Melbourne Storm

Centres are always crucial and even more so in big games where defence comes to the fore because those in the No.3 and No.4 jerseys control a lot defensively.

You control that line. If you want to push up and tighten things up in defence it always ends with you. As a centre, you get to make that call. It's been known as one of the toughest positions to defend and decision-making is a big part of that.

You have to be alert to what's around you. There's a lot of decisions to make in attack too if you have a two-on-one or there's any type of overlap.

Hasler looked a right Nostradamus as Brandon Smith ran riot in a three-try, 13-minute opening barrage that skewered the Sea Eagles, and doubly so by Saturday morning when the NRL's number one No.9 reported fears of a facial fracture could be put to bed.

The affable paceman's hard luck, performing drinks duties 19 times for Steve Waugh's all-conquering Test attack, was seen as a true measure of Australia's dominance at the time.

A team as good as Waugh's could afford to keep Bichel mixing the Gatorade.

The most remarkable facet of the Melbourne Storm's bid for a record 20 straight wins this year is Craig Bellamy doesn't know who his Andy Bichel is after winning for the past five months.

Or even exactly what his best 17 looks like.

The Storm now stand alongside the 1975 Eastern Suburbs side with the longest winning streak of all time but they had to fight back from 10-0 down early to achieve the milestone.

"We didn't put too much energy into thinking about the record but I'm really proud of this group for being able to win 19 in a row," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

"That's hard to do in any era I'd imagine but certainly the era we're in now... I'm really proud of the playing group for what they've done.

The Storm dominated all but the last 10 minutes of a season finale, played in front of a rain-drenched crowd of 40,000, that had looked highly unlikely when the league ground to a halt after two rounds in March because of the coronavirus crisis.

The Panthers reached the championship decider on the back of a 17-match winning streak but they were unable to break free of a stifling Melbourne defence until it was too late to make a difference.

He will be the second Papua New Guinean to play in an NRL grand final with Melbourne Storm; following closely in the steps of his inspiration – Marcus Bai.

The 26-year-old Simbu man wears his heart on his sleeves every time he takes the field. He knows his country, and especially his family back home, closely watch his every move; celebrating and crying with him every step of the way.

Though he is in his Melbourne Storm colours, PNG’s red, black and gold always shine through.

Kearney has signed a 12-month deal with the Storm.

In doing so, he will return to where it all began for him as a coach, having previously been Bellamy's assistant between 2006 and 2010.

Kearney also played 139 games for the Storm between 1999 and 2004, forming part of their inaugural premiership-winning side.

The hosts made a flying start when Mikaele Ravalawa was awarded a penalty try in the second minute – Corey Thompson shoving the Fijian to the floor as he was about to ground an in-goal kick at the end of a 70-metre run.

David Nofoaluma grabbed a clever kick from the inspired Benji Marshall, who booted eight points, to level matters but Zac Lomax went over and added his own extras to ensure the Dragons led 12-8 at the break.

Nicknamed Big Nasty, Asofa-Solomona hadn't played in a month before their preliminary final win over Cronulla due to an ankle injury.

Coming off the bench, he used his 201cm, 123kg frame to plenty of damage through the middle against the Sharks while making 21 tackles.

But Storm assistant coach Jason Ryles warned the New Zealand Test prop would be better for the hit-out and he expected an improved performance at ANZ Stadium.

In a dramatic start to this year's final series, the Rabbitohs appeared to have clinched a preliminary final when Cameron Murray controversially stormed over with nine minutes to go.

But Munster set up a line break for Billy Slater and then stepped up to nail a 31-metre field goal to send a raucous crowd of 17,306 at AAMI Park into raptures.

The Rabbitohs now wait on the winner of Sunday's elimination final between Brisbane and St George Illawarra to keep their season alive next week.