Melbourne is having the kind of NRL season in which anything less than a premiership is not enough but its newest rising star is already a grand final hero.

Tyran Wishart's rise this season has played a major role in the Storm securing premiership favouritism and the dynamic utility enters the finals as the most improved player in the NRL in 2024.

But well before he became a crucial cog in Melbourne's premiership charge he was already a hero back in Gerringong after helping his home town to a Group 7 premiership back in 2020.

Fresh off his first NRL pre-season with St George Illawarra, then 20-year old Wishart was set to spend the year with the club's reserve grade side before COVID intervened.

"The comp got cancelled after one game, I had no idea what to do because I was in good nick and wanted to keep playing footy, I couldn't put it on hold for a year," said Wishart.

"After a while, Group 7 were able to start their comp and because I wasn't a full-time player I could go back and play for the Lions.

"It was one of the most fun years of my life, being able to say I played a full year with Gerringong and won a premiership, it makes me proud to say I'm from there."

Wishart slotted into the halves for a team filled with childhood mates and lived the Gerringong dream, taking on the likes of Warilla Gorillas, Jamberoo Superoos and Kiama Knights, in a side coached by legendary former Parramatta Eels centre Mick Cronin, the town's most famous export.

He finished as the competition's equal-top tryscorer as the Lions went through the season unbeaten and triumphed on grand final day in a hard-fought 20-4 win over Warilla, with Wishart crossing for the match-sealing try in the final minutes.

The win carried extra significance given Cronin announced the match would be his last in charge of the Lions.

"Gerringong is a small town and everybody knows each other, so everyone knows Mick but you never forget what he did as a player or as a coach," Wishart said.

"I remember him saying before the game – I don't remember the exact number – but that he'd been involved in over 20 grand finals as a player and a coach and this one was just as important as all the rest.

"We knew it was his last year and we wanted to do him proud."

The Lions have won plenty of titles over the years – 23, in fact, and they'll have a chance at a 24th when they play Shellharbour Sharks in this year's decider on Sunday.

The town makes a point of showing up big for every single one of them and Wishart's year was no exception.

"If you're a crook and you want to rob houses in Gerringong, just wait until they make the Group 7 grand final," said Wishart.

"The whole town is always on the hill watching, after the game they're all up at the clubhouse.

"Mick Cronin Oval and the clubhouse was chockas, the whole town was there until three in the morning.

"It was a good time to be alive."

Wishart went back into the Dragons system for 2021 but various other COVID lockdowns and competition suspensions meant he played less than 10 matches between the grand final with Gerringong and his NRL debut for the Storm at the beginning of 2022.

A lengthy period training with Melbourne, who he joined midway through 2021 and trained with when the NRL relocated to Queensland that year, had to do the job of developing Wishart's game.

"I was just lucky I got recruited to the Storm, there's probably no better place to learn about the game and the way it's played," said Wishart.

"I got my development in that sense, even though I wasn't playing. I'm forever grateful to the Storm for giving me that opportunity."

After playing in 15 games in his rookie year and 14 last season, Wishart has blossomed in 2024 and appeared in every game for Melbourne thus far. 

Wishart says there's no secret to his rise this year, where he's scored 12 tries in 23 games playing at halfback, five-eighth, hooker, lock and wherever else Craig Bellamy's put him.

According to him, he's just doing what Bellamy says and playing to his strengths, which include a fine running game, an excellent dummy and an ability to straighten up the attack regardless of where he is on the field.

His versatility played a huge role in Melbourne securing the minor premiership and he shapes as a serious weapon for the club's finals campaign, which kicks off against Cronulla on Saturday night.

With memories of last year's 38-4 preliminary final smashing at Penrith's hands driving a renewed intensity in the Storm, Wishart may soon have another premiership to add to his heroics with the Lions.

"Everyone was disappointed in the way last year ended and wanted to rectify things. Everyone ripped in, not just the players but the coaches as well," said Wishart.

"I think we're just a bit hungrier for it this year, that defeat in the prelim last year really got to a few of the boys and we're looking forward to rectifying things."