Storm skipper Harry Grant is doing his best to win new fans in AFL-mad Melbourne, left without a footy team to cheer on in finals.
With the elimination of Hawthorn no Melbourne-based side remains in the AFL title hunt but Grant gave a nod to the rival code during his team's crushing 37-10 NRL qualifying final win over Cronulla.
Notching a personal tally of three second-half tries to secure the win at AAMI Park on Saturday, Grant had a hand-ball pass into the crowd as his favoured try-scoring celebration.
"I've adopted it and it's a bit of trademark now, but I guess we're in Victoria, AFL country, so I'll roll with it for a little bit," Grant said.
"Hopefully I can do a little bit more of it.
"But what we felt out there, the playing group, the crowd at AAMI Park it was packed, so much purple and it really makes a difference and drives the team to go well.
"I know the Cats (Geelong) are still alive (in the AFL) but with no Melbourne-based teams, hopefully we can get a lot more people jumping on the Melbourne Storm bandwagon."
Grant said he'd never scored a hat-trick at NRL level and his last was a long time ago: "Probably under-8s with the Yepoon Seagulls."
While he proved a nightmare for the Sharks with his speed out of dummy-half, he was happy to credit his teammates for the haul with forwards Eliesa Katoa and Josh King having a hand in two of the three.
"I didn't do much for those, I just kept my feet moving," he said.
"Eli, he's competing, whenever there was a ball in the air, he didn't shy away from the contest, he went after it and they're big moments in the game.
"Josh King, he's been awesome for us all year, leading from the front.
""He's one of our leaders and he's really taken that role on this year and when he talks, when he acts, boys listen, boys follow.
"Everyone's just playing their role, doing their bit and everyone's reaping the rewards."
