The Melbourne Storm have won their second National Rugby League premiership in their 10-year history by beating the Manly Sea Eagles 34-8 at the Olympic Stadium in Sydney.

Melbourne, who only lost three matches during the entire season, proved far too good for the Sea Eagles as they ran in seven tries to two on the way to erasing the disappointment of losing last year's grand final to the Brisbane Broncos.

The 2007 title adds to the premiership the Storm won when they beat St George in 1999.

 

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who won a premiership as a player in 1990 with the Canberra Raiders, said the hard work put in by the Storm had been rewarded.

 

"Some of these boys have worked hard for five years," Bellamy said.

 

"We got a bit of a monkey off our back from last year - everyone said we were going to choke again this year.

 

"These boys were great, they've been a credit to the club all year and they all deserve today."

 

Winger Anthony Quinn and man of the match Greg Inglis scored two tries apiece, while Michael Crocker, Matt King and Clint Newton also crossed for the new premiers.

 

"These boys were great, they've been a credit to the club all year and they all deserve today." Craig Bellamy, Melbourne Storm coach

The victory margin could have been far greater but Cameron Smith, Storm captain, had a poor night with the boot, kicking only three goals from eight attempts.

 

Manly's only points came through tries to centre Steve Matai in the first half and a second half touchdown to winger Chris Hicks.

 

 

Both sides made a physical start to the match, but the Storm gradually began to wear down their opponents and opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Quinn finished a good backline move to cross out wide.

 

Inglis then showed great strength to shrug off attempted tackles from Anthony Watmough and Matt Orford before crashing over for his eighth try of the season.

 

The Storm continued to dominate but the Sea Eagles scored against the run of play when Matai crossed just before the halftime break.

 

However Melbourne ended any hopes of a Manly comeback when Crocker scored four minutes after the restart when he broke through some more feeble defence.

 

Two minutes later the Storm were in again when Inglis raced 60 metres to score his second of the grand final, and when King crossed in the 54th minute it looked as though the Sea Eagles were heading for a massive loss.

 

However the side from the northern beaches fought back with a spectacular length of the field try to Hicks, who was put into space by former English Super League player Jamie Lyon.

 

It proved to be only a minor setback for Melbourne as Newton, the son of former Australian golfing great Jack Newton, scored with five minutes to go, before Quinn then streaked away to score his second of the match with two minutes left on the clock, sparking the Storm's celebrations.