2009 NRL Grand Final

2009 (2009) NRL Grand Final  ()
Melbourne Storm Parramatta Eels 23 16
1 2 Total MEL 10 13 23 PAR 0 16 16
Date	Sunday 4 October 2009
Stadium	ANZ Stadium
Location	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Clive Churchill Medallist	Billy Slater (MEL)
National anthem	Mark Vincent
Referees	Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne
Attendance	82538
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters	Nine Network
Commentators	Ray Warren Peter Sterling Phil Gould
NRL Grand Final ← 2008 2010 →

The 2009 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership season. Played on 4 October 2009 at Sydney's ANZ Stadium was contested between the Parramatta Eels and the Melbourne Storm, the latter competing in their 4th grand final in a row. It was also the first Grand Final to feature the two referee system, with Shayne Hayne and Tony Archer being the first referees to jointly officiate in an NRL Grand Final.

The Melbourne Storm led 10–0 at halftime and fought off a Parramatta comeback to eventually win 23–16 and claim their third premiership since entering the competition. This has since been stripped due to salary cap breaches. Melbourne went on to defeat the Leeds Rhinos, winners of the 2009 Super League Grand Final, in the 2010 World Club Challenge. The latter title was also stripped from the Storm.

The Melbourne Storm finished the regular season in 4th position with 14 wins, nine losses and one draw. As the minor premiers of the last three seasons and premiers in 2007, some commentators believed that the Storm were below their best in 2009 and doubted they would make a 4th straight grand final. But in the first week of the finals series they easily accounted for the defending premiers, the Manly Sea Eagles, with a 40 – 12 victory. They then defeated the 2006 premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, 40 – 10 to qualify for the grand final. The Melbourne Storm are the first side to make four consecutive grand finals since the Eels did so in 1981–84.

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