As it happened: Storm hold off fast-finishing Panthers to win 26-20

A normal grand final? It couldn’t be: this is 2020. The NRL’s big match took place at Homebush before a crowd of fans so large that if they were anywhere else, they would all be arrested.

The Panthers and Storm had reached the decider through their adventure and expansiveness, their ability to sniff out and exploit chaos. Whether it was instinctive (Penrith’s) or learnt (Melbourne’s), the adaptability that got them here was tested from the opening kick-off, which degenerated into a schoolyard scramble.

Read Malcolm Knox's analysis here. That's all from us here, congratulations to Melbourne, commiserations to Penrith, and please make sure to check out all our NRL grand final coverage.

Good night!

As Cameron Smith slowly walked around ANZ Stadium at his own pace for the Storm's grand final victory lap, keeping everyone waiting as usual, there's little chance he indulged in sentimentality.

He doesn't play on emotion, let alone show it publicly. Seen the guy cry? You never will. Those moments are left for inside the dressing-room.

After guiding the Storm to a 26-20 win against the plucky Panthers, after withstanding a heart-stopping finish in which his side finished with 11 men, you could afford Smith a quiet moment of reflection.

Read Andrew Webster's analysis here.

At the end of a season like no other, the NRL finished with a result like every other year: no argument, not much of a contest until the dying minutes and definitely no asterisk.

The nomadic Storm, a team living out of a suitcase for months and playing for a state in seemingly perpetual lockdown due to the COVID-19 crisis, cemented their status as the NRL’s best of the last decade with a pulsating 26-20 victory over minor premiers Penrith at ANZ Stadium.

In front of a crowd at only half-capacity with the eye barely able to see a patch of purple, coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron Smith put the exclamation mark on their magnificent careers despite their team finishing the match with two players in the sin bin.

Read Adam Pengilly's match report here.

A deserved accolade for a fine night of rugby league. He did it all for the Storm, was everywhere and best of all, at the right place when his side needed him. A gracious winner and he caps off a brilliant season with the game of his life.

The boos are predictable but he might be the best we've seen. We await his decision...

The fullback was brilliant in his first grand final. A wonderful try, a wonderful tap-in, key plays at the end... he did it all. Hopefully the judges can see past the Cameron Smith sentiment but who knows... what a season the kid has had.

The Hail Mary does not come off.. Felise Kaufusi takes the intercept and Melbourne have held on to win a season nobody will ever forget. They prevail 26-20 and the Panthers fall short, they are shattered, Melbourne elated. What a finish that was when it looked as if the Storm would run away with it.

Cameron Smith might be done at last. Ryan Papenhuyzen Melbourne's best for me and deserves the Clive Churchill.