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2018 Melbourne Storm season

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2018 Melbourne Storm season
NRL Rank2nd
Play-off resultGrand Finalist
2018 recordWins: 16; draws: 0; losses: 8
Points scoredFor: 536; against: 363
Team information
CEODave Donaghy
CoachCraig Bellamy
Captain
StadiumAAMI Park - 30,050
Suncorp Stadium - 52,500 (1 Game)
Avg. attendance17,474
High attendance31,118 (Round 10, vs. Gold Coast Titans)
Top scorers
TriesJosh Addo-Carr (17)
GoalsCameron Smith (88)
PointsCameron Smith (165)
← 2017 List of seasons 2019 →

The 2018 Melbourne Storm season was the 21st in the club's history. They competed in the 2018 NRL season and did so as the reigning Premiers and Minor Premiers. The team was coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 16th consecutive season. Melbourne Storm was also captained by Cameron Smith, who has been the sole captain for the team since 2008 — making it his 11th consecutive season. In 2018, the club celebrated its 20th anniversary, which was launched on 30 October 2017[1] with the announcement that a new logo would feature for the duration of the 20 year celebrations including on a newly designed jersey.

At the conclusion of the 2018 NRL regular season, the Storm finished on 34 competition points (equal to the Sydney Roosters in first place), the Storm ultimately finished second due to having a slightly inferior points difference (by 8 points) and therefore missed winning the Minor Premiership, the second-placed finish, however, ensured a home final in Week 1 of the finals series. The Storm won both their Qualifying final and Preliminary finals qualifying them for their third straight Grand Final however they were ultimately beaten in the decider and therefore finished the season runners up.

Season summary

[edit]
Cameron Smith with the 2018 World Club Challenge trophy
  • 2018 World Club Challenge – The Melbourne Storm commenced their season by competing in the annual World Club Challenge against the 2017 Super League premiers Leeds Rhinos, the match was under a cloud until on 3 November 2017 it was announced that it would be played in Australia at AAMI Park due to the disruptions to the Storm preseason caused by the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[2] The Storm prevailed 38-4 to become World Club Champions and in doing so became the fifth Australian team to hold the treble (Premiership, Minor Premiership and World Club Challenge at once).[3] It was the first World Club Challenge in Australia since 2014 and only the fourth in history.
  • 23 February – Over 20,000 fans brave torrential rain to attend the trial match between the Storm and the North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The "A Night with Cam and JT" match billed as a testimonial to Storm captain Cameron Smith and Cowboys captain Jonathan Thurston raises money for a variety of charities. Thurston set up the winning try in the final minute to take a 16–14 win.[4]
  • 2 March – Melbourne Storm announce their team of the first 20 years during a celebratory night at Crown Palladium. The 17-man line-up is made up of the greatest players to have pulled on the purple jersey over the last two decades.[5]
  • Round 1 – Melbourne Storm open the season with a victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at the new Optus Stadium in Perth. The win marked the 16th consecutive season that the club has won their opening game of the season,[4] and also this was their 11th consecutive victory making this their equal 4th best winning streak.[6] Sam Kasiano also made his Storm debut.
  • Round 2 – Hampered by a high error count, Melbourne's winning streak comes to an end losing 10–8 to the Wests Tigers in Billy Slater's 300th NRL game.[4] Kenny Bromwich also played his 100th NRL game.
  • Round 3 – In the 2017 NRL Grand Final rematch against the Cowboys, Melbourne return to the winner's list in a 30–14 victory.[4]
  • Round 4 – Melbourne are held tryless in a 14–4 loss to Cronulla, as referees Alan Shortall and Matt Cecchin take the NRL's penalty crackdown to the extreme in calling 33 penalties, including sending Cameron Smith to the sin bin for the first time in his career.[4]
  • Round 5 – Played as a double-header at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, Wests Tigers again frustrate Melbourne into a tight 11–10 loss. The match was Craig Bellamy's 400th as coach, and Ryan Hoffman's 250th game for the club in his third spell in Melbourne.[4] The two wins and three losses from the first five games, was Melbourne's worst start to a season since 2004, with the club dropping out of the top eight on the NRL ladder for the first time since 2014.[4]
  • Round 6 – Led by doubles to wingers Josh Addo-Carr and Suliasi Vunivalu, Storm return to the winners list with a 40–14 win over Newcastle Knights.[4]
  • Round 8 – Storm score a 40-point win over the second placed New Zealand Warriors to retain the Michael Moore Trophy, with Cameron Smith scoring nine goals from as many attempts.
  • Round 9 – Josh Addo-Carr scores all three of Melbourne tries in a 30–14 loss to the ladder-leading St George Illawarra Dragons.[4] Papua New Guinea centre Justin Olam makes his first grade debut.
  • Round 10 – Cameron Smith was charged with dangerous conduct in a tackle on former Storm player Kevin Proctor with Smith taking an early guilty plea in taking a one-match suspension.[4]
  • Round 11 – Curtis Scott becomes the first player sent off in a NRL game since 2015, and the first Storm player since 2011, for repeatedly punching Manly's Dylan Walker in a brawl between the pair. Scott would later be suspended for two matches by the NRL Judiciary.[4] Manly would win the game 24–4 with officials mistakenly sending two Manly players back on to the field from the sin bin before their penalties had expired.[4]
  • Round 12 – Sam Kasiano and Dale Finucane both play their 150th NRL games in a 7–6 win over the Cowboys. Cameron Munster slotting the first field goal of his career to secure the win, after Cameron Smith scored a try in his return from suspension.[4]
  • 30 May – Young Tonumaipea announces he will leave the club to take up Mormon missionary work in Germany.[4]
  • Round 14 – Melbourne rally from a 12–2 first half deficit to take a 32–16 win over Brisbane Broncos, the club's 15th win from 17 matches between the clubs since 2011.[4]
  • 16 June – Ending speculation of a potential move to Brisbane, coach Craig Bellamy re-signs with the club until the end of the 2021 season.[4]
  • Round 16 – A last-minute field goal from Cameron Smith hands Melbourne a 9–8 win over the Sydney Roosters at the Adelaide Oval in the first meeting against former Storm halfback Cooper Cronk.[4] Patrick Kaufusi made his first grade debut for the Storm, the third Kaufusi brother to play for the club.
  • 3 July – Ryan Hoffman announces that the 2018 season will be his last in rugby league, after playing over 300 games.[7]
  • Round 17 – Missing players through injury and Origin selection, Melbourne score four tries in the last 15 minutes to over power the Dragons in a high scoring game 52–30. All seven players members of the Storm's backline scored tries, a feat last achieved by the club against the Gold Coast Titans in 2007.[4] Albert Vete makes his club debut after transferring from the New Zealand Warriors earlier in the week, while Christian Welch played his 50th game.
  • Round 18 – With Craig Bellamy opting to rest Origin representatives against Manly, the Sea Eagles jump to a 12–0 lead, before Melbourne score a late penalty goal to take a 14–13 win.[4]
  • Round 19 – Melbourne Storm defeat the New Zealand Warriors 12–6 in Auckland, with the sending the Storm to first place on the NRL ladder for the first time in 2018.[4]
  • Round 20 – Storm's winning run extends to eight matches with a 44–10 win over Canberra Raiders, with Jahrome Hughes impressing at halfback.[4]
  • Round 21 – South Sydney Rabbitohs end Melbourne's win streak, taking a 30–20 win at ANZ Stadium. Melbourne had led 16–12 at half time, but the Rabbitohs' took the points and top spot on the NRL ladder with a dominant second half.[4]
  • 8 August – Billy Slater announces that he will retire from rugby league at the end of the 2018 NRL season[8]
  • Round 22 – A second straight defeat, falling 17–14 to the Sharks at AAMI Park. Craig Bellamy was quoted after the match as saying the team lacked hunger.[4]
  • Round 24 - Storm defeat the Titans 10–8 to move to outright first on the NRL ladder.
  • Round 25 - Melbourne are defeated 22–16 by the Penrith Panthers in the Panthers first ever win at AAMI Park and their first win in Melbourne since 2005.[4] The game marked Scott Drinkwater's NRL debut, with the young fullback also scoring his first try. The loss for Melbourne saw the club finish the season on 34 competition points, creating NRL history, as due to other results, all teams in the top four finished equal on 34 points ensuring the closest finish to a season for the first time in the game's 111 year history. Melbourne would finish in second position behind the Roosters due to an inferior points difference.
  • Qualifying final – In a quality contest, a field goal in the final five minutes from Cameron Munster sees Melbourne seal a 29–28 win over South Sydney at AAMI Park to progress to the preliminary finals. Doubles to Suliasi Vunivalu and Cheyse Blair helping Melbourne to the club's 15th straight win over South Sydney in Victoria.[4]
  • 14 September – Cameron Smith agrees to a one-year contract extension to the end of the 2019 NRL season.[4]
  • Preliminary final – Melbourne advance to a third straight NRL Grand Final appearance, ending the Sharks season with a 22–6 win. In a man of the match display, Billy Slater scored two tries but was also charged with a grade one shoulder charge when trying to stop Sharks winger Sosaia Feki from scoring, an offence that could see him miss the Grand Final.[4]
  • 25 September – Billy Slater is cleared by the NRL Judiciary panel after a lengthy hearing.[4]
  • Grand Final – Despite playing with a serious shoulder injury, former Storm player Cooper Cronk leads the Sydney Roosters to a 21–6 victory in the Grand Final. Cameron Munster was sin binned for a professional foul in the first half with the Roosters scoring not long after to lead 18–0. The Storm fell victims to their own errors and the intensity of the Roosters defence, with Munster sin binned for a second time late in the game to become the first player sin binned twice in a Grand Final.[4]
  • 1 October – Victorian Minister for Sport John Eren announces that Cameron Smith and Billy Slater will be honoured with statues outside AAMI Park.[4]


Milestone games

[edit]
Round Player Milestone
Round 1 Sam Kasiano Storm debut
Round 2 Billy Slater 300th game
Kenny Bromwich 100th game
Round 3 Suliasi Vunivalu 50th game
Round 5 Craig Bellamy 400th game as Coach
Ryan Hoffman 250th Storm game
Round 9 Justin Olam NRL debut
Round 11 Harry Grant NRL debut
Round 12 Dale Finucane 150th game
Sam Kasiano 150th game
Round 16 Patrick Kaufusi Storm debut
Round 17 Albert Vete Storm debut
Christian Welch 50th game
Round 18 Tim Glasby 100th game
Round 25 Scott Drinkwater NRL debut
Qualifying final Jesse Bromwich 200th game

Fixtures

[edit]

Pre-season

[edit]
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Source
7 February Trial Match1 Newcastle Knights AAMI Park, Melbourne Loss 22 26 [9]
16 February 2018 World Club Challenge Leeds Rhinos AAMI Park, Melbourne Win 38 4 [10]
17 February Trial Match2 New Zealand Warriors Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Loss 14 20 [11]
23 February Cameron Smith & Johnathan Thurston Testimonial Match North Queensland Cowboys Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Loss 14 16 [12]

1 Match played behind closed doors.
2 Storm players that did not play in the World Club Challenge played the Trial game.

Regular season

[edit]
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
GroundAHHAAHAHANHA–HAAHAAHAHHAH
ResultWLWLLWWWLWLWBWWWWWWWLLWWL
Position2846955444666553321123112
Points2244468101012121416182022242628303030323434
Source: Rugby League Tables
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

[edit]

Source:[13][14]

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
10 March 1 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Perth Stadium, Perth (Double Header) Won 36 18 J Addo-Carr (2), R Jacks, C Scott, K Bromwich, S Vunivalu C Smith 6/6 [15]
17 March 2 Wests Tigers AAMI Park, Melbourne Lost 8 10 S Vunivalu C Smith 2/3 [16]
22 March 3 North Queensland Cowboys AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 30 14 J Stimson, C Welch, W Chambers, N Asofa-Solomona C Smith 6/6, B Croft 1/2 [17]
30 March 4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney Lost 4 14 J. Stimson 2/2 [18]
7 April 5 Wests Tigers Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland (Double Header) Lost 10 11 B Slater B Croft 3/3 [19]
13 April 6 Newcastle Knights AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 40 14 J Addo-Carr (2), S Vunivalu (2), T Glasby, F Kaufusi, S Kasiano C Smith 6/8 [20]
20 April 7 Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Won 34 20 J Addo-Carr (2), B Smith (2), W Chambers, S Vunivalu C Smith 5/7 [21]
25 April 8 New Zealand Warriors AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 50 10 R Jacks (2), J Addo-Carr (2), R Hoffman, C Welch, B Slater, Y Tonumaipea C Smith 9/9 [22]
6 May 9 St George-Illawarra Dragons UOW Jubilee Oval, Sydney Lost 14 34 J Addo-Carr (3) C Smith 1/3 [23]
12 May 10 Gold Coast Titans Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (Double Header) Won 28 14 C Scott, F Kaufusi, C Munster, J Addo-Carr C Smith 6/6 [24]
19 May 11 Manly Sea Eagles AAMI Park, Melbourne Lost 4 24 C Munster 2/2 [25]
25 May 12 North Queensland Cowboys 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville Won 7 6 C Smith C Smith 1/2 C Munster 1/1 [26]
13 Bye
10 June 14 Brisbane Broncos AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 32 16 Y Tonumaipea, F Kaufusi, C Munster, S Vunivalu, J Hughes C Smith 5/5 [27]
17 June 15 Newcastle Knights McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Won 28 10 J Addo-Carr (2), R Jacks, S Vunivalu C Smith 6/7 [28]
29 June 16 Sydney Roosters Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Won 9 8 N Asofa-Solomona C Smith 2/2 C Smith 1/1, C Munster 0/2 [29]
5 July 17 St George-Illawarra Dragons AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 52 30 C Blair (2), C Scott, B Croft, R Hoffman, Y Tonumaipea, J Hughes, R Jacks, S Vunivalu C Smith 8/10 [30]
14 July 18 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Lottoland, Sydney Won 14 13 S Vunivalu, B Croft C Smith 3/3 [31]
22 July 19 New Zealand Warriors Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Won 12 6 W Chambers, S Vunivalu C Smith 2/4 [32]
28 July 20 Canberra Raiders AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 44 10 C Scott (2), F Kaufusi, C Munster, S Vunivalu, J Addo-Carr, N Asofa-Solomona C Smith 8/9 [33]
3 August 21 South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Lost 20 30 J Addo-Carr (2), D Finucane, C Scott C Smith 2/3, J Stimson 0/1 [34]
12 August 22 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks AAMI Park, Melbourne Lost 14 17 S Vunivalu (2), B Slater C Smith 1/3 [35]
17 August 23 Parramatta Eels AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 20 4 W Chambers, N Asofa-Solomona, C Scott C Smith 3/3, B Croft 1/2 [36]
25 August 24 Gold Coast Titans Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast Won 10 8 C Scott, C Munster C Smith 1/2 [37]
31 August 25 Penrith Panthers AAMI Park, Melbourne Lost 16 22 F Kaufusi, S Drinkwater C Smith 4/5 [38]

Finals

[edit]
Further information: 2018 NRL Finals Series
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field Goals Report
7 September Week 1 - Qualifying Final South Sydney Rabbitohs AAMI Park, Melbourne Win 29 28 S Vunivalu (2), C Blair (2), C Scott C Smith 4/6 C Munster 1/1 [39]
21 September Week 3 - Preliminary Final Cronulla Sharks AAMI Park, Melbourne Win 22 6 B Slater (2), B Croft C Smith 5/5 [40]
30 September 2018 NRL Grand Final Sydney Roosters ANZ Stadium, Sydney Loss 6 21 J Addo-Carr C Smith 1/1

Ladder

[edit]
2018 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Sydney Roosters 24 16 0 8 1 542 361 +181 34
2 Melbourne Storm 24 16 0 8 1 536 363 +173 34
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 16 0 8 1 582 437 +145 34
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 16 0 8 1 519 423 +96 34
5 Penrith Panthers 24 15 0 9 1 517 461 +56 32
6 Brisbane Broncos 24 15 0 9 1 556 500 +56 32
7 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 15 0 9 1 519 472 +47 32
8 New Zealand Warriors 24 15 0 9 1 472 447 +25 32
9 Wests Tigers 24 12 0 12 1 377 460 −83 26
10 Canberra Raiders 24 10 0 14 1 563 540 +23 22
11 Newcastle Knights 24 9 0 15 1 414 607 −193 20
12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 8 0 16 1 428 474 −46 18
13 North Queensland Cowboys 24 8 0 16 1 449 521 −72 18
14 Gold Coast Titans 24 8 0 16 1 472 582 −110 18
15 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 7 0 17 1 500 622 −122 16
16 Parramatta Eels 24 6 0 18 1 374 550 −176 14

Coaching staff

[edit]
  • Craig Bellamy - Head Coach
  • Adam O’Brien - Assistant Coach
  • Jason Ryles - Assistant Coach
  • Ben Jack - U/20s Head Coach
  • Marc Brentnall – Development Coach
  • Aaron Bellamy – Development Coach
  • Frank Ponissi - Football Director
  • Nick Maxwell - Leadership Coach
  • Craig McRae – Kicking & Catching Coach
  • Scott Sipple - Easts Tigers Feeder Club Coach
  • Craig Ingebrigtsen - Sunshine Coast Falcons Feeder Club Coach

2018 Squad

[edit]

List current as of 23 March 2018

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm players
Cap [a] Nat. Player name Position First Storm Game Previous First Grade RL club [b]
55 Australia Cameron Smith (c) HK 2002 Australia Melbourne Storm
58 Australia Billy Slater FB 2003 Australia Melbourne Storm
62 Australia Ryan Hoffman SR 2003 New Zealand New Zealand Warriors
97 Australia Will Chambers CE 2007 Australia Melbourne Storm
119 New Zealand Jesse Bromwich PR 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
149 New Zealand Kenny Bromwich PR,SR,LK 2013 Australia Melbourne Storm
153 Australia Tim Glasby PR,SR 2013 Australia Melbourne Storm
154 Samoa Young Tonumaipea WG,FB 2014 Australia Melbourne Storm
160 Australia Cameron Munster FE,FB,HB,HK 2014 Australia Melbourne Storm
163 Australia Dale Finucane PR,SR,LK 2015 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
164 Tonga Felise Kaufusi PR 2015 Australia Melbourne Storm
166 New Zealand Nelson Asofa-Solomona SR, PR 2015 Australia Melbourne Storm
167 Australia Christian Welch SR, PR 2015 Australia Melbourne Storm
170 Australia Curtis Scott CE,WG 2016 Australia Melbourne Storm
171 Fiji Suliasi Vunivalu WG 2016 Australia Melbourne Storm
172 Australia Cheyse Blair WG,CE 2016 Australia Manly Sea Eagles
174 Australia Brodie Croft HB 2016 Australia Melbourne Storm
176 Australia Josh Addo-Carr WG, FB 2017 Australia Wests Tigers
177 Canada Ryley Jacks FE 2017 Australia Melbourne Storm
179 Australia Joe Stimson SR, LK 2017 Australia Melbourne Storm
181 Fiji Tui Kamikamica SR, PR 2017 Australia Melbourne Storm
182 New Zealand Brandon Smith HK 2017 Australia Melbourne Storm
184 New Zealand Jahrome Hughes FE, FB 2017 Australia North Queensland Cowboys
186 Samoa Sam Kasiano PR 2018 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
187 Papua New Guinea Justin Olam WG, CE 2018 Australia Melbourne Storm
188 Australia Harry Grant HK 2018 Australia Melbourne Storm
189 Tonga Patrick Kaufusi PR 2018 Australia North Queensland Cowboys
190 Tonga Albert Vete PR 2018 Australia New Zealand Warriors
191 Australia Scott Drinkwater FB 2018 Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Billy Walters FE Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
New Zealand Sandor Earl WG Yet to debut Australia Canberra Raiders
Australia Tom Eisenhuth SR Yet to debut Australia Penrith Panthers
Samoa Marion Seve WG Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Lachlan Timm PR Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Louis Geraghty PR Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Ryan Papenhuyzen FB Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
New Zealand Kayleb Milne SR Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Cooper Johns FE Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Fiji Junior Ratuva WG Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm

Player movements

[edit]

Source:[41][42][43]

Representative honours

[edit]
Further information: List of Melbourne Storm representatives

The following players have played a first grade representative match in 2018.

  • (c) = Captain
  • References:[44]
Player State of Origin 1 Midseason International tests[45] State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 Post-season International tests
Josh Addo-Carr New South Wales — New South Wales New South Wales —
Nelson Asofa-Solomona — New Zealand — — New Zealand
Jesse Bromwich — — — — New Zealand
Kenny Bromwich — — — — New Zealand
Will Chambers Queensland — Queensland Queensland —
Tim Glasby — — — Queensland —
Jahrome Hughes — — — — New Zealand
Tui Kamikamica — Fiji — — —
Sam Kasiano — Samoa — — —
Felise Kaufusi Queensland — Queensland Queensland Australia
Cameron Munster Queensland — Queensland Queensland —
Justin Olam — Papua New Guinea — — —
Billy Slater — — Queensland Queensland (c) —
Brandon Smith — — — — New Zealand
Suliasi Vunivalu — Fiji — — —

Squad statistics

[edit]

Statistics Source:[46] Statistics current as of the end of the 2018 NRL regular season (this table does not include finals matches)

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm records
Name App T G FG Pts
Josh Addo-Carr 22 17 0 0 68
Nelson Asofa-Solomona 22 4 0 0 16
Cheyse Blair 7 2 0 0 8
Jesse Bromwich 17 0 0 0 0
Kenny Bromwich 22 1 0 0 4
Will Chambers 17 4 0 0 16
Brodie Croft 9 2 5 0 18
Scott Drinkwater 1 1 0 0 4
Dale Finucane 15 1 0 0 4
Tim Glasby 21 1 0 0 4
Harry Grant 1 0 0 0 0
Ryan Hoffman 20 2 0 0 8
Jahrome Hughes 11 2 0 0 8
Ryley Jacks 13 5 0 0 20
Tui Kamikamica 5 0 0 0 0
Sam Kasiano 13 1 0 0 4
Felise Kaufusi 18 5 0 0 20
Patrick Kaufusi 2 0 0 0 0
Cameron Munster 21 4 2 1 21
Justin Olam 3 0 0 0 0
Curtis Scott 21 8 0 0 32
Billy Slater 17 5 0 0 20
Brandon Smith 15 0 0 0 0
Cameron Smith 23 1 88 1 181
Joe Stimson 21 1 2 0 8
Young Tonumaipea 7 3 0 0 12
Albert Vete 1 0 0 0 0
Suliasi Vunivalu 20 13 0 0 52
Christian Welch 23 2 0 0 8
29 Players used — 85 97 2 536

Scorers

Most Points in a Game: 18 points

  • Round 8: Cameron Smith (9 Goals) vs. New Zealand Warriors

Most tries in a Game: 3

  • Round 9: Josh Addo-Carr vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons

Winning Games

Highest score in a winning game: 52 points

  • Round 17: vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons

Lowest score in a winning game: 7 points

  • Round 12: vs. North Queensland Cowboys

Greatest winning margin: 40 points

  • Round 8: vs. New Zealand Warriors

Greatest number of Games won consecutively: 8

  • Round 12 to Round 20

Losing Games

Highest score in a losing game: 20 points

  • Round 21: vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs

Lowest score in a losing game: 4 points

  • Round 4: vs. Cronulla Sharks
  • Round 11: vs. Manly Sea Eagles

Greatest losing margin: 20 points

  • Round 9: vs. St. George Illawarra Dragons
  • Round 11: vs. Manly Sea Eagles

Greatest number of Games lost consecutively: 2

  • Round 4 to Round 5
  • Round 20 to Round 21

Jerseys

[edit]

Home
On 1 November 2017 the Storm revealed their new 2018 Home jersey [47] which is once again produced by ISC. The new jersey is a tribute to the original jersey worn by Storm during its inaugural 1998 season. It has been produced to celebrate and acknowledge the history of the club as it celebrates its 20th anniversary throughout 2018. The signature ‘V’ representing Victoria returns although is more of a traditional V rather than the style used on the original jersey and it is showcased by the heritage colours of purple and white, while the iconic purple also features around the edging of the sleeves. The popular yellow returns with trimming around the neck a throwback to the late 90s when i featured as part of the collar. Purple lightning bolts also sit on either side of the jersey. Navy has been made the primary colour to commemorate the original Storm jerseys worn during the Club's formative years. On the front of the Jersey is the new Storm logo that was revealed on Monday as part of a launch of the 20-year celebrations.[48] This logo is a temporary logo for the duration of the 20 year celebrations.

Away
On 3 November 2017 the club revealed the new 20th Anniversary away jersey [49] The away jersey is another tribute to the past with the club's iconic lightning bolts watermarked on the front of the jersey. The heritage colour of navy also features on the all white jersey, with horizontal stripes running across the bolts. Purple appears around the edging of the sleeves, identical to the home jersey. The away jersey was worn on nine occasions in 2018 (Rounds 7, 12, 15-16, 18-19, 21, 24, and the 2018 NRL Grand Final). A variation of the away jersey was worn in Round 19 due to restrictions on gambling advertising in New Zealand.

Special
On 24 January 2018 the club released a special jersey that was worn in the 2018 World Club Challenge.[50] The jersey was the same design worn in the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines competition, with the new logos featuring on the front.[51]

During the season Melbourne Melbourne Storm wore the following additional alternate jerseys:

  • A version of their home jersey with a red "Poppy" chevron to commemorate ANZAC Day (Round 8)
  • An Indigenous jersey design (Round 10)[52]
  • A 20th anniversary design similar to the 1999 jersey, with players names subliminated into the design (Round 17)
  • A mostly purple with pink accents version of the home jersey to celebrate women in rugby league (Round 22)

Awards

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Players are listed with the cap number as they appear on the Melbourne Storm honour board. Additional squad members do not have a cap number.
  2. ^ This column denotes the previous RL club the player was signed to and played first grade RL for. If they are yet to debut then this is stipulated. If they were merely signed to the club but did not play then it is not counted.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Storm launch 20 year celebrations". Melbournestorm.com.au. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 November 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  2. ^ "2018 World Club Challenge set to be played at AAMI Park". foxsports.com.au. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Slater injured as Storm beat Leeds in World Club Challenge". nrl.com.au. 16 February 2018. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Middleton, David. 2018 Official Rugby League Annual. Sydney: News Magazines.
  5. ^ "Storm announce 20 Year Team". nrl.com.au. 2 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Streaks Melbourne Storm". nrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  7. ^ Bailey, Scott (3 July 2018). "Bellamy labels retiring Hoffman 'greatest clubman he's ever coached'". smh.com.au. Nine Media. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Slater announces 2018 season will be his last". melbournestorm.com.au. 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Match report: Melbourne Storm trial". 7 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Slater injured as Storm beat Leeds in World Club Challenge". nrl.com.au. 16 February 2018. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Warriors edge Storm in Rotorua trial". 17 February 2018. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Storm pipped at the post in Smith testimonial". 23 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Rugby League Tables – Melbourne". Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  14. ^ "2018 NRL Draw". Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Cameron Munster starts 2018 on fire as Storm outclass Bulldogs in Perth". Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  16. ^ Andrew Marmont (17 March 2018). "Tigers pull off stunning Storm upset in Slater's 300th". Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Melbourne too good for North Queensland". Archived from the original on 22 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  18. ^ Margie McDonald (30 March 2018). "Sharks score hard-earned win over Storm". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  19. ^ nrl.com (7 April 2018). "Tigers stun Storm again". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  20. ^ Andrew Marmont (13 April 2018). "Storm experience pays off in win over Knights". Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  21. ^ Joel Gould (20 April 2018). "Storm score strong win over Broncos". Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  22. ^ NRL (26 April 2018). "Storm vs Warriors". Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  23. ^ NRL (12 May 2018). "Dragons vs Storm". Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  24. ^ Melbourne Storm.com.au (13 May 2018). "Storm vs Titans". Archived from the original on 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  25. ^ NRL (26 May 2018). "Storm vs Sea Eagles". Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
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