KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - They lost twice to the New Zealand Warriors and were seconds away from National Rugby League (NRL) oblivion against Brisbane.
They're without their inspirational captain, Cameron Smith, were fined A$50,000 by the NRL and now face legal action after coach and chief executive questioned the judicial
panel's credibility in the wake of Smith's grapple tackle ban.
They might be convinced everyone hates them, but, no one has yet managed to kill off the Melbourne Storm.
Minor premiers for three years running, the Storm are back to defend their NRL title against a red-hot Manly Sea Eagles in Sunday's decider at ANZ Stadium. Their 34-8 canter a year ago is a distant memory.
Coach Craig Bellamy's side are looking to emulate Brisbane's successful defence in the previous back-to-back decider against St George in 1992 and 1993.
But Melbourne, without Smith and injured test forward Ryan Hoffman, are the bookies' outsiders ($2.10) despite last week's 28-0 win over Cronulla - and their presence is hardly filling Sydneysiders with glee.
The parochial Daily Telegraph this week implored diehard Parramatta or Penrith supporters to do the unthinkable and cheer for $1.70 favourites Manly, the side from the plush northern beaches widely disliked ever since they raided players from other Sydney clubs in the 1970s.
As recently as Thursday night, Channel Nine ended its 6pm news by announcing tickets were still available at the cavernous ANZ Stadium, usually unheard of in grand final week.
Both sides have strong Kiwi connections; the Storm through assistant coach Stephen Kearney and forwards Jeff Lima, Jeremy Smith, Adam Blair and up-and-comer Sika Manu; while Manly were long New Zealand favourites with Graham Lowe at the helm in the early 1990s.
In-form centre Steve Matai is Manly's solitary Kiwi, looking to emulate compatriots Darrell Williams (1987), Matthew Ridge and Craig Innes (both 1996) as premiership winners with the club.
For Kearney, a Storm win would be the pinnacle of his brief coaching career.
"Given the challenges we've had, personally, and as a group, this year means a lot more," Kearney said.
"We spent three games without up to 10 players through State of Origin. Two weeks ago we were probably gone with about 30 seconds to go.
"We still got here and our motto is we don't turn up to make up the numbers, we turn up to compete for every minute. That's what we'll be doing on Sunday."
The emotion-charged 16-14 win over Brisbane a fortnight ago defined the Storm as winners who don't quit.
They were gone, and even deadpan Broncos coach Wayne Bennett was seen celebrating victory before the Storm twice forced turnovers and Greg Inglis slid over for the matchwinner.
Cameras cut to Bellamy and Kearney bellowing and punching the air like they'd won the title.
"I must say I haven't been that emotional - even after the grand final last year I wasn't," Kearney said.
"Just the way they (players) did it, they gave themselves every chance right up until the last 30 seconds. That's what we've built the club on."
But canny coach Des Hasler's Manly have raised the bar higher, scoring 70 points and conceding 12 against the Dragons and Warriors in their two playoff matches.
Dally M player of the year Matt Orford is in imperious form and desperate to square the ledger with Storm No 7 Cooper Cronk.
Orford battled ankle problems this week after being crushed by Ruben Wiki, and was still glancing off pesky media murmurs he isn't a big game player.
"Why is all pressure on me? Everyone's saying it's career-defining I can't see how it can be career-defining for myself. I think Melbourne's got a lot more pressure than what I do," he said at Thursday's grand final breakfast.
On recent form it should be a Sea Eagles win, with all their players fit and firing, and riding the emotion of Steve Menzies' record-equalling 349th and final NRL match.
But then Brisbane seemed certainties with 30 seconds to go, too.
- NZPA