The human wrecking ball that is the quietly spoken Fuifui Moimoi sat quietly in the Parramatta dressing rooms digesting how the game of his life wasn't enough to inspire his team home against Melbourne last night.
He jolted nearly every Melbourne forward with huge front-on tackles, then in the 72nd minute it was Moimoi's moment when he shrugged off four defenders in a memorable rampage to the line to make it 22-16.
It drew comparisons with Steve Jackson's matchwinner for Canberra against Balmain in 1989 on the list of memorable grand final tries.
"I just put my hand up in the second half and I was lucky to score the try and I thought we were back in the game, but it was too late," Moimoi said.
"I did my best for the team and other guys put their hands up too. Melbourne were just too good. "
Storm star Greg Inglis slotted a field goal three minutes from time to seal the 23-16 win, after a controversial penalty from referee Tony Archer who ruled man of the match Billy Slater was stripped of the ball in a tackle.
Moimoi's reward will be a Kiwis jersey today for the Four Nations tournament, having made his test debut in 2007 before switching allegiance to Tonga last year when he wasn't in the World Cup frame.
He played in recent weeks with a cracked rib which he said was "pretty sore", but the Eels said they wouldn't stand in the way of Moimoi's test recall.
"They'd be mad if they didn't take him. He's had a great year for us and deserves as many accolades as he gets. His form's been sensational," club chief executive Paul Osborne told NZPA.
Moimoi has fielded interest from Tonga, who will play a qualifying series for next year's Four Nations, but said he would answer coach Steve Kearney's call if picked for the Kiwis.
Giant Storm prop Brett White felt the sting of a Moimoi hit and won't forget it.
"He's known for his runs but his hits tonight, the back of my head touched my spine and it folded me in half I think," White said.
"It's the best game I've seen him play. "
Meanwhile, Kiwis forward Adam Blair finally got the premiership ring he craved, after playing in losing grand finals in 2006 and 2008, and missing the Storm's 2007 triumph over Manly through injury.
While Slater won the Clive Churchill Medal, World Cup winner Blair must have gone close with a busy performance including a try and a set-up for Slater to make it 22-6 with 25 minutes left.
"It's just exciting and an amazing feeling," Blair said.
"(In 2006) I'd only played 16 games and just being in the final was surreal. I never thought I'd ever get there and I've been there three times now. It's just exciting to get the win, finally. "
And Storm assistant coach Kearney hailed the Northlander who made huge strides since his 2006 debut to be one of the premier forwards in the game.
"Tonight was an example of what he can do. Look at the World Cup he had last year, he was magnificent.
"I know what he's capable of, it's just a matter of seeing that on a consistent basis. He still needs to work on that and I'm sure he'll get better. "
