Over the past few of years, the NRL has been very good at dealing in the business of fairytales.
In 2014, the South Sydney Rabbitohs broke a 43-year premiership drought with a 30-6 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs in the grand final.
In 2015, the North Queensland Cowboys won their first premiership in one of the greatest grand finals in rugby league history. An entire stadium held its breath as Johnathan Thurston had the opportunity to win the game in regular time with a sideline conversion, which hit the post.
The stadium then erupted when Thurston kicked a golden-point field goal for to steal victory from the Brisbane Broncos 17-16.
And who can forget last year, when Paul Gallen was finally able to tell residents of the Shire to “turn your porch lights off, because we’re coming home with a trophy”. After 50 years, the longest drought in the NRL was broken when the Cronulla Sharks defeated Melbourne 14-12 to bring home their maiden premiership.
On Sunday, a new premier will be crowned, but which fairytale will prevail?
With victories over the Parramatta Eels and the Brisbane Broncos during the finals, the Storm now find themselves in their seventh grand final and second in a row.
They have been the 2017 benchmark, finishing first in both attack and defence, claiming the minor premiership to take home their sixth JJ Giltinan Shield in Craig Bellamy’s 15 years as coach.
On the way, Cameron Smith broke Darren Lockyer’s record of the most ever NRL appearances when he played his 356th match a couple of weeks ago. He also became the first NRL player to kick 1000 goals.
The last time a team was so dominant in the regular season was the 2001 Parramatta Eels.
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Melbourne may look like an unlikely fairytale, but this will be the last time that Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Smith play together.
Earlier this year, Cronk announced that he was moving to Sydney to be with his fiancé Tara Rushton, signalling the end of an era for this champion team.
Say what you will about them, but this decade we have had the opportunity to watch three all-time greats play together, and this Sunday that will happen for the last time in club football.
This will also be of great significance to Slater, who missed last year’s grand final due to a long-term injury.
If the Storm do what everyone is predicting, it will be the send-off that Cronk deserves, a well-deserved reward for Slater who not only returned from long-term injury but returned better than ever, and a wonderful end to a historic season for Smith.
It will also be a reflection of the hard work done by plenty of others, including Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi, Suliasi Vunivalu, Will Chambers, and Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Anyone who doesn’t appreciate the way this team plays together is not a fan of rugby league, because they are truly exceptional.
AAP Image/Craig Golding
But Melbourne are going to have to fight for their fairytale, because North Queensland are standing in their way and after the last three weeks, you would be a fool to write them off.
The Cowboys’ season is the stuff that Disney movies are made of.
For them to be just 80 minutes away from their second premiership is incredible to many fans, who expected them to be bundled out of the finals come Week 1 (me included).
What I have learnt over this finals series though is that Paul Green’s side aren’t just a fairytale – they are a damn good football team.
With wins over Cronulla, Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters, North Queensland have earned their place in the grand final, despite their huge injury woes.
But forget the injuries, let’s focus on what has been happening on the field.
Over the last ten weeks, Michael Morgan has been given the opportunity to demonstrate what a talented football player he is, transforming into the team’s key playmaker and most important leader.
His kicking and passing game on Saturday night was stunning. It took just six minutes for Morgan to slot the 40-20 that set the tone for the rest of the game. Other moments of brilliants included the pass to put Kane Linnett over, another pass to Linnett moments later, who then passed to Kyle Feldt to score right in the corner, and Morgan’s field goal late in the second half to put the victory beyond doubt.
Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images
But it’s not just Morgan. I knew if the game was close on Saturday night before Jason Taumololo came on late in the second half, the Cowboys would win. He has been immense and continues to make metres up the middle without fuss or complaint.
Feldt is one of the best finishers in the game. Ethan Lowe has been outstanding, particularly with the boot, and John Asiata continues to prove that he can be a play-maker if need be.
Green and his team have such a strong sense of belief, desire and commitment to each other. It is the sort of story that rugby league loves because it’s based on the values that fans hold dearest.
North Queensland go into this weekend with no one expecting them to win. While they may be the underdogs, they carry the hope of plenty of Sydney fans and the entire state of Queensland on their shoulders.
And while the Storm may have been the best all season, I believe in fairytales, so I’m predicting that the Cowboys (and Shaun Fensom) are going to finish with theirs.
Dean
Guest
That's good. Have to pay the man. By the way, what does it mean lol.
Dean
Guest
Well that shut him up Ken. They've got nothing. I don't know what team he follows, but I wouldn't be surprised if they finished down the ladder. No supporter base? lol
Dean
Guest
Yahda, Yahda, Yahda. Jealousy is a curse. You really need to get that out of your system loser. Hahaha
TigerMike
Guest
Mary Mary ... I'm with you on your call here, totally possible based on facts. Further, that Green applauded the choice of the two on field referees, leaves no doubt whatsoever. Cows by 1 or 2. Tries. 10 points 11 or 12 Cheers til 2018
BigJ
Roar Guru
It was the scrappiest first half that I have ever seen by both teams, not unlike my nephew's under 15 grand final about two weeks ago, similar outcome his team won by 30 points. Drop balls, pushed passes that did not need to be throw, it was a terrible first half. But anyway the Storm should take it out without too many drams on Sunday and take home their third title.
Ken
Guest
My point is the cowboys having no pressure is nonsense , they have just as much pressure as the storm , when two teams are out in the field do you think anyone thinks about the past season ? , they are all stressing and playing 100% to win the grand final , no one is thinking oh damn if we lose the grand final we will be seen as failures ? , it has nothing to do with the mindset of the players on the field , they all just want to win the grand final .If the storm take the lead early do you think the cowboy will crack under pressure , if the cowboys takes the lead early will the storm crack ? .That is the only pressure both teams are under , not some pseudo analysis of who is stressed more .
Ken
Guest
? ok I'll give u that win
Raugeee
Guest
Demisemihemidemisemiquaver? :D
chris
Guest
I just want to see Bellamy blow up
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
......
Raugeee
Guest
Good comparison AG074 - 20 teams in the comp that year! 10 teams in the Finals! Bulldogs were trying to win from 9th place.They would've had to have won 5 in a row to take the flag. In their favour, the furthest they had to travel was to Newcastle. Waiting at the end was the Broncos who Warren Ryan described as a rep team in disguise. Another comparison could be 1988 where Balmain were trying to win from 6th. The beat all comers, including seasons #1 team Cronulla. In the Grand Final they came up against a disciplined Bulldogs who had only played 2 finals matches - the result was 24-12 to Bulldogs.
republican
Guest
........present us with a list of home grown Vic's who are represented at the highest tier of the code then. This is a plastic entity, that has been afforded great advantage financially, however you like to pitch it, akin to GWS. 'The Storm' have been based in Melbourne for a significant number of years now yet there is very little to show for this at the GR - and thats the truth of the matter. The Storm are simply another commercially concocted strategy that creates the illusion of a codes status, through television as opposed from the ground up...........
Raugeee
Guest
And Glebe
Wayne Turner
Guest
Storm were minor premiers if they don't win their season is a FAILURE. If the Cowboys don't win,well they did finish 8th from the regular season.Of course both teams want to win,I never said the Cowboys didn't want to win,of course they will be disappointed if they don't win.But,the pressure is all on the minor premiers who were minor premiers by miles.8th Cowboys have no pressure - Because 8th placed getting to the GF is over achieving. Finally,where you finish in the regular reason says alot on whether your season was a failure or NOT.Especially compared to where they were expected to finish.Every team wants to make the GF,but of course only 2 will.
Ken
Guest
When is a good time to talk to the refs mate ? During the game when they normally tell you to go away or during the break when you ask about certain rulings ? " worst look" that makes no sense at all mate , hang on the opposition is attacking on my try line I'm going to ask the ref something ?...no maybe I'll be smarter and ask at half time and that's what you call " the worst look " lol
Ken
Guest
So the whole weight of north Qld on you in a grand final and they have no pressure lol ok now that's illogical , are you saying that the cowboys don't a want to win ? that they are just happy to make the numbers? Cus they want to win just as much as the storm so both sides feel pressure, so by your logic if the storm loses the grand final their season is a ( I'll hit the upper case lock for dramatic effect lol ) "FAILURE" , if the cowboys lose their season isn't a FAILURE , that's illogical , the point is to win the GF so by your reasoning every team , who didn't make the GF is a failure or are you just illogically focusing on then Storm based on your personal bias ?.
Ken
Guest
Only the finger Dean ? God those losers are some of the worst posters on here , nothing to contribute informationally than lies and 9 year old grievances and they tell us to grow up lol , holding onto 9 year old grievances lol how sad , and the attempts to use big words to infer they have some sort of intelligent argument still makes me laugh , now seriously what pretentious rugby league supporter uses the word " troglodyte" that's for the rugby union private school roar section ?. I can use big words like ' opstreperous " too , my thing about the roar is it use to be about fans honestly posting factual information not lies , the previous posts about the storm having no fan base was embarrassing for the person posting it cus it was so easy to disprove .The lies about Cameron Smith always getting in the ear of the refs now the refs have said he doesn't talk to them much on the field and when he dies it's done respectfully and at the right time between breaks , once again a NSW perpetuated media lie which has been repeated in this site often, it's frustrating , backed up with no fact at all and yet often repeated , lol losers slandering the storm with made up lies will always be losers , just like the teams they support.
Ken
Guest
Best of luck mate I'm a storm supporter and I dont begrudge the brave effort of the cowboys , many the best team on their day win
Ken
Guest
When u make up lies and get found out , maybe you lack intergrity , humility ?can u give me a example of when the storm were loud and bragging ?, I'm curious wether you're lying again , honestly free shot , when have the storm,players lacked humility , if you can't reply to that , than you've lost credibility again , give yourself a uppercut mate ?
Ken
Guest
Peter you ever get tired of correcting these blind one eyed donkeys ? I don't and every time we win it's great lol our membership is over 20,000 we had over 28,000 at the broncos game compared to the pathetic crowd abt the roosters cowboys game and they try an lecture us on Storm support .The fan base in Brisbane alone considering it's a Broncos town is huge .I wonder do these haters realise when the big 3 retire it's only going to get worse when the new big 4 of Jahrome Hughes , Brkdie Croft , Brandon Smith and Munster take over , that's right you will keep hating the storm more cus those finals and premierships ain't gonna stop , wonder how good their own teams juniors are going lol .