It was fitting that Simply The Best was belted out as Cameron Smith hoisted the Provan-Summons trophy aloft last night.
Fitting because, at the end of the weirdest season in the NRL’s history, there is no question left to be answered about the who the best team were.
The scoreboard might make the grand final look closer than it really was, but the Storm proved once and for all across 80 minutes at Homebush in miserable conditions that they are the ultimate NRL club.
Without even considering the dynasty – or close enough to – the Storm have been able to build over the last decade and a half in this competition, this year may well have been the most challenging of the lot.
Instead of being able to sleep in their own beds each night, they were whisked away to keep the season going, living many miles from Melbourne on the Sunshine Coast for the last five months.
While the COVID situation worsened south of the New South Wales border, the Storm players continued to do what they do best – win games of footy.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The pay off of all their sacrifices this year was clear for all to see last night as Smith and his merry band of men in purple took the fight to the Panthers, handing the side their first loss since Round 6.
And even if you do consider the referees played their part – most of the decisions were virtually spot on, but more on this in a moment – the Storm were still the better team.
The Panthers had 20 tackles in the opposition 20 during the first half, and still couldn’t crack the Storm, who just kept turning up for each other in defence. That was compared to only two tackles down the other end of the park for Melbourne, yet they were able to break Penrith time and time again.
While Phil Gould was attempting to tell anyone who would listen that the Panthers were in the game up to their eyeballs during the first half, the bottom line is they weren’t, and grand final experience counts for plenty.
You see, in the face of a couple of decisions which didn’t go their way, as well as against a Melbourne defensive outfit which played better than any they have faced in months, they cracked and faltered.
While the penalty try and even the Smith try were the correct decisions by most neutral observers’ rule book, it can be noted Penrith didn’t get everything going their way. That is where the good teams sit up and keep working. Unfortunately, Penrith fell apart and soft efforts in defence followed.
But that is what Melbourne do to you. There is a reason they are the best. Even without their retired stars, they have found a way to keep the club operating at the peak of its powers, with Ryan Papenhuyzen shocking the world to take out the Clive Churchill Medal last night.
You couldn’t have had a more deserving winner though, with the potential NSW Blues debutant running for more than 200 metres, scoring a breakaway try and making one crazy play to keep a ball in.
It was a brilliant grand final performance from the fullback, on par with any delivered previously from winning sides, and he, along with a forward pack who showed no mercy during the first hour were the reason Melbourne got over the line.
It was a miserable way for the season to end for Penrith, who were all but out of the contest by halftime when they went into the sheds 22-0 down.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Again, it’s what Melbourne do to you, but instead of letting the floodgates open when Melbourne did score first in the second half, they toughed it out and actually gave themselves a small chance at the back-end.
Sure, it would have taken a miracle and the undisputed best grand final comeback in the game’s history, but they didn’t fall away completely, and that, for a team who want to be back at the business end of proceedings next year, was more important than anything else they did last night, or potentially even this season.
It feels weird to make a comment like that when they have won 17 on the trot before the deciding match, but experience in big games was always going to be the downfall of the mountain men. That is an experience they will be able to draw on next year when the going inevitably gets tough as the NRL hopefully returns to something approaching normal both in terms of season length, and travel for teams.
But the Panthers have put together a stellar season, and showed glimpses of it at the end of the game as Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai combined brilliantly, and their forwards got their act together.
Nathan Cleary (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Unfortunately, it was too little too late, but players like Viliame Kikau saving their worst game for the biggest of the season was never going to bode well for a victory to the minor premiers.
They had simply forgotten what it was like to be under pressure and panicked as a result, making plays like they haven’t all year.
In fact, if you were looking for one moment to sum it all up for the Panthers, it was Cleary’s intercept pass which simply didn’t need to be thrown, but ended up allowing Suliuasi Vunivalu to give the competition a farewell gift and run the best part of 100 metres to score.
The Panthers were hopelessly outgunned, but they have proven this season they have what it takes to go all the way. Last night is a step on that learning curve.
What we can almost be sure of is that, no matter whether Smith retires, or what shape the NRL looks in next year, both of these teams will be near or at the top of the table once again, and there is every chance one of them could lift that famous trophy at the end.
That is a long, long way away though, and for now, Melbourne will celebrate rising to the top of the mountain again after a period of Roosters dominance, while the Panthers will plot how to live up to their favourites tag for 2021.
MCPC
Roar Rookie
Absolutely, Mansour went too hard, too early & copped the big fend. I think in situations like that you've gotta try to run alongside a bit & bullock him to the ground. Obviously, much, much easier said than done against an opponent with such size & speed. If he knew he was outmatched for speed my tactic would be worthless.
MCPC
Roar Rookie
I agree, the Patented QLD Ambush is always a very real threat. As is NSW playing without a clue or a heart.
Rob
Guest
Well offering players a job for life (Roosters offered Thurston) or a coaching assistant role (Cronk) or club mangers job (many others) after finishing playing career?
Rob
Guest
John, I do think culture is a Storm foundation building bloke. Bellamy is probably one of the most intense coaches I’ve seen. Smith is probably one of the calmest yet super competitive captains of has seen. It’s a marriage made in heaven to a degree. The players are smashed by the drill Sargent who would probably micro manage every aspect of their training putting them under physiological pressure to concentrate, then they run out on the field with a well composed relaxed leader that lets them just concentrate on their own personal battle and job as he steers them around the park. This is where I have a knock on Johns and Thurston game as leaders. When things aren’t going well they get frustrated and often over played their hand at the detriment of the team. Cleary is pretty composed but that interception was the difference. Smith steps up with talk and effort but he never over plays his hand. It’s an amazing and critical quality for great leadership IMO. Not the star but let’s everyone else shine.
Albo
Roar Rookie
But a bad miss by Mansour not stopping him before he got motoring.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! Whilst appearing the most dangerous Panther attacker , Kikau also registered 5 dropped balls / 4 missed tackles / 2 penalties given up ! You just don't win big games against the Storm with that sort of result.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Yep, you're right. Qld have never won with a lesser team on paper. It's also very NSW to squeeze every form player into the team without consideration to the positions they've played all season.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
It's not happening.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
"But Panthers are 2021 favourites", and if I was a "bookie" I'd be delighted to take those bets. I just don't see it. I know they played well all year, had some amazing games, dreaded the thought of Parra facing them (although that was at least as much as us being out of form) etc. but they still didn't convince me they were a dominate force. I can't explain it (logically) but it seemed more like they would make something happen (expect a few semi miracle plays) than a strong performance from a dominate team. One could argue they have a young roster that will only get better from this years experience, which is probably true, or one could argue that in many cases "rookies" who seriously outperform in year 1 get their (often only 1 ) major talent/point of difference exposed. I'll tip the Panthers to miss the top 4 next year.
Growler
Roar Rookie
Backing the Panthers in 2021, roster aside, would take a very brave man. Ivan Cleary. 342 games. 14 Seasons. 6 finals series. 2 grand finals - both lost. Records are meant to be broken but there are also plenty of talented guys out there that just couldn’t get the job done. He broke his season win record of 62% by achieving a whopping 89% this year, finals included. I don’t support the Panthers but do feel for the guy and wouldn’t mind if he could buck the trend, even without my cash on board...
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's such a deflating moment for the Pennies and amazing work from Pap. The Pennies are probably the worst team in the comp you want to get on a roll because they have a very strong history of running teams down and it looked on the cards. I've always found big comebacks are dependent largely on a mistake free spell from the chaser and the Pennies kept making mistakes.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Well said, Cam.
bbt
Roar Rookie
Great game - enjoyed, then again it is always more enjoyable when your team wins!!! The big moment of the game, for me, was Paps batting Cleary's kick back into play. Had that kick gone out, the Panthers would have been in an excellent attacking position against a tiring defense. IMHO - saved the match.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Queensland look better than last year and there’s a lot of NSW players not in as good form as they were last year NSW won the 2019 series in the 80th minute of game 3
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Yeah, the tactic was right but he just couldn't hold the ball and when he did he couldn't play it properly. Still if Cleary gives him the ball instead of the rainbow pass I reckon he scores.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
well if the theory is correct the Raiders should have been premiers. The trick is to put the disappointment of the loss behind them, treat it as a learning experience and get on with next season. Many may disagree but I felt that Ricky & the raiders failed to do this and Sticky seemed to hold a grudge about it well into the season.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
I'm nervous, DCE, Munster a well rested Papa, plus the explosive AJ. I'm backing the Blues in as massive underdogs :thumbup:
Cam
Roar Rookie
Was some funny dialogue with Gould pumping the Panthers tyres up "I've seen them win a dozen U20 games where they have been behind by huge margins", Freddy Fitler's response "Yeah, they weren't playing against Cameron Smith and the Storm though".
Succhi
Roar Rookie
A lot will depend on how these players take this loss between the ears. I think Tamou will be a big loss for his experience and level head.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Just to put the Storm’s history into perspective, type in Google “NRL salary cap breaches wikipedia” and you will have a list as long as your arm, incidentally incorporating all 18 NRL clubs. The most notable of these are the Bulldogs $2.13 million breach in 2002, Warriors $1.1 million in 2005, Storm $1.7million in 2010, Eels $500,000 in 2016, Manly $1.5 million in 2018. Cronulla also won their premiership in the middle of a salary cap rorting scandal. They most likely kept their rings purely because the Storm were stripped. To be honest, it wasn’t going to be a great look for the NRL having all these gaps in their GF winners record books. Beyond those teams that have been caught, expect literally hundreds of incidents to have gone unnoticed. I can give you a first hand look into the machinations of NRL club accounting. My brother-in-law played 200+ games at a Sydney club (retired now). His wife (my sister), who at the time was raising 4 kids, was drawing a $150,000 a year wage from the leagues club as a secretary. She never set foot into the place. This narrative of the Storm being some shadowy, evil empire has been driven by several NSW journos who are loathed to shine a light on their own Sydney clubs.