Storm crowned 2017 NRL premiers beating Cowboys in grand final
UNSTOPPABLE and unrelenting Melbourne won their third official premiership on Sunday night as the club’s Big Three finally — and sadly — split up.
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IT was premiership No. 3 courtesy of the Big Three. Here’s three cheers.
Unstoppable and unrelenting Melbourne won their third official premiership on Sunday night as the club’s Big Three finally — and sadly — split up.
Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater — all legends — inspired Melbourne to a crushing 34-6 win over an outclassed and worn-out North Queensland at ANZ Stadium.
Cronk will move to Sydney next season, while Slater’s future remains unclear, although it appears he will re-sign for at least another season.
The brilliant Slater, who scored a try on Sunday night and also had a try assist, won the Clive Churchill Medal.
“They are the best combination we have ever seen in rugby league,” Immortal Andrew Johns told Channel Nine.
Slater broke down in tears after returning to premiership glory from two shoulder operations and 18 months on the sidelines.
“I honestly didn’t know whether my body would let me back here — it’s a good feeling,” Slater said. “(To) Cooper, I played alongside you for the past 17 years. You have made me a ten times better player and a ten times better team.”
Cronk added: “I’d like to think we inspire each other to keep working hard. This is my last time in a purple jumper.
“There are no fairy tales in rugby league but you work really hard and hope results go your way. I don’t know where I would be without Melbourne Storm.”
Smith had doubts Cronk could play for another NRL side.
“Putting myself in his shoes, I don’t know if he could go play with another club,” Smith said.
“No matter what happened tonight, it wasn’t going to change his legacy at the Melbourne Storm. It’s a really sad night for our club but we couldn’t have asked for a better or happier ending.”
Storm coach Craig Bellamy added: “It’s Cooper’s decision — if he wants to play on I’ll support him all the way.”
Pressed on Slater’s courageous return, Bellamy said: “Billy got what he deserved tonight.”
Melbourne started fast and physical and never let up. It was a thorough, clinical and professional performance.
After a 20-minute arm-wrestle to start the game, the Storm got on top.
Josh Addo-Carr raced the length of the field to score the opener after the Cowboys tried to bat back an attacking kick, only for the Storm winger to pounce.
Felise Kaufusi finished off some fine work from the Smith-Cronk-Slater combination to make it 12-0 before Slater put the result beyond doubt just minutes before halftime with his own try to lead 18-0.
A 48th-minute effort from Te Maire Martin was in vain as Dale Finucane, Curtis Scott and Addo-Carr put the exclamation point on one of rugby league’s great seasons.
The Storm had two titles stripped, in 2008 and 2011, due to salary cap cheating.
They couldn’t take on Sunday night’s win away as the club added to their 1999 and 2012 premierships.
Smith, Cronk and Slater were irresistible on Sunday night. They deserved a premiership in their final game together. But the contribution of their 14 teammates shouldn’t be underestimated either.
They were all part of Melbourne side that lost just four games all season. Few could argue their dominance.
Storm players ran through a giant banner which read: One Team. One Town. One State. We Stand as One.
And number one they are.
“I have dreamt of this moment since I was a little kid,” said Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster.
North Queensland, still without Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott, were courageous again but the weary Cowboys just couldn’t rise one more time.
The light had flashed on — their fuel tank was empty. The emotion had drained from their bodies over a month of sudden-death football.
“Melbourne was a cut-above everyone this year,” Cowboys skipper Gavin Cooper said afterwards.
Sunday night was a triumph for Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy, the greatest coach of rugby league’s modern era.
North Queensland’s night started in horrific circumstances when backrower Shaun Fensom broke his leg in just the fourth minute of play. It was yet another setback for the already injury-ravaged Cowboys.
The ANZ Stadium crowd — posted as 79,722 — was well and truly behind North Queensland. But it counted for little.
Melbourne were in total control. Still, just reaching the grand final was a miracle for North Queensland, who only just limped into the finals in eighth place.
Their charge lit-up the finals series. It was their second grand final in three years.
Thurtson gathered his team in a huddle at full-time to soothe their heartbreak.
“It hurts — Melbourne break down teams very well,” said Cowboys star Michael Morgan.
Originally published as Storm crowned 2017 NRL premiers beating Cowboys in grand final
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