By Jerram Watts
It all started eight months ago.
16 teams entered the 2009 NRL Telstra Premiership with their sights set on lifting the trophy come the Grand Final.
200 games later and the 16 hopefuls have been whittled down to two contenders - the Parramatta Eels and the Melbourne Storm.
The men from Victoria enter the match as red-hot favourites after sublime form in the finals saw them trounce last year's premiers, the Manly Sea Eagles, and embarrass the Brisbane Broncos last weekend.
It is the Storm's fourth consecutive Grand Final appearance, of which they have only been victorious once - in 2007. The last team to achieve this feat was, in fact, Parramatta, between 1981 and 1984.
If the Storm come out on top after 80mins tonight, they will be the most successful team of the decade.
Standing in their way is the Hayne Train - the men from Parramatta on a dream run.
The Eels have had a fairytale run to the final this year, winning 10 of their last 11 matches, including scalping the top three finishers of the regular season - the Dragons, Bulldogs and Titans.
The Eels last met the Storm back in round 19, coming away with an 18-16 victory.
The question remains: Can the Hayne Train stop the Slater-and-Inglis express?
Both sides have their superstars, but the Storm have the veterans and the experience of four finals.
Eels' captain Nathan Cayless was passed fit yesterday after suffering a hamstring injury last weekend, meaning both sides are at full strength.
Expect big collisions up front between Eels' enforcer Fuifui Moimoi and Storm hardman Brett White.
Fancy footwork and a little bit of magic from superstars Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater will certainly set the crowd alight tonight.
Finals fever has infected Sydney, an estimated 80,000 people have crammed into ANZ Stadium for the titanic clash.
The latest TAB odds have the Storm at $1.55 favourites and the Eels at $2.40 underdogs.
We'd love to hear your comments and opinions about the match, drop a line below or email noles@tv3.co.nz.
It's the 2009 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final between the Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm!
Kickoff: Storm kick off and Fuifui Moimoi takes the first hit up. He charges towards the defensive line and is hit hard by Adam Blair and Dallas Johson. Eels see out their set and finish with the boot of Hayne
2min: Storm reply with their own set, Cronk bombs the ball on the final play but is diffused well at the back. Second set for Parramatta sees them make only 31m in five tackles - superb defense from Melbourne
4min: Melbourne complete their second set wonderfully. Smith grubbers behind the defense towards the uprights, Jarryd Hayne is there to clean up but is grabbed by the laces by Billy Slater. Drop out Eels
5min: Try Storm! Ryan Hoffman crosses the line after some brilliant second-man play attacking inside the Eels' half sees him run a brilliant line and scamper 15m to score. Smith converts for a 6-0 lead early on
8min: A sloppy ball carry from Inu sees the Eels centre knock the ball on inside his own half. Great attacking opportunity for the Storm
9min: First penalty of the match goes to the Eels. Adam Blair is penalised in the play of the ball. Eels looked under the pump and will relish the free metres. Start the tackle count on the halfway line
10min: The Eels find their way to the Storm's line and the ball goes to Hayne on the last play. Hayne chips the ball over the top from 20m out, but it has a little too much on it and Slater shadows the ball over the line. Cool, calm play from the Storm's fullback
12min: Another clinical set from the Eels as they look to settle in for the Grand Final. A kick on the last play is well placed into the corner, but Slater does well to make a few metres
13min: Adam Blair is penalised again after Inglis bombs the ball towards Inu's side of the field. Inu takes the ball cleanly but Blair comes flying in with a lazy arm and connects high on Inu. Lazy, loose play from Blair. He won't be on the pitch long if he keeps it up
14min: Jarryd Hayne starts his elusive stepping but is well-handled by the defense. Keating kicks on the last play but Burt can't keep the ball in play and the Storm weather the Eels attack once again
16min: A fantastic set from the Eels sees them make huge metres up the field, thanks to a great kick return from Luke Burt. The final kicking option is swallowed up comfortably again by the Storm. Eels keen to attack the right wing of Melbourne which doesn't look to be cracking anytime soon
18min: Slater takes an Eels' kick comfortably and manages to find a gap, but Joel Reddy wasn't having a bar of the superstar's fancy footwork and promptly cut him down. A knock on turns the ball over to the Eels
19min: Kicking options are letting the Eels down at the moment. Mortimer tries to find touch near the in-goal of the Storm, but over cooks a little and the Storm come away with a 20m restart
20min: Eric Grothe take a bow! A huge bomb from the Storm drifts towards Grothe's wing, but he takes a superb catch under pressure and makes a good amount of yardage in ensuing play
22min: The Eels are making huge metres up the field, again off the back off Luke Burt. Robson bombs the ball high on the last play and Inu comes flying through to take the catch - he looks to offload to Galuvao running on his inside, but knocks the ball on. Great play by the Eels, who need to score next to have a foundation to play off
24min: Storm score again! Cooper Cronk throws a dummy mid-field and runs through an opening gap. He finds Adam Blair on his inside and offloads for the forward to scamper the remaining metres to score in the corner
26min: Cameron Smith pulls the conversion and the score remains 10-0 to the Storm
27min: Storm make 55m off their next set after the kickoff. Cronk kicks deep putting the Eels on the back foot again.
28min: Mortimer looks for a chip and chase, showing his desperation, but Smith regathers the kick just on the Storm's side of the half
30min: Daniel Mortimer makes a break up the middle of the field. The Eels spread the ball right then come to Hayne in the middle. Hayne opts to kick on the third play, but it is far too deep with minimal height. Slater takes an easy catch. Disappointing end to a solid set
31min: Cronk gives both sides a breather by finding touch 25m out from the Eels' line
32min: Penalty Eeks. Find touch just inside the Storm's half
33min: Eels have their best chance of the match after Reddy gives Grothe some space on the right wing. Grothe steps in field but the swarming defence repels him
35min: Another poor, poor final tackle option from the Eels. After making good metres again, Hayne tries another kick over the top, but it lacks height and thought, Slater takes the catch comfortably
37min: Storm are making good metres in the final minutes of the first half. 61m off five tackles. Hindmarsh pressures Cronk before he can get the kick away, Cronk knocks on and the ball is turned over
39min: Hindmarsh loses control during the play of the ball. Storm being their set inside their own 40m line
40min: Storm look to attack down the right wing, but over-zealous offloads combined with pressure from the Eels sees the ball passed forward and turned over
Halftime: The Storm lead the Eels by 10-0. It has been a clinical first half from the Melbourne side, finding good attacking options early on and punishing the Eels for silly mistakes on defence. A try inside the first five minutes was the perfect start to the match for the Storm and they continued to build on the early pressure. The Eels have had some good chances, but the final kicking option is letting them down. They need to find plays that are going to put the Storm under the pump and hopefully earn some repeat sets. The Storm look solid, however, and if they can continue with their solid defence then ten points could be enough. Never count the Eels out, however, the Parramatta boys are definitely capable of pulling something out of the hat. Storm lead 10-0
41min: Parramatta kicks off and they muscle up on defence. However Joe Galuvao wasn't square at marker and was penalised. The Storm restart their set inside the Eels' half
42min: Fuifui Moimoi smashes Brett White! What a hit! Storm lose control of the ball in ensuing play and it rolls into touch
43min: Good set from the Eels, Hayne kicks the ball behind Slater and chases hard. Slater steps Hayne but cant' escape the other tacklers. Good pressure from the Eels
44min: Mateo makes a huge break downfield to put the Eels in good attacking position
45min: Eels score! They spread the ball wide to Eric Grothe who steps inside the Storm defenders to slam the ball down for the first four-pointer for the Eels. Brute strength from Mateo put the Eels in that position, great run.
46min: Burt converts to cut the deficit to 10-6. What a match we have ladies and gentlemen!
48min: Mortimer is pressured while kicking on the last play and can't get a good one away. Storm run their sets clinically.
49min: Storm score! Cronk bombs the ball high to the Eels' right wing, no-one seems to want it, except for Greg Inglis, that is. The flying centre plucks the ball out of the sky, uncontested, and canters 5m to score under the posts
51min: Smith converts to reinstate the 10-point buffer
52min: A good kick from Smith on the 4th tackle is well-placed and stops just before the Eels' tryline. Hayne is under pressure from the chasers but does well to make a few metres
53min: Joe Galuvao makes a break down the middle of the field. There wasn't enough plays left and they Eels decide to spread the ball right, Joel Reddy takes the defence on himself but is tackled. Turnover
54min: Mateo tries to force the pass in the tackle but loses control of the ball. Storm have the scrum feed just inside the Eels' half
55min: Storm score again! Cronk offloads to Adam Blair, running a solid line, who breaks through the defence to offload to Billy Slater on the burst. Slater sprints the last 10m to score to the right of the uprights. That could be the Grand Final right there, but don't lose hope Eels fans, it's not too late for a comeback - or is it?
57min: Smith converts again for a 22-6 lead
59min: Hayne passes two out to Burt on the left wing. Burt appears to have some space but a superb tackle from Turner sees Burt's foot graze the chalk
62min: Robson goes to air on the last play, Hayne running through, but good shadowing from the Storm sees them block Hayne's path which makes for an easy catch for Slater
63min: Eels attack again, Hayne skip passes to Mateo who knocks on. Storm's defence is superb, it really is
65min: Storm complete a solid set, good kick into the corner forces Hayne to do some hard work. Eels kick to the left wing mixes the attacking options up a little, but it rolls into touch
66min: Line drop out Eels. Greg Inglis finds some space on the left wing and offloads inside, the ball is toed forward but forced by the Eels. Cheeky drop out from the Eels sees them go short and regather after the Storm are penalised for being offside
68min: Penalty Eels. Storm offside in the play of the ball. Good opportunity attacking inside the Storm's 20m. They spread the ball left and Turner attempts to halt the play, knocking the ball into touch. Scrum Eels
70min: Try Eels! Robson goes to air towards the right wing. Three Parramatta chasers are onto it but it's Joel Reddy who wants it the most and leaps high (Red Bull should sponsor this guy because he's got wings).
71min: Brut converts to cut the deficit to 10 points again. Storm lead 22-12
73min: Eels score again! Fuifui Moimoi on the rampage runs towards the left wing and there is no stopping the big Kiwi enforcer! He steamrolls the defence on his way to score 4 points. Burt's conversion is just wide. Storm lead 22-16
75min: Hayne puts a ball up so high it comes down with snow on it! Slater attempts to take the catch but knocks it on under pressure. Great attacking chance for the Eels! What a match!
76min: Robson tries to grubber through for his runners but it is ineffective and cleaned up easily by the Storm
77min: What a terrible call from the ref! Moimoi chops Slater down beautifully in the tackle then Slater loses the ball cold when he goes to play it! Ref gives Storm a penalty! What a joke, what an absolute joke!
78min: Inglis nails a field goal! 23-16 lead to the Storm. How big a call was that penalty from the ref? What a disgrace, that's a match-turner right there. Absolute disgrace. Still, Storm take the opportunity and nail the field goal. 7 points clear and you would think the Storm are the 2009 Premiers!
Fulltime: The Storm have won the 2009 NRL Telstra Premiership! They have beaten the Parramatta Eels 23-16. It was a match the Eels never really looked like winning, save for a comeback of sorts in the opening minutes of the second half. An outstanding performance from the Melbourne side has seen them win their second premiership in four years. What a team, what a season, what composure! The fairytale run has come to a heart-breaking end for the Eels, but they can take a lot away from this match, it's their first time in the Grand Final in years, they have a young side and can build on it in coming years. Congratulations Melbourne Storm, the 2009 NRL Premiers!