STORM SAYS TITLE WILL BE EARNED

STORM skipper Cameron Smith has hit back at claims the 2020 NRL premiership lacks credibility and declared the campaign has been arguably the toughest of his record 19-season career.

Smith will make what is likely to be his 430th and final NRL appearance in Sunday’s grand final against Penrith at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

They have spent four months living at Twin Waters Resort and have not played a match at their home ground of AAMI Park since Round 4.

Smith, 37, debuted in 2002 and said only the Storm’s salary cap scandal in 2010 came close to being as tough as this year’s campaign.

“Outside of 2010, for different reasons, this has been the most difficult season,” he said.

“Not so much because there haven’t been any breaks, that’s another challenge, but it’s more been about our relocation.

“We haven’t been in our homes and our beds for five months and for this group to turn around and play the way we have and played so consistently throughout the season and put the organisation back in a grand final is nothing short of remarkable.

“We are not satisfied with just making the grand final, we want to go there and play well and give ourselves a shot at winning the grand final.”

Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster said the 2020 premiers would be as deserving as any other year given the hurdles they have overcome.

“I don’t think there should be an asterisk at all, but there will be a lot of opinions and keyboard warriors saying whoever wins it probably doesn’t deserve it,” Munster said.

“But with no byes and 20 games straight I feel like if anyone deserves it even more it is this year.”