Storm 34 Sea Eagles 8
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Melbourne won their second premiership with an emphatic win over Manly in the NRL grand final at Telstra Stadium in Sydney last night.
The Storm, minor premiers and competition favourites who lost only three matches during the regular season, proved too classy for the second-placed Sea Eagles, who
were appearing in their first grand final since 1997.
The Storm led 10-4 at halftime and blew Manly off the park in the second half, with tries to Michael Crocker, Matt King, Greg Inglis, Clint Newton and Anthony Quinn sealing the premiership.
Quinn and Clive Churchill medallist Inglis bagged two for the match, after both scored in the first half.
Storm captain Cameron Smith was outstanding but had an off night with the boot, kicking just three goals from eight attempts, but it mattered little.
Manly's only points came through tries to centre Steve Matai and winger Chris Hicks.
The premiership is Melbourne's second in only their 10th year in the NRL - they beat St George in the 1999 grand final - and the result will heal the wounds left from last year's grand final loss to Brisbane.
Both sides made a physical start to the match, but the Storm's big guns - including Smith, Inglis and fullback Billy Slater - took control of the game.
Melbourne opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Quinn.
The winger finished a good backline move, involving Smith and Inglis, to cross out wide, the video referee ruling out any obstruction before awarding the four-pointer.
Slater continued eating up metres at will for the Storm, before Inglis produced a powerful display to extend the lead.
The centre showed brute strength in shrugging off attempted tackles from Anthony Watmough and Matt Orford before crashing over for his eighth try of the season.
The Storm continued to dominate, but the Sea Eagles made the most of a Melbourne mistake just one minute from the break and Matai scored to keep them within six.
But any hope of a Manly comeback suffered a huge blow when fullback Brett Stewart was knocked out after fielding a towering Inglis bomb just after the interval.
Stewart copped a huge hit from Michael Crocker and did not return to the field.
A fired-up Crocker then extended the Storm's lead with a try in the 44th minute, producing a fine solo effort in taking on the line and beating Jason King and Michael Robertson before planting the ball down just beside the posts.
The Storm were in again two minutes later when Inglis raced 60m to score his second.
Prop Brett White had put him into space with a clever offload and Robertson could do little to stop the rampaging five-eighth on his run to the line.
Warrington-bound King grabbed a try in his last match for the Storm in the 54th minute.
Manly winger Chris Hicks pulled the margin back for Manly with a try in the 63rd to bring the Storm within 14 but any slim hopes of a fightback were stifled when Newcastle Knights reject Clint Newton capped a memorable season with a try with five minutes to go.
Quinn then streaked away to score his second of the match with two minutes to go to spark the Storm's celebrations.
Bookmakers across the country were reeling after the Storm's win ripped millions from their bags.
Punters had smashed the bookies when Geelong thrashed Port Adelaide at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday and they put them to the sword again with extensive winnings on Melbourne.
-AAP
Melbourne: G. Inglis 2, A. Quinn 2, M. Crocker, M. King, C. Newton tries; C. Smith 3 goals
Manly: C. Hicks, S. Matai tries.
