Despite playing 158 matches over eight seasons, the 28-year-old Meaney is still relatively new to the centres.
He started there once in 2021 before settling into the role for the start of the 2024 season, but after the Storm's grand final loss to Penrith looked for where he could improve, identifying his defence.
It's paid off with Meaney now one of Melbourne's most reliable defenders.
"Obviously last year was my first year at centre and I felt probably not the most comfortable out there," he told AAP.
"Coming from fullback, you don't make many tackles at the back and I didn't really have that instinct there on the edge.
"Going into this year, I really wanted to step up my game in that area and just be not a spot in the line and not an edge that teams want to attack against.
"I just look at the best centres in the game and the best defensive centres like Stephen Crichton ... watch film, and watch how other people do it as well, so it's definitely helped me."
Meaney and 22-year-old Jack Howarth will have their hands full up against Broncos pairing Kotoni Staggs, who was named in the 2025 NRL team of the year, and Queensland State of Origin centre Gehamat Shibasaki, in Sunday's grand final.
Meaney is also set to have Brisbane's lightning quick fullback Reece Walsh attack his right edge but said the Storm had a simple plan to limit his impact.
"It's just working as a group together, making sure that we're all on the same page defensively and when it is our time to make a tackle that we stick our contact," he said,
"How we finish our sets in the corner and where we give Reece the ball back, that will dictate how much energy and how much influence he has on the game.
"It's up to our spine to get us through the park and put the ball in the good field positions and then our job is to chase and make those tackles."
Last year, the Melbourne duo entered the NRL finals with only eight games playing in the centres together and while Howarth has been sidelined through injury and illness this season, Meaney said they were better prepared for their second title tilt.
"Yeah, obviously last year was my first one, personally, and the nerves were up there the whole week and it seems like a lot with all the media and with everything," he said.
"I feel a lot calmer this year and going into this week and the closer we get, hopefully the nerves are still down and I'm feeling confident.
"You never want to lose a grand final but it's what you do after that that defines you and hopefully we can change the script on Sunday."
