No club has played in more grand finals in the NRL era than the Melbourne Storm.
They’ve won six grand finals, beginning with their first premiership in just the second year of their existence in 1999, they won again in both 2007 and 2009 only to have those premierships subsequently stripped due to salary cap breaches, then bounced back to be victorious in 2012, 2017 and 2020.
They also finished runners-up in 2006, 2008, 2016 and 2018, so that’s six wins from ten starts overall. Impressive stuff.
Melbourne have had some outstanding players in their grand final winning teams, and here’s my pick for their team of the greatest grand final winners ever.
Billy Slater and Cameron Smith with the Storm’s 2009 Premiership trophy, later stripped for salary cap cheating. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)
Fullback
Billy Slater is the obvious choice here. Arguably the Storm’s greatest ever player behind Cameron Smith, but also one of the best fullbacks ever to play the game. He played in 4 of Melbourne’s 6 grand final victories, winning the Clive Churchill Medal in both 2009 and 2017. As good as Robbie Ross (1999) was and Ryan Papenhuyzen (2020) is, they’ll never overtake Slater.
Wingers
Choosing the wingers is not so easy. Do you go with the pace and try scoring ability of 2017 and 2020’s wing pairing in Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu, the dependable types like Steve Turner (2007 and 2009) and Anthony Quinn (2007), or the power and excitement of Marcus Bai (1999)?
Josh Addo-Carr played his best football during his time at Melbourne, and with his pace and flair for the unusual has to be on the end of this stellar backline. I can’t go past Papua New Guinea international Marcus Bai for the other spot, as his powerful running had the crowd on their feet every time he touched the ball.
Centres
Leaving the unique skills of Israel Folau (2007) and the power game of Justin Olam (2020) aside, the two stand out centres are clearly Greg Inglis and Will Chambers. Inglis kicked off his career with Melbourne as an 18-year-old in 2005 and played in their grand final wins in 2007 and 2009, winning the Clive Churchill Medal in 2007 when he lined up at 5/8. He was one of the best outside backs of the NRL era.
Will Chambers is sometimes forgotten when discussing Storm greats but certainly not by his opponents. There was nothing Chambers enjoyed more than getting under his opponent’s skin and putting them off their game. Chambers won grand finals with Melbourne in 2009, 2012 and 2017.
Cam Munster. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
Five-eighth
With 2007 grand final hero Greg Inglis in the centres, Cameron Munster takes the 5/8 role. Munster is a fixture in both the Queensland and Australian teams and won premierships with Melbourne in 2017 and 2020.
Halfback
Only three players have worn the number 7 jersey in winning Storm grand final teams; Brett Kimmorley way back in 1999, Cooper Cronk in 2007, 2009, 2012 and 2017, and Jahrome Hughes in 2020.
You just can’t go past Cronk for halfback, as he won the Clive Churchill medal in 2012 and was no less responsible for Melbourne’s success over the years than Billy Slater and Cameron Smith. Had he not defected to the Roosters in 2018 perhaps it would have been Melbourne rather than the Roosters who won the 2018 and 2019 premierships?
Lock Forward
Melbourne have had some great lock forwards contribute to their grand final successes over the years including Kiwi star Tawera Nikau (1999), the ever-reliable Dale Finucane (2017 and 2020), and Todd Lowrie (2012), but I can’t go past the punishing Dallas Johnson (2007 and 2009) for the number 13 jersey. Johnson was a tireless worker in both attack and defence and never gave an inch.
The Storm celebrate their 2017 premiership. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Second Rowers
I’ve gone with Ryan Hoffman (2007, 2009 and 2012) for his high work rate and excellent all-round game, together with Adam Blair (2009), a big weapon who could break any defence open and loved dominating the opposition. Tohu Harris finds himself on the bench and players the calibre of Paul Marquet (1999), Stephen Kearney (1999), Felise Kaufusi (2017 and 2020), and Kenny Bromwich (2017 and 2020) can consider themselves unlucky to miss out.
Front Rowers
There are two standout contenders for the starting front row positions with the rest being mentioned in the bench selections. Glen Lazarus, captain in 1999, and Jesse Bromwich (2012, 2017 and 2020) are both easy selections.
Lazarus was pretty much the best in the business during his career and it was no fluke that he won premierships with both Canberra and Brisbane before bringing his magic touch to the Storm. Jesse Bromwich was rated as the best front rower in the world for much of his career and set the standard for the Storm pack for most of his time at the club.
Hooker
Cameron Smith, captain in five of Melbourne’s six grand final victories. Do we really need to discuss this?
Cameron Smith with the 2020 NRL Premiership trophy. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Bench
In selecting the bench I’ve gone for a utility player, a backrower, and two front rowers.
Utility: Ryan Hinchcliffe played off the bench in Melbourne’s victories in both 2009 and 2012, and was highly regarded by coach Craig Bellamy, playing nearly 180 games for the club.
Backrower: Tohu Harris played in their 2017 victory and the giant Kiwi was a big loss to the club when he headed to the Warriors the following year.
Front Rowers: The likes of Rodney Howe (1999), Aiden Tolman (2009 and 2012), Jordan McLean (2017) and Christian Welch (2020) are all worthy contenders to be in this side somewhere, but my preference is for a couple of mean hombres in Brett White (2007 and 2009) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (2017 and 2020).
Two players who just don’t like the opposition. By all reports, White was a much nicer fellow off the field than on it, and no one in their right mind wants to see big Nelson trotting out for the opposition when you’ve just spent 30-odd minutes trying to contain both Lazarus and Bromwich.
Lineup
1. Billy Slater
2. Josh Addo-Carr
3. Greg Inglis
4. Will Chambers
5. Marcus Bai
6. Cameron Munster
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Glen Lazarus
9. Cameron Smith
10. Jesse Bromwich
11. Ryan Hoffman
12. Adam Blair
13. Dallas Johnson
14. Ryan Hinchcliffe
15. Tohu Harris
16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
17. Brett White
So, there they are, my pick of the greatest Melbourne players to win a grand final with the club. They’d certainly take some beating – and the quality of the side is underlined by the host of great players who didn’t make the cut.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
I see it was all a misunderstanding that carried on for four years .No one on the board or senior management or recruitment had an inkling of what was going on.Lets not forget the legal buffoons who go over every thing to make sure its watertight .Just poor old misunderstood Brian was aware of it and he was totally oblivious to the fact that what he was doing was wrong .Whats the point of an investigation ,if the club was that dysfunctional they are a lost cause .Investigation or not is not going to make the events any different. You are right Melbourne fans have a right to feel aggrieved but only with there own clubs incompetence if what you say is correct.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
I was surprised by the fake trophies thing as it was out of keeping with what they have been saying for years but there is a real sense of injustice in Melbourne over this issue. As for deliberately cheating the cap, again lack of a proper investigation has lead to a lot of half truths and media baked theories. A proper investigation would have found that the whole thing started as a miss understanding over how the salary cap was applied to third party payments. The Storm were doing what the Broncos had been doing for decades but Waldron made one big mistake - he went out and helped arrange those payments. Once he discovered his mistake then he hid the fact from Schubert. Later, his CFO got to learn of the problem which by this time had become massive. No one else in the club or on the board knew what was going on (unlike the Eels). Give Melbourne their INVESTIGATION and then if they deserve greater or less punishment then apply it. In the absence of a full, proper and commensurate investigation and punishments, Melbourne fans have a right to feel aggrieved.
Don
Roar Rookie
It takes a magnificent level of ineptitude to do it.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
If they don't think they deserve the titles why did they have replica trophy's made and unashamedly parade them at a celebration of there premierships? I also tire of hearing how they were treated by the NRL and are portrayed as the victims. They deliberately cheated the cap for a third of there existence in there first dozen years.IMO punishment not severe enough . There is one way to avoid it all DONT CHEAT.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
It should also be noted that Dave Smith, David Gallop's successor made one of his first jobs to come down to Melbourne walk on to the pitch and apologise to the fans. What was he apologising for if he didn't believe that Melbourne had been treated unreasonably ?
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
I don't think they do. Melbourne have long asked for a proper NRL led investigation into the Salary Cap events and for punishments in line with those doled out to other miscreants in prior and subsequent years. Melbourne know they did wrong, they accept that but feel that they were hung out to dry by Mr. Crime and Punishment himself David Gallop. No proper investigation was done with punishments doled out mere days after they admitted their wrong doing. Compare that to Cronulla who never admitted anything, were investigated for months before Todd trotted out some lame excuse so that they could keep their premiership. Compare Melbourne having to play an entire year for no points despite then being cap compliant with the Eels who were told as soon as they got under the cap they could play for points again. Melbourne know they did wrong, accept that they deserve punishment but strongly feel that they were not given due consideration and that their punishments were excessive especially when the full facts became known and precedents with othe clubs are considered.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
Yet they still claim they deserve those titles thats my point
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
"Im not a Storm hater but put your hand up and say sorry we got that wrong" Which is exactly what Melbourne did and as a result was denied any sort of real investigation. Punishments were handed down within days. Compare that to Cronulla or the Eels.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
"That was before they were stripped of points the next year…" but only until they complied with the cap which was a benefit denied to Melbourne.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
Yes, a very good and versatile player. Much better than his brother.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
They absolutely happened, but the winners aren't recorded as the premiers because their squads were illegitimate, and therefore their success was illegitimate.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Actually, it's a great analogy. You're arguing that despite Melbourne committing one of the worst crimes in the game in terms of the integrity of the competition (match fixing would be the only thing worse, surely), they should have been punished far less. What message would that have sent to the other clubs, to the sponsors, or to the fans? Think about Jim Comans running the judiciary in the 80's. Players were being suspended for up to 18 months because a line has to be drawn in the sand. Similarly, the NRL had to draw a line in the sand to try to stamp out the reoccurrence of such extensive, methodical rorting. The fact that people witnessed those illegitimately formed squads succeed makes their success no less illegitimate.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
Fully entitled to your opinion sheek .all good
sheek
Roar Guru
blacktown leagues - I don't care, I still recognise Melbourne winning in 07 & 09. Lot more worse things in the world. You're free to see things your way, I see them my way.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
How about Matt Geyer, at least deserves an honorable mention started in every backline spot at least once as well as Hooker. I realize you can’t fit him in but invaluable to club a player of his versatility. Played in 3 GFs at wing centre and five eighth
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
Prisons are full of people who disagree with there sentence. Unfortunately, when you do wrong you have no choice but to cop the punishment dished out. But like most people in prison its someone else’s fault in this case the NRL are to blame. The grand finals themselves haven’t been swept away by the stroke of a pen those results stand just the titles are gone and rightly so.
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
I know they happened but are still claimed as legitimate by some . As much as you try to justify it they are not legitimate and the majority of nrl fans see it that way but the likes of you and the storm itself refuse to accept that.Im not a Storm hater but put your hand up and say sorry we got that wrong
blacktown leagues
Roar Rookie
I find it amusing you celebrate those titles and then say Manly and Parramatta would hardly be thrilled to be awarded something they didn't deserve. Typifies the club and some of there supporters.
sheek
Roar Guru
blacktown leagues, I stand by my comment, most fans KNOW those grand finals happened. They can't be swept away by a stroke of a pen. For further info, read my reply to Tim Carter.
sheek
Roar Guru
Tim Carter, It's a poor analogy. I never said Melbourne was innocent. Never. I have never agreed with the sentence fitting the crime. Never. Those grand finals happened, they were viewed by millions on TV & thousands at the ground, they can't be swept away by the stroke of a pen. I believe a massive financial hit would have been more appropriate, as was the massive loss of points for the 2010 season. Too often governing bodies overreact when they've discovered a breech too late. Usually, the resultant fine is to protect their own embarrassment & impotence in not discovering the breech earlier. That's what happened with Melbourne, an overreaction by the NRL to protect their own ineptitude.