After tasting defeat in his first NRL grand final playing in the centres, Melbourne’s Nick Meaney vowed to take his game to the next level.

And, the former Newcastle Knight started studying video of the code’s best, Bulldogs star Stephen Crichton, to do so.

Despite playing 158 matches over eight seasons, the 28-year-old is still relatively new to the role.

He started there once in 2021 before settling into the position for the beginning of the 2024 season.

But, after the Storm’s loss to Penrith in the decider, he looked for where he could improve, identifying his defence.

It’s paid off with Meaney now one of Melbourne’s most reliable defenders.

“Obviously last year was my first at centre and I felt probably not the most comfortable out there,” he said.

“Coming from fullback, you don’t make many tackles at the back and I didn’t really have that instinct there on the edge.

“Going into this year, I really wanted to step up my game in that area and not be just a spot in the line and not an edge that teams want to attack against. 

“I look at the best centres in the game and the best defensive centres like Stephen Crichton… watch film, and watch how other people do it as well, so it’s definitely helped me.”

The Lismore-born Meaney played for Newcastle’s NYC squad in 2016, being named its NYC Player of the Year, before graduating to the club’s Intrust Super Premiership (ISP) NSW team 12 months later.

That season, he represented the NSW under-20 side against Queensland.

At the end of 2017, he was awarded the Knights’ ISP NSW Player of the Year.

He re-signed with Newcastle and made his NRL debut in round 18, 2018.

But, the emergence of Kalyn Ponga as the club’s main No. 1 saw him look for opportunities elsewhere.

Now, Meaney and 22-year-old Jack Howarth will have their hands full up against Broncos pairing Kotoni Staggs, who was named in the 2025 NRL team of the year, and Queensland State of Origin centre Gehamat Shibasaki, in Sunday’s grand final on 5 October.

He’s also set to have Brisbane’s lightning quick fullback Reece Walsh attack his right edge but said the Storm had a simple plan to limit his impact.

“It’s just working as a group together, making sure that we’re all on the same page defensively and when it is our time to make a tackle that we stick our contact,” Meaney explained.

“How we finish our sets in the corner and where we give Reece the ball back, that will dictate how much energy and how much influence he has on the game. 

“It’s up to our spine to get us through the park and put the ball in the good field positions and then our job is to chase and make those tackles.”

In 2024, the Melbourne duo entered the NRL finals with only eight games playing in the centres together and while Howarth has been sidelined through injury and illness this season, Meaney said they were better prepared for their second title tilt.

“Yeah, obviously last year was my first one, personally, and the nerves were up there the whole week… and it seems like a lot with all the media and with everything,” he added.

“I feel a lot calmer this year and going into this week and the closer we get, hopefully the nerves are still down and I’m feeling confident.

“You never want to lose a grand final but it’s what you do after that that defines you and hopefully we can change the script on Sunday.”

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