NRL grand final 2016: Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks, live scores

• 10:59pm on 2 Oct 2016

Good night!

Thanks for joining me each Saturday, and today, for the last 30 weeks! It's been an amazing year iced by a storybook result in the biggest game of the season. See you at the Four Nations!

• 10:48pm on 2 Oct 2016

Cronulla presser

"At the end of the day I knew we had the talent to win this game," said captain Paul Gallen. "And, you know we did that.

"When they scored, we couldn't drop our shoulders. We had to relax and stick to our systems. Fiifita was outstanding. We couldn't go around them, we had to go through them. We knew they would keep coming.

"ET (Andrew Ettingshausen) was the reason I signed with the club. They were minor premiers in '99 and blokes like him and David Peachey and Jason Stevens were the reason I joined the club."

Coach Shane Flanagan added: "We knew the eight points was not going to be enough. We could have just sat back and not played football in the second half.

"I challenged them to show more energy and intent in the first half and we did that. We needed to show some steel and resilience to turn them away if they did get points so the score didn't go up in groups of tries.

"I thought in the second half the Storm were coming to get us. It was the resilience we've shown for a couple of years now."

• 10:14pm on 2 Oct 2016

Melbourne presser

"Disappointment, I suppose. There are a lot of emotions going around but that's the main one," said coach Craig Bellamy.

"We probably didn't defend as well as we could have, should have or would like to have in the first half. It sucked a bit of energy out of us.

"I thought we definitely had the best of the last half hour, 25 minutes. That eight points was always going to be hard to drag back. Before the game, I was really proud of what these guys have done this year and nothing has changed.

"We were minor premiers, we had the best for and against and we made our way to a grand final.

"I don't want to take anything away from Cronulla. They were the better side tonight. They deserved to win.

"I wouldn't say I was surprised we fought back like we did. These guys have been doing that all year. To get back into the game and actually lead, that was a tremendous effort.

"I don't know what anyone says tonight, nothing is going to make me less proud..

Cameron Smith added: "I thought the boys went well to be down only eight points at halftime. Fifteen to go when Will Chambers scored, I was thinking 'Let's just ice this game like we always do.'

"I can't fault anyone in our side for the effort that we had.

"Grand finals, you need to be in the game early and we weren't." 

 

• 10:13pm on 2 Oct 2016

Wade Graham on Triple M: "I'm speechless, it's unbelievable. Irt makes it worth, it all those dark days, I looked up and I knew where my parents were sitting It's not just for yourself, it's for them."

• 10:11pm on 2 Oct 2016

Andrew Fifita on Triple M: "I just looked at Mick and he looked at me and it went from there. I didn't think I was going to get there. Off the field it's been tough but on the field is the best place to be, 80 minutes away from everyone and to put it to the critics to be honest. Off the field, I don't listen, I shut it out. The sign says it all. I saw it at the start of the semis. It said 'let's make history."Back to top

• 10:07pm on 2 Oct 2016

Shane Fkanagan on Triple M: "It's not different than any other community but football brings people together. I thought we dominated on aggresssion and being first to things. I said during the week, you need to be able to see how much it meant to us. I never thought eight points was going to be enough. We all know Andrew (Fifita) has got some stuff he needs to deal with but he's a really talented footballer. We need to harness that.""

• 10:05pm on 2 Oct 2016

Andrew Ettingshausen on Triple M: "It means so much. We've been in this competition for so long and been close so many times. Everybody in the shire who has been sitting there forever waiting is now going to be celebrating. I had my heart in my mouth, thinking 'oh no, they can't lose here'. And unbelievable match. You've got to have a really, really great team to win a competition like this"

• 9:57pm on 2 Oct 2016

Paul Gallen on stasge: "To all you people back in the shire, turn your porch lights off because we're coming home with the trophy.'

• 9:55pm on 2 Oct 2016

• 9:54pm on 2 Oct 2016

Michael Ennis on ABC: "When Vunivalu made that break at the end, it was heartbreak. I had visions of him going around under the posts. I winked at (Fifita) when I saw Hampton come back on the field. I said 'you've got to go here' I don't know how he got it down. What a player."

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• 9:52pm on 2 Oct 2016

Ben Barba on ABC: "I thought we were gone there. I could give up tomorrow and I'd be happy now. I'll get the hold up that trophy and have a ring on my finger. I could walk away now."

• 9:52pm on 2 Oct 2016

Cooper Cronk on ABC: "Eight-nil at halftime probably not the best start from us. We backed our defence. Fifita's tryt was obviously costly. That's football."

• 9:49pm on 2 Oct 2016

Cameron Smith on ABC: "It's a funny feeling. We didn't start too well but we did a fantastic job to stay in the game. We gave ourselves a shot. It looked like we were back on too and we were going to close it out. They did a great job ob building a lot of pressure and extracting a lot of energy from the other team.It's a pretty ordinary feeling at the moment."

• 9:44pm on 2 Oct 2016

Cameron Smith on stage: "Firstly can I give a massive congratulations to Shane, Paul and Cronulla Sharks. You deserve that trophy. Thanks to all our fans who travelled up tonight. It was a pretty tough start to the year. It's disappointing but we can hold our heads high. To Cronulla Sharks fans ... a lot of people spent their entire lives supporting the club and never saw a premiership but you did. I hope you enjoy it."

• 9:38pm on 2 Oct 2016

Paul Gallen on 2GB: "It's just so good. We were so good in the first half but we didn't come away with enough points. We defended our way to victory. We got back to playing our best before the semis. I thought we were on the way up. It's a bit surreal. I'm so tired. I'm so proud of the boys, they were just unbelievavble."'Back to top

• 9:35pm on 2 Oct 2016

Luke Lewis: "I just hope I don't hacve to wake up"tomorrow and still have to play the game. I'm in shock. This just tops 2016,the best year of my life."

74? Incredible #NRLGF pic.twitter.com/tmL91KjpmA

— Raman Goraya (@rambogoraya) October 2, 2016

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• 9:33pm on 2 Oct 2016

Chad Townsend on 2GB: "Now it's time to party. I'm so stoked to be a part of this team. I'm super pumped."

• 9:32pm on 2 Oct 2016

Wade Graham on 2GB: "Look at the crowd. They've waited 50 years. They're taking it home tonight. I was nervous all day. Then we got on the bus and we saw all the people lining the streets and I knew deep down we could do it."

• 9:30pm on 2 Oct 2016

Shane Flanagan on 2GB: "I'm still numb. I don't really believe it. At the last tackle of the game they could have scored. It's just a dream. I think they've been the best team of the last 10 years but my boys have been so resilient. They can't take this off us. The support has been ridiculous. The Shire has gone off and I'm tipping it will go off again tonight."

 

Unbelievable!!!!! #NRLGF @abcgrandstand @abcnews pic.twitter.com/KVl1Rl9jxs

— Jen Browning (@jen_browning) October 2, 2016

• 9:28pm on 2 Oct 2016

Chris Heighington on 2GB: "We had one on the bench by the end. So proud. It's so good. (Shane Flanagan) is a lunatic, he'll be off his trolley."

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