Grand final player ratings: Melbourne Storm

Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu throws an offload.

Author: Dan Walsh NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp: Mon 1 Oct 2018, 09:52 AM

Grand final players ratings for the Melbourne Storm.

1. Billy Slater: Taken out of the first 40 by Luke Keary's kicking game as much as anything. Still came looking for work as always and booed at every turn for his troubles. Rough end for an absolute champion. 6.5

2. Suliasi Vunivalu: Caught defending in too tight more than once in the first 10 minutes – badly so for Daniel Tupou to breeze past. Held up under the high ball for the most part but easy pickings for the Roosters lethal edge. 4

3. Will Chambers: Targeted early to the tune of two tries in the first 15 minutes. Latrell Mitchell was literally laughing in his face 10 minutes later. Done all ends up, God knows how he gets Mitchell out of his head by next year's Origin. 3

4. Curtis Scott: The best of Melbourne's back five with 142 metres from 18 runs, as much because there wasn't a glaring error to his game. 6

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Addo-Carr 85 metre intercept try

5. Josh Addo-Carr: Manhandled on his first kick return and spilt his second in a tough night at the office. Nabbed the intercept try that put Melbourne on the board. 5

6. Cameron Munster: Sin binned twice, once for a professional foul, then for an inexplicable kick to Joseph Manu's head. Threatened in the second stanza more than any other in purple but as unhappy a night as the rest of them. 4

7. Brodie Croft: Playing behind a pack that was beaten to a pulp, always a tough ask. Forced a couple of line drop-outs and willing as always in defence. 6

8. Jesse Bromwich: Hard to remember him being so ineffectual in any game as he was in that first 40, let alone on the grand stage. Better after the break as Melbourne held their own. 5

9. Cameron Smith: Couldn't get his team going, or find Billy Slater on the rare occasions Melbourne had decent field position. Showed some spark in the second half and cracked the half-century to top the tackle count. 6

10. Tim Glasby: Two first-half runs for 11 metres, only one more (for seven metres) to add from the second. Not the way his Storm career should end. 3

11. Felise Kaufusi: Two errors in the first 20 minutes but plenty of heavy lifting in defence with 44 tackles. Didn't shirk the physicality by any means. 5.5

12. Joe Stimson: Went after Cooper Cronk and rattled through 45 tackles out wide. One of their better performers. 6.5

13. Dale Finucane: Held up strongest when Melbourne were under siege in the middle and was their best on ground. Knocked over 51 tackles and 99 metres with a HIA in the middle of it all. 7

Billy Slater ahead of his final NRL game.

Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr arrives for the grand final.

Johnathan Thurston during the pre-game celebration of retiring players.

Retiring stars Johnathan Thurston and Ryan Hoffman.

Jason Nightingale during the pre-game celebration of retiring players.

The NRL pays tribute to retiring players.

Gang of Youths perform ahead of the 2018 grand final.

Cooper Cronk in action in the 2018 NRL grand final.

Daniel Tupou opens the scoring in the 2018 grand final.

The Sydney Roosters celebrate an early try.

Latrell Mitchell celebrates his grand final try.

Storm fullback Billy Slater in his final game.

Melbourne's Will Chambers and Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell.

Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell and Storm counterpart Will Chambers.

Storm fullback Billy Slater during the 2018 grand final.

Mitchell Aubusson collects Cameron Smith in a tackle.

Roosters halves Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk.

Blake Ferguson with the premiership trophy.

Interchange:

14. Kenny Bromwich: Got stuck in with 50 metres and 17 tackles in his first 20-minute stint and matched it in his second. 6.5

15. Christian Welch: Came on with 30 minutes gone but couldn't stem the red, white and blue tide through the middle. 5

16. Brandon Smith: Got his first taste of grand final footy with his team down 18-0 but you wouldn't know it. Trademark enthusiasm and made his 15 minutes count. 6

17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona: Thrown on at 18 minutes with the Roosters rolling through the middle at will. Added some starch and certainly reminded Cronk he was the biggest man on the paddock. 6

Grand final player ratings: Sydney Roosters