It was always going to end this way. The Melbourne Storm were never going to finish this season as anything but the most deserving of NRL premiers.
More 2017 NRL Grand Final
» Match report: Storm slam Cowboys
» The Liebke ratings
» Five talking points from the match
» North Queensland Cowboys player ratings
» Melbourne Storm player ratings
» Watch video highlights from the match
There wasn’t a neutral supporter who didn’t want North Queensland to win last night’s grand final, not one supporter north of the Murray who wanted to see this magnificently ruthless horde of purple-clad men hoist the trophy.
And perhaps that’s a tick unfair to Craig Bellamy’s men. So good is this team, so consistent have they been over the past decade, that they have rarely been portrayed as anything but the big bad villains ready to crush the dreams of whichever hopeful opponents stood in their way.
The past week was no different. The enduring narrative in the lead-up to the decider was all about the North Queensland fairytale. How the men from Townsville had defied just about every obstacle that could possibly have been thrown at them. Injury. Poor late-season form. A last-round loss that should have seen them knocked out of the finals before they had even begun.
True to the story, that tale of adversity continued almost as soon as the decider began. Shaun Fensom, a man who had waited nine years for his first taste of grand final footy, was stretchered off the field after just three minutes.
Then some more ill-luck; an accidental collision with referee Matt Cecchin prevented Te Maire Martin from laying a hand on Josh Addo-Carr as the Melbourne flyer raced away. We can’t say for sure if it was the difference between a try and a play-the-ball 60 metres out, but Martin did look set to catch Addo-Carr before he ran into Cecchin.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Of course, that misfortune just seemed like the perfect set-up for yet another chapter of the North Queensland fairytale. They’d beaten adversity all year – surely they couldn’t win the premiership without having to do so once again in the final game of the season.
Of course, it wasn’t to be. This Melbourne side is too good – far too good – to let something like sentiment get in the way of a grand final victory. Well, except for last year.
So they followed up Addo-Carr’s try with another to Felise Kaufusi. And then another to Billy Slater. Three more followed in the second half, the final one simply sublime; Smith and Cronk combining to put Slater away one last time, before the fullback offloaded to allow Tohu Harris – yes, the second-rower – to unleash a superb cut-out pass to Addo-Carr.
The 34-6 margin was cruel to the Cowboys – Michael Morgan spoke of being embarrassed in his post-game interview. But it was a fair reflection of how brutally efficient the Storm were.
No Cowboy was able to dominate around the ruck and gain a quick play-the-ball or two. Not even Jason Taumalolo, whose name is pretty much impossible to utter without also mentioning the words ‘human wrecking ball’.
None of the Cowboys’ playmakers were afforded the time and space to measure their last-tackle options. Time and time again, Michael Morgan’s kicks found only the grateful arms of Billy Slater.
The Storm, by contrast, were nigh-on faultless. With the exception of Jesse Bromwich forgetting he’s a front-row forward and opting to dummy and go instead of putting the runner on his inside away, Melbourne’s first half was perfect, and their second wasn’t much worse.
Even when the Cowboys were the first to score in the second half on the back of four penalties, you could tell the Provan-Summons trophy was on its way to Melbourne.
Billy Slater’s kick returns were excellent, as were his contributions in attack. Cooper Cronk, playing his final game in purple, was his typically organised, composed and precise self.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
And then there was the skipper. There has been so much talk about the playing futures of Cronk and Slater, but Cameron Smith looks as if he could play for another 30 years, so effortless does he make rugby league look. That he didn’t win the Clive Churchill Medal was incomprehensible.
It’s exactly what we’ve come to expect from Smith and his team: ruthless, brilliant efficiency. Any doubts around whether they’re the best side of the NRL era are surely gone. They may just be the best of all time.
But we’ll leave that debate for another day. For the time being, let’s reflect only on last night, when North Queensland, for all their resilience, were simply outclassed by a more talented (and far less injured) side.
The Cowboys will be back, we can be sure of that. With Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott back from injury next year, Paul Green’s men will be high on the list of premiership favourites come 2018. They may even be on top, given Cooper Cronk is out of the equation for Melbourne.
This year, though, belongs to the Storm, one of the finest NRL club teams we’ve ever seen. To take from a famous rugby league anthem of days gone by, they’ve simply been the best side all season. Their premiership success is exactly what they deserved.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Still no comments about the game from you Kenny. You've just spent two days going through rating everyone else's comments. Is that what the Roar is supposed to be about? Why don't you practice what you preach? You don't even meet your own definition of being a true fan.
Ken
Guest
You know when I read true league supoorters respecting each other and their opposing teams achievments , this is what the Roar is suppose to be about , thank god for true fans Dean and Dogs body
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Yes mate up up Cronulla. Luckily I didn't have to wait the 50 years for a premiership as I'm only 42 but another 50 year wait could do me in!!! I have no doubt Will couldn't hear Cooper screaming at him, that final 3 minutes was just crazy last year. At least this time you were pretty well assured of the result after the first 40 minutes. Enjoy it while it lasts, no team stays on top like this forever and the Storm have done it for longer than most. You can bathe in the glory of GF success with your club, it's a great feeling. May your hangover be purple, deep deep purple :)
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Bill Brilliantly summarized !
Farqueue
Guest
My dragons in 2010 had 10 or 11 juniors out of 17.....That's not bad.
Bill larkin
Guest
Yeah, yeah sorry. I was watching the replay with one eye, and this thread in another. Clearly demonstrating I'm not one eyed......
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Yep! Spot on Bill! You stated far more succinctly the point I was trying to make.
Bill larkin
Guest
Republican, Boring. How many Sharks were born in the Shire? Roosters in the Eastern suburbs? Etc, etc. Same with the AFL, soccer anywhere in the world, rugby union, and no doubt competitive tiddlywinks. Just let me know when professional sporting teams require players to be born in their nominal home town, and we can have a debate. Otherwise, whine away.
Dean N
Guest
Thanks Dogs Boddy, I know I'll enjoy it alright. Watching the replay for the second time today. It's nice to watch it in a relaxed mood, I can see how it all "really" fell into places. I don't hold it against Chambers for last year. I saw Luke Lewis on nrl.com late last week and he said he wouldn't be surprised if chambers didn't hear cronk calling out to him because the noise was that loud, you could hardly hear your team mates and they weren't right beside each other. Anyway, I don't begrudge the Sharkies their win. We are a bit spoiled asked Storm fans. Who knows? It could be another 50 years before the Sharkies win another grand final. Thanks for the best wishes Dogs Boddy, the Storm have reached a place now in Melbourne where the citizens are really starting to get behind the Storm. They are very respected for what they have achieved in the nrl. I'll hazard a guess that you are a Sharkies fan? Thanks again for the shout out Dogs Boddy.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
And how many juniors from the team you follow 'republican' are born and bred from their area? I'm no expert in these areas and I'm willing to be proven wrong......so how perfect are the team you follow?
Mike from tari
Guest
These guys have lived in Victoria for over 10 years so I would say that they are no longer Queenslanders, they are Yarra Yabbies playing for Qld.
Dean N
Guest
And you still rattling off the same boring scjpiel lol
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Doesn't the N stand for NSW??
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Doesn't the N stand for NSW??
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
My sincerest congratulations to the Storm and their fans for the GF win. They have not just been the benchmark all year, but probably for the last 5 at least. But for one pass last year (thanks again Will) they would have gone back to back this year. Will be interesting to see what happens post Cronk, I think he is far more vital than a lot of people realise. But for now enjoy it fellas.
republican
Guest
....the perfect plastic Storm & still not a Victorian player in sight............
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Larry, as a Bulldog/Berry supporter from the 1960's to now I I'm sorry that you were subjected to the discussions about Dean Pay etc etc etc. I don't listen to the commentary so I had no idea. You're spot on...the Dogs had no one on Grand Final day which should have had an emphasis on the teams playing on the Grand Final stage. As a south western Sydney league lover I can assure you that I do know that the 'N' in NRL does mean National. It was a great game last night and the best team for the entire season won. Go 'Dogs 2018.
elvis
Guest
Best of all time? They are the best of a leveled competition to attract tv interest, "mistake free" footy only works when all the line breaking talent has been spread evenly around the clubs. Really they are mostly a bunch of well trained trundlers with a few stars thrown in. They play a glorified game of force em backs until they get close to the line then try and score, can you imagine this mob's forwards doing that against the pack of the 89 raiders? or the 98 Broncos? or the 2004 Bulldogs?
Larry1950
Guest
So I turn the tv on at 11am on grand final day to get a bit of pre game commentary (only ch9 has coverage of course) on the Storm/Cowboys before the lower grade games take the stage and what am I subjected to? Sydney centric Ch 9 footy personalities all being canvassed on the really big issues on grand final day- what do you each think of Dean Pay's appointment to the Bulldogs coaching position! This went on ad nauseum, we saw him score the same tries over and over, every panelist told us how tough he was, how he'd bring the bulldogs family spirit back, a photo of Pay with coach Gus in the old days etc etc. I know you NSW people hate that the N in NRL stands for national but fair dinkum, absolute inappropriate timing of a story if ever I've witnessed one. Canterbury, who weren't playing in any grade got more air time than any of the clubs playing later on, including those interstate interlopers. Just because they all coached, played with or against Pay didn't need us to be subjected to that level of nostalgia. Grand Final day people, relevance!!!
Albo
Guest
100% Daniel !