As the 2023 Melbourne Storm squad prepare for the Club’s 23rd run toward ultimate glory, take a look back at Storm’s Finals moments of the past that have created the inspiring legacy our current players will chase over the coming weeks.
Some individual brilliance from much-loved Fijian flyer Suliasi Vunivalu midway through the first half of the 2020 Grand Final will forever be jotted down as a key moment in Storm’s history, with his intercept try against the Panthers proving to be a key turning point of the contest.
Described as a ‘12-point turnaround’, with Storm defending their own line, Vunivalu rushed out in defence and took the intercept before racing away downfield, fending off the desperate grasp of his opposite number Josh Mansour and showing too much pace for the chasing pack to complete the 80m effort.
That show of pure skill and speed from the winger dramatically swung momentum back in the favour of Storm, who suddenly found themselves up 16-0 after 30-minutes.
Vunivalu’s moment of magic ensured Storm held a commanding 22-0 lead at halftime, a lead that proved to be incredibly valuable after the Panthers launched a second half comeback, with Storm ultimately prevailing 26-22.
