Melbourne Storm head coach Craig Bellamy has hailed his side's NRL Grand Final win over Penrith Panthers as the most meaningful of his career. 

Melbourne ultimately triumphed 26-20 at ANZ Stadium after earlier racing into a 26-0 lead to secure the club's fourth premiership in the NRL era.

Bellamy's squad had been forced to base themselves at a Sunshine Coast resort from late June onwards after coronavirus cases spiked in Victoria, with some families uprooting and joining them. 

The side wore a 'V' on their jerseys in tribute to their home state and an emotional Bellamy was quick to praise his players' response to such challenging circumstances. 

"It's been difficult, it's been challenging, it's been different," Bellamy said.

"Even today, well, for me, it didn't really feel like a Grand Final because usually we come down three or four days before. We have fan days at home during the week and we didn't really have that the whole week.

"For what our guys have been through, what their families have been through, I probably would put it up at the top of the Grand Final wins that we've had.

"This year, there's been some circumstances and situations where I thought some of the guys might have wanted to pack up and go home.

"Especially the ones there that haven't had their families in the bubble. But they haven't, they all stuck there through some difficult circumstances at times. And the other big thing has been the support of the families.

"Hardly have they complained about anything and living in that bubble, away from home, has been difficult. That's what it was all about for us - the group with their families and playing for the people in Victoria.

"We got some real strength out of that."