They also received the biggest fine in NRL history despite the overspending being significantly less than the storm & bulldogs. Hardly a slap on the wrist.
ray
Guest
You drunk mate? It's a fairy tale because Parramatta were robbed a legit chance of winning a gf in 2009 and because its been a long time since their last gf win. Parramatta being over the cap in 2016 is irrelevant because the year is 2017.
Sharkattack
Guest
I hope Parramatta get taken out well before Grand Final day !!!!
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Love it CS - I had a similar lapse in 2014! I was cheering for my Souths mates who truly thought they may never see a Premiership.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Everyone loves a fairytale , but the fairies mustn't have much to do these days if they're going to include the Storm in one. I look forward to Smith shattered two years in a row .
Albo
Guest
I have always believed that the team that wins the minor premiership really deserves to win the Grand Final. It often doesn't happen, But I think this year the Storm have been so dominant I find it hard to see them losing the GF this year. But footy is a funny game as we know an underdog team can lift on the big occasion to cause an upset. I will long remember the 1969 GF when a young Balmain Tigers team beat a mighty Souths team full of internationals. I just can't nominate which team this year might be such a team capable of the upset at this stage. Perhaps the Roosters , if they get everything right on the day.
BigJ
Roar Guru
There is no fairytale ending this year just making up last years lost for the storm. Thats all. Last year for the Sharks was not a fairytale ending more like a its about time you got your act together
Elizabeth
Guest
??????
Jimmmy
Guest
I agree Joe, the Storm are deserved favourites to take it out but it is not a fairytale. The Eels winning their first premiership since the 80's certainly is. I don't see it myself but hey if Souths can win one who knows.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Also: 40 to nil
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Hi EJ I recall having a brief lapse in the 2008 grand final when I cheered on Manly against the Storm. However, my excuse is that at the time I hated the Storm more than I hated Manly. Ranked out of 10, with 1 meaning "I love em" and 10 meaning "I hate em", Manly were an 8 and the Storm were an 8.5 (the Roosters are an 11). I remember that I even got off my couch and jumped with joy when Beaver scored a try in the second half, but my excuse is that everyone loves Beaver as he is one of the best blokes around. Only a miserable git would not like Beaver. Thankfully, I haven't had a relapse since then, so all is right with the world (but those Turbo brothers are making it difficult - they are good boys).
Patrick Logan
Roar Rookie
Let bygones be bygones rather then dragging the dirt up on every club on the league. Who cares last year's salary cap scandal, THIS year Parammattas deserving of their finals berth. Disgruntled wooden spoon fans should not always hate on successful teams. Except for when they are cheated and full of injuries and having financial troubles and coaching troubles and... you know what, never mind.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I think if it comes down to fairytales than Eels exacting revenge on the Storm for their 2009 loss would probably be bigger than sending Cronk out a winner. That will be the story line in the media leading up to the game. Cronk is already a winner...same as Smith the 'winningest' player in NRL history. Somehow I just don't think the crowd (apart from us Storm fans) will get behind that for a fairytale as most prefer cheering for the underdog.
Duncan Smith
Guest
We've had three fairy tales in a row - Souths, Nth Queensland, Cronulla. This year Melbourne deserve to win it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Nah.Back to back is a fairytale in this day and age.It's as obvious as C Smith refereeing each game. Plus the Sharks have the best colour combinations,which shows up better than the others on TV. The pundits suggest it is impossible to do such a thing.The fairytale is to prove them wrong.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
I think we can all agree that the fairytale would be for Manly to lift the trophy in October. Because everyone loves Manly!
Matt Dustby
Guest
Melbourne winning is not a fairy tale
realist
Guest
How can you possibly even consider having Parramatta in the GF as a fairy tale??? It would be an injustice & make a mockery of the NRL after what they did in 2016 with their illegal salary cap payments etc. The Storm & Bulldogs were chastized for their part in their respective salary cap scandals & the penalties issued were severe yet Parramatta's indiscretion was tenfold worse & basically got away with a slap on the wrist & now are being praised? What a joke!