The worst thing about Sunday's NRL Grand Final result, was seeing our Kiwi Storm Gang who have toiled so hard for Melbourne this season come away with nothing. Jesse Bromwich has been monumental this season, consistently leading the Storm forward pack against the behemoths of the NRL, Tohu Harris has taken his game to a new level and Kenny Bromwich has emerged as a low key Storm forward to watch out for. 

That leaves us with Kevin Proctor and also Nelson Asofa-Solomona. I kept a close eye on Proctor throughout this game and after the final whistle, with the knowledge that a move north to Gold Coast appears imminent. Proctor moved from Te Kuiti across the ditch to Gold Coast, where he was spotted by the Storm and with the Titans capable of offering Proctor more than the Storm can along with the family factor luring Proctor back to the GC, expect the Titans deal to be announced soon. 

Proctor appears to be leaving Melbourne and the Kiwi Storm Gang, making this Grand Final possibly his last outing for the Storm. Proctor's departure and the final result had me feeling a bit downbuzz about it all and Proctor put in the sort of statistical performance that he's served up all season. He was solid without being spectacular with 65m off 9 carries, a tackle bust and 41 tackles - compare Proctor's numbers to the work of Harris and it kinda makes sense as to why Proctor is surplus to requirements at the Storm.

Could Asofa-Solomona had made a difference to the Storm and possibly the result? I definitely think so as the Storm lacked a bit of power through the middle and the big Wellingtonian had given the Storm big metres, tackle busts and offloads in brief stints on the field. Asofa-Solomona was a point of difference for the Storm and without him they were unable to match the physicality of the Sharks.

Bromwich Bros Inc. rolled out a typically strong game with Jesse making 126m off 17 carries with 4 tackle busts, 3 offloads, a line break and 40 tackles in 62 minutes (the most minutes of the four starting props). Kenny only played 28 minutes off the bench, yet he showed where his niche in this Storm team is as he punched holes through the middle and around the ruck, finishing with 67m off 8 carries in 28 minutes, 29 tackles, 3 tackle busts and an offload.

The footwork of Harris on the left edge for Melbourne was a joy to watch. He either got the footy and ran straight, using his size to make metres or he stepped off his left and headed back in-field trying to pick out a tired Cronulla forward. Harris has been a beast all season and his effort in this Grand Final reflect his season nicely; 80 minutes, 125m off 17 carries, 5 tackle busts, 45 tackles and 2 offloads.

Melbourne have the majority, Cronulla have a kiwi minority and just as the Grand Final reflected the performances of the Kiwi Storm Gang nicely, Cronulla's kiwi contingent also enjoyed/endured a reflection of their season. Gerard Beale has been carried on the bench for the Sharks most of the season, often coming on for Sosaia Feki even though Feki wasn't injured or Beale would cover an injury elsewhere. 

On Sunday, Beale replaced an injured Feki in what is a fairly weird twist of coincidence. There was a stage this season when Beale would come on for Feki at half-time or 60 minutes in, kinda because coach Shane Flanagan had Beale up his sleeve and it always pissed me off because Feki is a gun. Here, Flanagan was forced to make the switch as Feki went off in the 47th minute with 78m from 10 carries and 3 tackle busts to his name. 

Beale was largely a non-factor in his 33 minutes with 4 carries for 28m.

Neither Feki or Beale played a key role for Cronulla, however we can celebrate their success as NRL top-dawgs. Feki joins a long list of former Junior Warriors who have left the club and have thrived, snapping up an opportunity while sliding out of their Auckland comfort-zone. The Tongan international has low key been stacking up the games for Cronulla and he's never really put a foot wrong in the Shire, going about his business quietly but effectively and he strikes you as a the type of bloke who you simply want the best for. 

Feki is one of many (sooooo many) examples of what is possible for a young kiwi rugby league player, whether you are from Auckland or around Aotearoa. Australian NRL clubs want kiwi/polynesian talent and if a youngster is willing to make the move, apply themselves and embrace the change in scenery then you can take your game further than if you had stayed in Aotearoa.

After leaving Brisbane to join St. George Illawara, Beale has had to endure some rough times on the fringes of the NRL to get to this point. His time at Cronulla has involved him playing a variety of different positions and in the end, that utility value gave him his opportunity at playing in a Grand Final. Other NRL teams often go with the dummy half utility on their bench, while Cronulla opted to carry an extra back on their bench for much of the season - mainly thanks to Jack Bird's versatility. Beale was the benefactor as he'd otherwise be playing centre or fullback in reserve grade, instead he came off the bench for Cronulla to win himself a ring.

Sam Tagataese also got a few minutes, however not enough to say a whole lot. He has been a important cog for Cronulla in stages this season and previous seasons, adding a big body to their forward pack and like Beale and Feki, Tagataese has done whatever the team required of him without much fuss. 

All our kiwi/polynesian lads represented Aotearoa, Samoa and/or Tonga to the fullest in this Grand Final. It's weird how it all played out as the individual performances in this Grand Final acted as a mirror to how each player performed and fitted in to either team during the regular season, giving us in the land of the long white cloud a fitting end to the NRL season.