There was a refreshing air ahead of the match; finally, an NRL grand final without the Penrith Panthers — winners of the last four — involved at all. Loading Twitter content

That refreshing air was quickly blown away by the stale wind of realising the Storm or Broncos have appeared in seven of the last 10 NRL grand finals. Loading Twitter content

But there were still some sweet storylines swirling like zephyrs in the build-up: Could Reece Walsh step up on the biggest stage, having been pipped in 2023?

Would the colossal dreadnought that is the Craig Bellamy Storm press onward inexorably to glory again?

And would Ben Hunt find redemption, 10 years on from his calamitous error that allowed Johnathan Thurston's Cowboys to ride into the fairytale sunset? Loading Twitter content

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