Episode 41: Storm go through to the 'Big Dance', their 12th Grand Final, keen to atone on their 2024 disappointment

11th Grand Final in 20 seasons. 12th Grand Final appearance in 28 seasons, since Melbourne's inception into the NRL. Craig Bellamy, the man at the helm of this sustained success, who has made 22 out of 23 finals series since being appointed as Head Coach, will coach the Storm to both his and the club's 11th Grand Final appearance in 23 seasons. That's on average a staggering Grand Final appearance every 2 years. As the man himself often has said and reiterated it post game "Grand Finals are hard to make, they're even harder to win". Nothing is guaranteed. Melbourne will renew hostilities with the NRL Club they were born out of in the Brisbane Broncos. The rivalry started in 1998 and has grown ever since, with inaugural CEO, Football Manager and Captain in John Ribot, Chris Johns and the 'Brick with eyes' in Glenn Lazarus being Broncos alumni, Bellyache being a former assistant coach at Brisbane, to the pair facing off in the 2006 Grand Final and the dominance Storm have had over the Broncos in recent years. But all that accounts for nothing as a Grand Final is opportunity both teams will be not wanting to waste - no more than Melbourne, who are ruing the missed chance of being crowned Premiers last season. Will that be at the back of the players mind as they prepare for Sunday's clash? Will it be the motivation needed when the game is on the line and the players need to dig a little bit deeper, find something extra, knowing it could result in winning a premiership, as opposed to the heartache of losing a Grand Final, a feeling 15 of the 17 who run out for the Storm this Sunday night, know all too well after experiencing the disappointment of falling short last year. We'll all know if it is the motivation come the end of the 80th minute this Sunday night at Accor Stadium.

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