The Melbourne Storm's big-game experience will see them win the 2016 NRL premiership, according to Maroons legend Brent Tate.
Tate represented Queensland and Australian with Storm captain Cameron Smith, and he believes Smith's ability to deliver when his side needs it most will ultimately result in premiership glory.
Tate also has experience with Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, playing for the Brisbane Broncos when Bellamy was still an assistant coach at the club in 2001 and 2002.
Bellamy left Brisbane to become head coach of the Storm in 2003 and it wasn't long before he tasted success, making his first grand final in 2006 as the Storm lost to the Broncos, and then claiming his first grand final win in 2007 when his side defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.
Fast forward nine years and Sunday's grand final will now be his sixth NRL decider as head coach, and Tate told NRL.com that this extraordinary record would see the demise of the Sharks' premiership ambitions.
"I think Storm will win. They'll be too clinical for the Sharks," Tate said.
"Full credit to Cronulla for getting there, but I just get the feeling that Melbourne will be too good with the experience that they have at their disposal.
"You know you are in a great position when you have Cameron Smith as captain and Craig Bellamy as coach.
"They've both been there before so I'm sure they'll get the job done."
Sunday's clash will see the State of Origin captains face off in a match that will have all the passion and drama of an Origin decider.
Paul Gallen and Cameron Smith have a long history in the Origin arena, dating back to 2006 when Gallen first tasted a series defeat at the hands of Smith and his Queensland teammates.
Accompany this with two physically tough forward packs, and Sunday's grand final suddenly turns into a spicy encounter that has the potential to boil over at any moment.
Tate, who won a premiership with the Broncos in 2006, said each side would put it all on the line if it meant they'd be crowned 2016 NRL champions.
"I think it will definitely be a fiery encounter. I really do," he said.
"There will be so much feeling in it because both forward packs like to play a physical brand of football.
"It will be interesting to see how long it takes before there is a scuffle.
"It will be a good game so I'm really looking forward to it. I just can't see Melbourne being beaten."
