Melbourne are overwhelming favourites to defend their National Rugby League premiership this year with a poll of finals' captains suggesting the Storm will dominate the 2008 series.
Six of the eight NRL captains to contest the finals series named Melbourne as their most likely grand final opponent in a poll conducted by AAP.
Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith said he'd put his money on Manly while New Zealand Warriors skipper Steve Price tipped 2006 champions Brisbane, mainly because his side plans to dent the Storm's momentum in their qualifying final this Sunday.
Six captains also tipped a Storm player - either Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith or Billy Slater - to dominate the finals series.
Slater was also named the favourite to claim the Dally M medal as the year's best player tonight.
