Bellamy touch sees Storm's rough diamonds shine

But it's the lesser names curated by Bellamy who have also helped put Melbourne in the position to challenge Penrith for the premiership on Sunday.

Prop Josh King, second-rowers Shawn Blore and Eliesa Katoa and centre Nick Meaney struggled to make an impact at their former clubs but flourished under Bellamy.

And it's no fluke with battlers like Bryan Norrie, Brenko Lee, Jaiman Lowe and Blake Green all previously hitting the big time with the Storm.

The ultra-consistent King has emerged as a key cog in the grand final, particularly with the ban on prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona.

He played six seasons with Newcastle in a bit-part role, racking up 78 games, but has reached 77 in only three Melbourne seasons.

Josh King credits coach Craig Bellamy for making him a grand-final player. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

King said the super coach built belief and confidence through giving players a simple role, in return for hard work.

"It's been a crazy ride ... I was almost out of the game so I'm very lucky to be able to come down here and live out my dream," he told AAP.

"I was hoping I'd be able to play a handful of games for the Storm and that would develop me and make me more appealing to another club, and now I'm playing in a grand final.

"At the start, it was the words of positivity from Craig and the coaches, and then having players want me to play with them, that was pretty big for me, and then you sort of build your own journey from there."

Meaney arrived in Melbourne after three seasons with Canterbury where he only tasted victory 15 times, but he bought into his coach's philosophies and has reaped the rewards.

He covered for an injured Papenhuyzen at fullback but has made centre his own this year.

The 27-year-old said the move to Melbourne was initially about improving prospects for his growing family more than playing in finals.

"I still remember when I moved to Melbourne during contract talks I never actually thought about playing in a grand final," Meaney said.

Melbourne's Nick Meaney (c) never thought he'd get the chance to play in a grand final. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

"It feels a life-time away when I was playing for a wooden spoon. 

"It's a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, but I'm stoked to be in a grand final."

Blore was a highly rated Penrith junior but two knee reconstructions and a broken wrist and multiple wooden spoons with the Wests Tigers left the 24-year-old struggling, before he joined Melbourne this season.

"I felt like I wasn't the same player because I couldn't run the same way I was running when I was young and a lot of that got to me in my head," he told AAP.

"Obviously when you have Craig knocking at the door asking if you're available, you jump into something like that.

"Ever since I've come to the Storm, I've actually gotten that confidence back and I now feel more capable than what I felt like when I was younger.

"They've just given me so much belief and I've got Bellsa (Bellamy) to thank for that.

"He doesn't care about where you're from, what you've done, all he wants from you is hard work."