Halfback Jahrome Hughes credits ex-Kiwis coach Michael Maguire for his surge into Dally M Medal favouritism on the back of a stellar Melbourne season.
Hughes is set to play a starring role in the Storm's home final against Cronulla on Saturday after his most dominant and consistent season since making his NRL debut in 2013.
The 29-year-old approached this season with a new mind-set of "deeds, not words", spurred on by now NSW State of Origin coach Maguire as well as his Storm mentor Craig Bellamy.
Hughes said in the past he'd been too worried about what his teammates were doing instead of focusing on leading by example.
"The Kiwis gave me a lot of confidence in myself to be able to take the reins of the team," Hughes told AAP.
"The coach at the time, Madge (Maguire), he wanted me to do that and that even gave me more confidence - if I'm able to lead an international team of great players it gave me confidence to be able to do it back here.
"I feel like it just pointed me in the right direction, in the way I should lead and the way it was going to be the most successful for myself.
"Craig (Bellamy) said the same thing; that players won't take what I say seriously if I don't lead with my performance."
With Macguire's backing Hughes helped orchestrate New Zealand's biggest-ever victory over the Kangaroos with a 30-0 win in the Pacific Cup final last November.
And with halves partner Cameron Munster sidelined for 10 weeks mid-season through injury, vice-captain Hughes was key to Melbourne's march to their sixth minor premiership.
After enjoying the spoils under the Storm's previous leadership group, which included long-time captain Cameron Smith and veteran Test prop Jesse Bromwich, he said he recognised it was time to step up and give back.
"To see the impact that leaders had on me when I was coming through, just seeing what those guys did for me it made me want to do that for other players as well," Hughes said.
"It inspired me to be a leader and be part of the leadership group, but in the first couple of years I probably led the wrong way and now I feel like I've found the right way to lead and that's with my actions."
While Hughes has heard nothing but praise all season, his Cronulla opposite Nicho Hynes has faced plenty of criticism and questions about his ability to deliver under pressure.
"It's pretty ruthless, it's pretty uncalled for - he's won a Dally M, he's been such a good player," Hughes said of the pressure on Hynes, who was on the bench when Melbourne won their last premiership in 2020.
"I think the Sharks as a whole have been unfairly criticised - they're in the top four and people are still doubting them.
"I know internally they have a lot of confidence so we've got to be up for that."
