Melbourne Storm to launch 14th straight finals campaign at AAMI Park

Forget Sydney and Geelong – the best footy finals team of the 21st century launches its 14th-straight flag campaign with a home final in Melbourne on Saturday. Here’s why you shouldn’t miss it.

Storm’s record-breaking 14th consecutive finals series starts on Saturday, when the all-conquering club hosts the Cronulla Sharks in a qualifying final at AAMI Park.

And with no AFL finals being played in Melbourne this weekend, captain Harry Grant is hoping to see the stands packed with purple in time for the 4.05pm kick off.

“It’s going to be a massive game for us,” Grant said. “It’s finals footy, any team you go up against at this time of year is dangerous. You’ve got to be on your game.

“Hopefully we can get as much purple as we can (at AAMI Park).”

Olivia, 12, and Aidan, 9, will be there with their Storm-fanatic families.

Storm stars Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes meet fans Olivia, 12, Isabella, 11, and Aidan, 9, at open training ahead of the club’s qualifying final in Melbourne. Picture: Mark Stewart

Harry Grant takes selfies with the Storm faithful. Picture: Mark Stewart

Ryan Papenhuyzen meets fans at open training at AAMI Park. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I’ve been supporting Storm since I was three,” Olivia said. “I’m very excited about Sua (Fa’alogo), he’s just a great player.

“I believe in them (going all the way).”

Aidan added: “My whole family barracks for the club. I just love rugby – I’ll be playing next year.”

The pair got to meet star players at the club’s open training session this week, including Aidan’s favourite Ryan Papenhuyzen.

A ninth top-of-the-ladder finish this year continued what has been a dominant run for the Storm since its first NRL season in 1998.

Grant said this stellar home-and-away form had given the group confidence heading into the club’s 24th finals series.

“What we’ve been able to achieve throughout the year with consistent performances, the most wins in the competition, it’s pretty big for the group,” he said. “It’s also about taking confidence into this part of the season.”

Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Melbourne Storm teammates training ahead the club’s home qualifying final at AAMI Park on September 14, against the Cronulla Sharks. Picture: Mark Stewart

Jahrome Hughes. Picture: Mark Stewart

Tyran Wishart. Picture: Mark Stewart

The club reigns supreme for finals appearances since 2000 – trumping even AFL juggernauts Geelong and Sydney.

Storm has made 22 finals series this century, winning 31 finals matches and three premierships (plus a further two flags that were later stripped due to salary cap infringements).

In comparison, Sydney’s 20 finals appearances since 2000 have yielded 22 wins and two premierships, while Geelong’s record is 19 finals berths, 25 finals wins and four flags.

Earlier in the season, Storm chief executive Justin Rodski said the club considered itself “the Sydney Swans of the NRL”, in relation to “our culture, where we sit on the ladder, the system we have in place and the respect we have in the sporting landscape”.

“It’s something we are very proud of,” he added.

Rodski also revealed to CODE Sports this week that one of the club’s goals was to “purchase the Grand Final from the NRL and take it to the MCG”.

Storm is also having its best-ever year off the field – signing 37,000 members and notching a record average crowd size of 22,000, broadcast audience of 20.3 million and social media following that is second only to the Broncos.

Get finals tickets at melbournestorm.com.au/finals-hub

Originally published as Melbourne Storm to launch 14th straight finals campaign at AAMI Park