Harry Grant ordered a late-night meeting on Accor Stadium in June. It ignited a premiership charge

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It was just after 11pm on a Saturday in June when the Melbourne Storm players made their way to the northern end of Accor Stadium.

Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen had just slotted a field goal in golden point extra time to defeat South Sydney. Winger Alex Johnston scored four tries and there was a comical moment when TV cameras captured Cameron Munster accidentally wiping out a South Sydney ballboy as he took the field.

Melbourne players share a moment at Accor Stadium after their match against South Sydney in round 16.

Country artist Shaboozey blasted through the speakers as the players showered before being asked by captain Harry Grant to step outside.

Whenever the Storm play in Sydney, the local players enjoy the chance to exit early and catch up with loved ones. But Grant knew this would be the first and last time Melbourne would play at the Sydney Olympic stadium during the regular season, and that if all went to script, the next time they were there would be before a packed house on grand final night.

It was also the first time most of the squad had returned to the venue since their loss to Penrith in the 2024 decider.

Despite the ground staff being keen to get to work on the playing surface, and even going to the effort of erecting a “no field access” sign, this masthead spotted the entire squad gathered in a huddle inside the empty stadium for about 15 minutes.

The Storm come to terms with their grand final loss to Penrith in 2024.

“We had a moment as a team, and spoke about how we would not be back there unless we made the grand final,” Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu said.

“I didn’t play in the grand final last year, but a lot of the boys did, and they were trying to remember that feeling of losing. We stood around and spoke about how there was still a lot of hard work to go.

“Harry and Eli [Katoa] both spoke. They both said how we should try to imagine what it would be like being packed out and running out for the last game [the grand final]; to imagine what it feels and sounds like when the stadium is packed.

“Eli is a massive leader for this team, not just physically because he’s such a big body, but off the field. When he talks, he’s always got a strong message.

Harry Grant scores the opening try of the 2024 NRL grand final. It was all downhill from there for the Storm.

“What they were saying was along the lines of how the outside world doesn’t matter, and it’s only the [opinions of the] people in this circle that matter.

“It was nice. We also made sure we took the piss out of each other.”

Halfback Jahrome Hughes said: “We tried to connect as much as we could after the game. The Sydney boys like to take off and see their families whenever we’re up here, but this was a good way to keep everyone together and enjoy each other’s company.

“It was going to be our last game at Accor, and the next time was hopefully going to be the grand final. It was a good moment.”

A couple of weeks later, Grant, Munster, Trent Loiero, Xavier Coates and Utoikamanu featured in the State of Origin series decider between Queensland and NSW at Accor. Munster was reduced to tears following the Maroons’ victory after dealing with the death of his father, Steven, just days earlier.

Storm assistant coach Ryan Hinchcliffe said of the late-night get-together after the win over Souths: “Our leadership group spoke about that, and we knew if we got another game there, it would be the grand final, and they spoke about that. It’s nice we’re in this position now.”

Sunday’s decider will be just the second game in six weeks the Storm have played outside the Victorian capital.

The Storm have won 10 of their 13 matches since that night in June at Accor Stadium, including two finals, and will look to right the wrongs of 2024 on Sunday night.

The players completed their preparations on a sunny Saturday at Leichhardt Oval, which included a cameo from club legend Cameron Smith and the under-16s players he coaches on the Gold Coast.

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