Melbourne elevated their standing to sit amongst the greatest NRL sides of all time as they withstood a furious Parramatta finish to run out 23-16 winners for their second premiership in three years at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
Parramatta player ratings in Sunday's NRL grand final.
Melbourne player ratings in Sunday's NRL grand final.
The trouble with grand final experience is that there is only one way to get it.
The first half of the 2009 NRL grand final by the clock.
The Melbourne Storm are the NRL premiers of 2009, ending the Parramatta Eels’ fairytale run win a 23-16 victory at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
English-born Melbourne young gun Gareth Widdop clinched the Toyota Cup grand final for the Storm with a 74th minute try and pressure conversion, his side downing the Wests Tigers 24-22 on Sunday.
The Bankstown City Bulls capped a brilliant season, winning the NSW Cup grand final against Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers 32-0 at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
The big one at last. In one corner: Melbourne, title favourites playing in their fourth straight grand final. In the other: Parramatta, underdogs riding an amazing wave of form and led by talismanic superstar Jarryd Hayne.
Veteran Parramatta prop Nathan Cayless has declared himself fit to captain the Eels in Sunday's NRL grand final against Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.
Hit him hard and hit him early. That is the simple game plan Melbourne's forwards will take into Sunday's NRL grand final to stop Parramatta's runaway freight train Fuifui Moimoi.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy admits nothing his side produces in Sunday's NRL premiership decider against Parramatta will ever replace the feeling of last year's embarrassing grand final loss to Manly.
Scott Anderson doesn't have the fondest memories of last year's grand final.
In Krisnan Inu's mind, Sunday will be just like any other day for the brilliant Parramatta and New Zealand Test centre.
Parramatta centre Joel Reddy is prepared for the fact there are going to be times in Sunday's NRL grand final when Greg Inglis is simply unstoppable.
Great Britain international Gareth Ellis has capped a memorable debut season in the NRL by being named Wests Tigers player of the year.
With the biggest day of the NRL season his stage, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy says the pressure is on Parramatta ace Jarryd Hayne to live up to the tag of the game's best player.
Most fairytales have a happy ending but, win or lose Sunday's NRL grand final against Parramatta, Melbourne winger Steve Turner says that best describes his career with the Storm.
Eight years ago Andrew Johns drove a stake through Parramatta hearts by leading Newcastle to the 2001 NRL premiership over the highly-fancied Eels side.
Defending champions Leeds ended the magical playoff run of Catalans Dragons to reach a record-equalling sixth Super League grand final on Friday.