PERHAPS it was because NSW couldn't bear to let the National Rugby League premiership trophy depart for Victoria that the Melbourne Storm's flight home was delayed by several hours.

But in the end rugby league's greatest prize — and the team that won the right to take it into AFL heartland for the next 12 months — made it to Melbourne.

More than 1500 fans waited for up to four hours at the Storm's Princes Park headquarters to greet their bleary-eyed heroes, who were worse for wear from not much sleep and too much alcohol after winning the club's first premiership since 1999.

Yesterday's home-town celebrations were put on hold after the Storm's Qantas flight from Sydney, supposed to arrive in Melbourne about noon, was delayed twice before eventually arriving mid-afternoon.

Their fans had waited eight years, so four hours more was OK. When the players took the stage, the crowd erupted.

Melbourne chief executive Brian Waldron told fans as they waited he would be having a word to Qantas, suggesting, tongue-in-cheek, a wider conspiracy was in play.

Conspiracy theories are nothing new for the Storm. Kicking a club trying to transplant league to foreign territory has become sport north of the border, despite the Storm having proved to be the competition's benchmark for the past two years.

Before the grand final the whispering campaign turned to sport's most damning insult — chokers. Many went on record to say Melbourne's disappointing grand final capitulation last year was symptomatic of a lack of big-match temperament.

Today, Melbourne's two daily newspapers carried eight pages of coverage of the Storm's premiership triumph. It was only half the coverage afforded to Geelong's AFL victory, but more than enough to convince those who did not believe rugby league had a place in Victoria.

NSW Premier Morris Iemma said he was disappointed to have the Victorian state flag flying over Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The flag had to go up as part of a deal between Mr Iemma and Victorian counterpart John Brumby before the grand final.

The Storm's 34-8 win left Mr Iemma lamenting Victoria's right to have its flag fly over Sydney. "Obviously, (I have) a feeling of great disappointment that the Sea Eagles got beaten last night," he said. "(But) without doubt Melbourne were the best team all year and it was a comprehensive victory. AAP