Cameron Smith has broken almost every individual NRL record there is to be broken this year, but none will be treasured as much as his 2017 premiership ring.
The game's most-capped player claimed his fourth grand final win on Sunday in Melbourne's 34-6 flogging of North Queensland as he produced easily one of his best performances of the year.
Smith broke through the line twice from dummy-half for 91 metres, while he also provided a short ball for lock Dale Finucane late in the second half to seal the match.
And he said that despite all his 2017 accolades, Sunday's win was No.1.
"I think out of any individual or team thing you can win or achieve in the game, this is the best one," Smith said.
"This is the most satisfying, given the amount of work - you need some luck along the way - but it's mostly hard work.
"It starts at the end of last year after you get beaten in the grand final, you get two months ... It's been a wonderful year for our club and for myself personally but you just can't go past what we've achieved tonight."
While question marks linger around the future of fellow big-three stars Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater, 34-year-old Smith is locked in for another year at Melbourne and no end appears in sight.
This season he broke Darren Lockyer's record for most NRL appearances (358), became the first player to boot 1000 career goals and the first forward to score 2000 points.
He also reached a series-high 40 State of Origin matches and last week became the oldest player to claim the Dally M Medal.
In an incredible year that took Melbourne to the top of the NRL ladder by three wins, Smith leads all NRL hookers for points, 40-20s, kick metres, line-break assists and try involvements.
Sunday's win also helped avenge last year's grand final loss to Cronulla, which was just the second defeat in a decider from Smith's six appearances.
"It's a really satisfying feeling," he said.
"I'm just really glad and thankful that we've had another opportunity to come back again and win another premiership."
The result also means Smith has the chance to become the first Dally M Medal winner to captain his club, state and nation to the highest prize in each field if Australia win the World Cup this summer.
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