Storm - 34 Cowboys - 6
Full-time: The Melbourne Storm win their third NRL title with a comprehensive 34-6 win over the North Queensland Cowboys to end their impressive run in the finals.
79mins - Storm with the final play of the game, taking the ball up slowly before erupting in celebration.
78mins - With the result already decided, both teams look ready for the whistle to go. Cowboys concede another penalty, frustration very evident.
76mins - Storm coach Craig Bellamy now on the sidelines with a massive grin on his face, celebrating with his players on the bench.
74mins - Smith converts after curling the ball from the left, and uppercuts the air in celebration.
72mins - TRY STORM - Slater makes a break before offloading in spectacular fashion to Tohu Harris, who sends a long pass to the left to Josh Addo-Carr for his second try of the game.
72mins - Storm win the penalty after Jake Granville knocked the ball out of Vunivalu's hands preventing him from taking the quick tap.
70mins - Storm taking their time on attack now, before send the ball to touch. Cowboys with scrum on their 40m.
67mins - TRY STORM - Josh Addo-Carr swoopes on a Cowboys error, giving the ball to the 19-year-old Curtis Scott who races in only 15m out to score. The veteran Smith takes his time with the conversion, before missing the kick to the right.
64mins - TRY STORM - Cameron Smith sends Dale Finucane over for the try that could just well put the game to bed. Only a metre out, the Cowboys were worried about what could happen out wide, instead Smith goes short and finds his teammate Fincane who stumbles over. Conversion is successful and Smith stays perfect.
62mins - Have to admit, the Storm have shut-down Taumalolo all night, tackling like absolute demons.
61mins - Cowboys waste a golden opportunity, Morgan kicking on the third to nobody and Vunivalu says thank you.
59mins - North Queensland making promising runs, a kick on the fifth leads to a Storm knock-on and the Cowboys have the put-in only 10m out.
57mins - Coote is all good and we're underway again. The Cowboys trailing by 18-6 with just over 20 minutes to go. Now a scuffle breaks out with Taumalolo and Jesse Bromwich with a bit of 'how's ya father?'.
57mins - Lachlan Coote goes down hard after a mid-air collision in an attempt the catch ball.
55mins - Storm have not done a whole lot this half and seem quite happy to defend.
53mins - An error by Ethan Lowe leads to a counter-attack by the Storm, but great scrambling defence keeps them out.
51mins - Cowboys looking like a different team this half, attacking in waves.
48mins - TRY COWBOYS - Potential Kiwis half Te Maire Martin scores the try! A wave of attack eventually leads to Martin going over after dodging a couple of tackles. The Storm tried their best to disrupt and keep the Cowboys out, but sustained pressure leads to the try and the conversion is good. Comeback anyone?
46mins - Another penalty. Cowboys on the Storm's 10m, making steady progress.
46mins - Storm concede their third penalty of the half, but they won't be concerned as long as they keep the Cowboys out.
44mins - Cowboys seem to have a bit of an extra jump in their step this half, making probing runs.
41mins - And we're underway for the second-half. The Cowboys have just 40 minutes to complete a miracle comeback to go with what has already been a fairy-tale season.
Half-time: Well, Storm are in complete control. They've scored with relative ease, and have little to deal with on defence. The Cowboys will need a huge second-half if they are to somehow come away with the win. They lead 18-0.
40mins - Cowboys almost score a length of the field try after the hooter, but the break is eventually snuffed out and that is half-time.
39mins - Nelson Asofa-Solomona with a huge run after taking the ball from kick-off, bumping a few would-be tacklers.
39mins - Smith converts and the Storm are looking ominous.
37mins - TRY STORM...They are checking upstairs to look at a potential obstruction after Billy Slater went over. Nothing wrong at all, and the Storm extend their lead. Slater scores an easy try as he dummies his way over.
36mins - Winterstein dived onto the ball when he really didn't have to. Storm now only metres out...
36mins - Antonio Winterstein makes a very unsual attempt to stopping the ball from going in goal and ends up losing the ball.
35mins - Cowboys seem to just be going through the motions at the moment and a half-time tongue lashing could not come soon enough for the underdogs.
32mins - Really sloppy play almost leads to another Storm try. A cronk kick lead to a flurry of hot potatoe as the Storm eventually make the error.
30mins - The usual suspects pulling the strings tonight for the Storm with Smith, Slater and Cronk all heavily involved.
28mins - Smith converts in front and the Cowboys have some serious work to do.
27mins - TRY STORM - Felise Kaufusi is now in for his team's second try of the evening. A Billy Slater ball puts him straight through just metres out. The Cowboys defence look seriously fatigued...
27mins - Storm just playing at a different pace right now and are all over the Cowboys.
26mins - Cowboys are starting to look tired now as the Storm force the drop-out after grubbering through.
24mins - Billy the kid takes the ball in goal and almost makes a break after taking a quick-tap.
23mins - Cowboys win the penalty after David Fincane went high in a tackle. They begin their set 40m out from the try-line.
22mins - Smith converts the try after the TMO had to confirm the legality of Addo-Carr's try.
19mins - TRY STORM - Josh Addo-Carr scores the first try of the game after a Will Chambers off-load. The Cowboys defence had no chance as the speedy winger raced away 60m out and scored to the right of the posts.
16mins - Cameron Smith dodges a few wimpy tacklers before Cronk puts the ball into touch on the Cowboys 20.
14mins - Cowboys make good in roads but it comes to an anti-climatic end failing to kick on the last.
13mins - Billy Slater takes a hard hit, but apparently legal, right to the chops and the Cowboys force the error.
12mins - Storm are putting the pressure on the Cowboys and are doing a great job keeping them in check.
11mins - Cooper Cronk puts the grubber through and Billy looked set to get the bounce until the ball cruely hits the padding at the bottom of the post and Ethan Lowe cleans up.
10mins - Warriors-bound Tohu Harris makes a break but is tackled around the Cowboys 40.
8mins - Cowboys put the ball into touch and the Storm have the feed into the scrum on their own 20.
6mins - Both teams going through the motions but are completing their sets. Taumalolo heavily involved as usual.
4mins - And we're back underway with the Cowboys taking the hit up.
4mins - A very unfortunate way to start the game, and has certainly changed the mood in the stands.
3mins - The stretchers are out and the pain killers are being given. Fensom seems to have hurt his right leg badly.
3mins - Cowboys' Shaun Fensom is in serious trouble here after a collision with his teammate.
3mins - Jesse Bromwich almost goes clean through! But a desperate tackle keeps the Kiwi out.
3mins - Storm showing storng defence as the Cowboys run hard at the line.
1 mins - And we're underway...Cameron Smith kicks-off and the Cowboys take it up through Scott Bolton.
9:30pm - Just moments away now from kick-off...Now the Australian anthem.
9:29pm - A large sea of purple in the crowd waving their flags as Cameron Smith leads out his side.
9:27pm - Gavin Cooper now leading his Cowboys team out onto the field.
9:26pm - Conditions are absolutely pristine and should make for a free flowing game with plenty of action.
9:23pm - The game is just 6 minutes away from kick-off after a 15 minute delay.
9:15pm - Welcome to the grand finale of the NRL! The heavily favourited Storm are looking to end the Cowboys' fairy-tale which has seen them qualify from 8th on the ladder. Will Cooper Cronk finish his Storm career in style? Or will the Jason Taumalolo lead his team to an unlikely title? We will find out shortly...
Hello and welcome to live updates of the NRL Grand Final between the Melbourne Storm and the North Queensland Cowboys from ANZ stadium.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. Video will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 9.15 pm (NZT). In the meantime, check out the video above.
Team line-ups
Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Curtis Scott 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Jordan McLean 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Tohu Harris 13. Dale Finucane
14. Kenny Bromwich 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Tim Glasby 17. Slade Griffin 18. Ryley Jacks 19. Robbie Rochow 20. Joe Stimson 21. Young Tonumaipea
Cowboys: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Michael Morgan 8. John Asiata 9. Jake Granville 10. Scott Bolton 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Ben Hampton 15. Coen Hess 16. Corey Jensen 17. Shaun Fensom 18. Ray Thompson 19. Javid Bowen 20. Braden Uele 21. Matt Scott
Match facts and stats
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Referee: Matt Cecchin
Assistant Referee: Gerard Sutton; Touch judges: Nick Beashel and Chris Butler
Review Official: Ben Galea
Head to head: Played 35; Storm 25; Cowboys 10
Last five meetings:
2017, Round 22 – Cowboys 8 defeated by Storm 26 at 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville
2017, Round 15 – Storm 23 defeat Cowboys 22 at AAMI Park, Melbourne
2016, qualifying final – Storm 16 defeat Cowboys 10 at AAMI Park, Melbourne
2016, Round 21 – Cowboys 8 defeated by Storm 16 at 1300 Smiles Stadium, Townsville
2016, Round 10 – Storm 15 defeat Cowboys 14 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Head-to-head betting odds: Storm $1.27, Cowboys $3.50
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