Why a Storm win will cost the club’s owner money. A lot of money

“I look at the book on every game in every sport all over the world, I look at every horse race, but I have no interest when it comes to Melbourne Storm games.

“I just want to enjoy watching my team go around every week.

“Penrith is a better result because of the hedging strategy our guys have deployed. That basically means our traders have backed Penrith elsewhere throughout the year, and offered cashouts throughout the year to break down the liability.

“Brisbane are our worst result, followed by Melbourne. With Penrith, our guys thought they would win a long way out, so they kept them safe, which means it is now a better result for us.”

Penrith are $1.70 premiership favourites ahead of the Broncos ($2.50), the Storm ($11) and Warriors ($12). Melbourne are $4.85 to cause an upset against Penrith ($1.18) in Friday’s preliminary final.

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Meanwhile, Tariq Sims has waited 13 seasons to finally play in his first preliminary final, and said he wished he had joined the Storm much earlier in his career.

Sims, 33, has added plenty of grunt and experience off the Storm bench. Club officials are confident the former Cowboys, Knights and Dragons forward will remain in the Victorian capital in 2024.

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