The Melbourne Storm are a dynasty.
Whether you think of them that way or not, the facts are the facts, and they haven't finished below fifth place on the premiership ladder in 10 years.
However, after their second consecutive grand final defeat, change could be afoot in Broadmeadows.
On a recent episode of NRL 360, senior rugby league journalist Brent Read revealed that Storm chairman Matt Tripp had been candid with him about the future of superstar five-eighth Cameron Munster.
"I spoke to Matt Tripp in the lead up to the grand final and spoke about Cameron Munster," said Read.
"He said, ‘we’d love him to stay, but if Cameron wants to explore Perth, then we’ll allow him to do that."
The imminent expansion to Perth presents several interesting challenges for NRL clubs who are managing their rosters with an eye on the future.
The Bears can begin negotiating with players who come off contract at the end of 2026, on November 1 of this year.
As a result, powerbrokers around the league have been scrambling to lock up their marquee talent.
But for a club like Melbourne, there is only so much talent that they can fit under their salary cap before they have to set one or two of their key men loose.
Over the Craig Bellamy and Frank Ponissi era, the Storm have done a remarkable job in keeping their core, specifically their historically great spines, together for long periods of time.
Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith stayed together for well over a decade, with the current crop of Ryan Papenhuyzen, Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant notching half-a-decade together in the purple - no small feat in its own right.
Losing Munster would signal more than just a changing of the guard - it would mark the beginning of the end of a core that helped continue Melbourne's legacy.
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Munster's next move: Perth, Rugby, or stay in Melbourne?
Munster has once again become the name on every recruiter's lips.
Code Sports reported that a third party linked to Rugby Australia made contact with him before the grand final, while the breakaway R360 competition has also placed him high on their target list.
At 31, Munster still commands over $1 million per season on a contract running until 2027, but the offers being floated now dwarf even that.
R360's proposal reportedly includes a financial package that few league clubs could match.
It's remarkable, considering that Munster already turned down a $6 million deal from the Dolphins two years ago to remain in Melbourne for less money.
His manager, Braith Anasta, has revealed that Munster remains open to exploring the Perth move, confirming that the Bears have expressed genuine interest.
Powerbrokers in the Storm front office have to know that the clock is ticking to try to keep this roster together.
But while Munster dominates the headlines, another intriguing subplot is unfolding behind him.
Young playmaker Jonah Pezet - also managed by Anasta - is reportedly set to activate his clause that would make him a free agent immediately after Hughes' long-term extension.
It's been widely reported that several clubs have shown interest in Pezet's services, which would mean that if he was to walk away from the Storm, their current depth chart would take a major blow.
Pezet is said to love Melbourne and the opportunities the Storm have given him, but after waiting patiently behind Munster and Hughes, he would be forgiven for wanting to go and test himself elsewhere.
Where will Ryan Papenhuyzen play in 2026?
Then there's Ryan Papenhuyzen, who is now facing his own crossroads.
After a brutal run of injuries and an inconsistent run of form, speculation around the electric fullback's future has only intensified.
According to Read, Papenhuyzen could be granted an early release if he chooses to sign with R360.
Sua Fa'alogo is waiting in the wings, but having only played 22 NRL games, it would be a tough ask to come in and immediately replace Papenhuyzen's production.
As for the 27-year-old himself, a fresh start could be a good opportunity to shake off the feeling of back-to-back grand final setbacks.
With Munster's future uncertain, potentially losing Papenhuyzen as well could be too much of a change for the Storm to retool their side.
Is this the end of an era in Melbourne?
If things continue at this pace, the Storm could lose three of their most important players before 2027, which could set 2026 up as the final run towards silverware for this core group.
The combination of expansion, player movement and money coming from far-flung lands is testing even the Storm's famously steady system.
Bellamy and Ponissi have built on the fly before - after Cronk, Slater and Smith retired, they found a new spine and never dropped out of contention.
For now, Melbourne's dynasty remains intact, held together by not only their on-field efforts but by their reputation for being a powerhouse club. Yet the writing is appearing faintly on the wall.
The next 18 months could decide what the next decade looks like in purple. Melbourne's defied gravity for twenty years - but even the greatest systems reach a turning point.
2026 might not end the Storm's dominance altogether, but it could very well mark the last stand for their premier core.