You can’t win a grand final until you’ve lost one, so the cliche goes. But like every cliche, there’s at least some truth to it.
The media narrative around the wildly successful Panthers is the 2020 defeat to Melbourne was the making of them, the final piece of the jigsaw.
Fast-forward four years, there’s no denying the chasm of not just grand final but elimination game experience between Penrith and Melbourne in Sunday evening’s captivating decider at Accor Stadium.
Only four Storm players – Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Christian Welch – who featured in the club’s last grand final, the 2020 triumph over Penrith, ran out in the purple jersey on Sunday against the pink Panthers. Nelson Asofa-Solomona played in their last premiership but was suspended for this year’s decider.
Just cast your eye over some of the names from that squad: Cameron Smith, Brandon Smith, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Josh Addo-Carr, Suliasi Vunivalu … all before you go into the previous loss of two-thirds of the Big Three, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
Every side loses quality players due to chasing more money, retirement, injuries or myriad other reasons. But it can take a long time for that side to become relevant again, let alone reach contender status.
Craig Bellamy is the undisputed king of turning talented players into stars and converting journeymen into important role players.
He has assembled perhaps the most complete roster in the competition, all the while keeping Storm competitive and not even half a decade after their last premiership, they are genuine contenders once again, to the chagrin of swathes of supporters around the NRL.
“Hopefully, we’ll be wiser for tonight, you know, learn a few things,” Bellamy said.
“I don’t think we’re going to lose too many of our squad next year. There’s a bit of a theory, you’ve got to lose one before you can win one.
“Hopefully, that’s the case. But like I say, at the end of the day, we were outplayed tonight. They were too good.As I said, they stuck to what they know they’re good at, just a little bit better than us and a little bit longer than us.”
Harry Grant celebrates his try with teammates. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Captain Harry Grant, who ran in the Storm’s sole try of the grand final, was playing in his first decider, as were much of the squad.
“It’s hard to reflect on the season right now after a loss like that,” Grant said.
“I think we’ve had an incredible season.I think we sort of learnt how hard it is to get here over the last few years. We thoroughly enjoyed this week but we probably learnt what this week is all about and what it takes to take your game to the next level once you do get here. It’s hard to get here and it’s even harder to win.
“It just goes to show that if Penrith have been here and done it, you’ve got to give them a lot of credit and a lot of respect for what they’ve done over the past four or five years. We’ve got a lot of guys that this is the biggest game of our careers.
“That’s a real learning. Like Craig said, we’re keeping our squad together. We’re adding to our squad and we’ll be more experienced and better for the run next season.”
Towards the middle of the 2025 season he will likely play another game of will he, won’t he stay with the media but it’s hard to see him stepping down while he is healthy enough, and so clearly yearns for more success with the extremely well-run Melbourne machine.
Harry Grant is emotional after the loss. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The influence of Bellamy and the nucleus of his playing roster – Hughes, Munster, Grant, Papenhuyzen – should see this side remain competitive for some time.
The halves pairing are no spring chickens with Munster already on the wrong side of 30 and Hughes’ twenties concluding on Tuesday but injury permitting, the modern career projection of playmakers could allow them three or four more seasons at the same level.
Grant and Papenhuyzen are still in their mid twenties with plenty of good years in front of them.
Penrith’s dominance has to end at some point – and which club is better placed to end their incredible dynasty than Melbourne?
Unfortunately for them, 2024 was not to be the year that they break through for another title, but this team is on the cusp of a new phase of success.
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