Melbourne may have the edge in grand final experience, but three Parramatta stars boast a special quality that seven Storm players can only dream of heading into Sunday's blockbuster NRL grand final.

Premiership pedigree.

The celebrated fathers of winger Eric Grothe, centre Joel Reddy and five-eighth Daniel Mortimer accrued no less than nine premiership rings during their illustrious careers in the 70s and 80s.

Eric Grothe Snr (1981, 82, 83, 86) won four titles with Parramatta's greatest-ever line-up, Peter Mortimer (80, 84, 85) triumphed three times with the Eels' arch rivals Canterbury and Rod Reddy (77, 79) reigned twice with St George.

The three featured in 11 grand finals in total - for just two defeats - giving the new-era Eels priceless experience to call on as they strive to emulate their famous dads' deeds.

Throw in Mortimer's legendary uncles Steve (80, 84, 85, 88) and Chris Mortimer (80, 84, 85) and Parramatta's family trophy tally rises to an incredible 16 premierships from 22 grand final appearances.

It's more than enough silverware to have the 21st century Grothe, Reddy and Mortimer boys feeling confident they can join an elite group of just seven father-son combinations to have won premierships.

Ironically, Melbourne five-eighth Brett Finch could have given the Eels a fourth second-generation player eyeing the rare feat had he not left the club four games into the season.

Instead Finch will be wearing Storm colours as he endeavours to join father Robert, who won titles with the Dragons in 77 and 79, as a premiership winner.

But as the Eels trio seek their slice of rugby league history, don't ask Eric Grothe Jnr to sit through another viewing of his father's famous four-pointer in the 1983 semi-final victory over the Bulldogs for inspiration.

"I'm sick of seeing them; he shows them off every time I go over to his place," Grothe joked.

"He's got it on a loop, on repeat. I'm sick of seeing that try. It wasn't that good. They were all pretty bad tackles when you break it down, I don't let him get bragging rights anymore."

Grothe did concede that it would be foolish not to listen up if his "Guru" father offered any pre-grand final tips.

"I don't think tactically he's one to give me advice, but I'm all ears," he said.

"He's been there, done that many a time so anything he says is good.

"(But) he was pretty much a winger like myself. He just used to get the ball and run."

Desperate to end the club's 23-year title drought, Parramatta's class of 2009 only recently opened their dressing room doors for the likes of Grothe Snr and other 80s Eels legends including Peter Sterling and Ray Price.

The gesture capped an unforgettable three months for the club after political infighting and the slide down to second-last on the ladder after round 14 had seriously tested the Eels' spirits.

"It's been an amazing ride for everybody because of where's it's come from; it's just come from nowhere," Grothe Snr said.

"Middle of the year, people were pointing to maybe staying off the bottom of the ladder and now we're in the grand final.

"We just hope we're not at the point where we've gone too far too early."

Grothe Snr has taken particular delight in seeing his at-times aloof son turn his career around over the past 18 months to the point where the 29-year-old has taken on a leadership role at the Eels.

He nominated Grothe Jnr's relegation to the NSW Cup last year as the trigger for his vastly improved form.

"He's matured on and off the field," Grothe Snr said.

"Off the field, he's got the young blokes under his wing and that's where he's really matured.

"His stint with Wentworthville was the turnaround for him. He realised that the players he was playing with there had fulltime jobs and he realised how lucky he was being a fulltime footballer.

"That was the catalyst for him to change his attitude and change his mindset."

Grothe Jnr agreed.

"I apply myself off the field a little bit better. Having a spell back with Wentworthville last year kind of made me appreciate what I had and not to take it for granted anymore," he said.

"You're not around for long and (you) try to get as much of it as I can.

"I was a bit depressed there for a while. It's just rugby league (but) it's a brutal sport and a ruthless business. If you're not performing, there's no favouritism anywhere.

"If you're not playing good, you're not in. That's the way it goes and I'm proud of myself for sticking round, tearing in and getting back to where I am."

But that won't stop Grothe Snr form having a quiet word just to ensure his usually cool son doesn't get too worked up in the countdown to the big game.

"I'll be spending a little bit of time with him. We're probably just going to relax, play a bit of guitar and muck around a little bit," he said.

"If we need to talk about it we will. He's fairly laidback and you need to pick your time to talk about it with him, but this week I think it'll be an exception because he'll be pretty pumped up."

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