Not so long ago, I was amongst some of the storm's harshest critics.
I gave them heaps, blamed them for everything wrong with the game.
Then I was verily counselled by that Grand Final win.
All I had to do was sit down and watch the excellence in action.
In attack, defence, game-plan, interchange, health, execution, skill, talent..any quality you want to mention..they were the 'cats whiskers'.
I would encourage the Storm's detractors to seek the liberty that comes with the understanding and acceptance that they are the undisputed best rugby league team in the world.
I have learnt that being bitter and unkindly towards them produces only misery and despair. It doesnt help you at all.
As a club, as a group of players they represent nothing short of being the benchmark on which the rest of us are judged.
That is the undeniable fact of the matter.
Whatever club we follow, whatever we fancy and dislike in the game, we should not be condemning them but thanking them for putting on high class rugby league at such an elite level.
They were strong at every position. From the guy who cleans the bins in the office to Inglis himself, everything they did all year was correct and right.
We should recognise the great sacrifices they have made to be number one and we should all aspire to be so good.
In case anybody missed it, the storm are the Premiers.
There is no higher honour that can be bestowed upon them.
They present themselves to us as the absolute best, the exact opposite of worst.
We follow them.
