MELBOURNE STORM

The aptly-named Melbourne Storm have always had the ability to darken the days of even their most confident rugby league rivals.

As the first professional rugby league team to set themselves up in Victoria – the heart of Australian Rules Football – the "Storm" has competed in every season of the National Rugby League (NRL) Premiership since its inception in 1998. In that time the team has played 10 Finals out of 12.

Still one of Australia's most popular contact football teams, the Melbourne Storm count among their ranks such rugby league icons as Glenn Lazarus, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Greg Inglis.