2001 Melbourne Storm season

The 2001 Melbourne Storm season was the 4th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2001 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season in 9th place. [1]

2001 Melbourne Storm season
NRL Rank9th
2001 recordWins: 11; draws: 1; losses: 14
Points scoredFor: 704; against: 725
Team information
Executive DirectorJohn Ribot
CoachChris Anderson
Mark Murray
Captain
StadiumDocklands Stadium
Avg. attendance11,969
High attendance15,470 (Round 21)
Top scorers
TriesMatt Orford (15)
Aaron Moule (15)
GoalsMatt Orford (78)
PointsMatt Orford (216)
< 2000 List of seasons 2002 >

The 2001 season was the least successful in the Storm's history, missing the play-offs for the first time. After making a decision to move base from Olympic Park to the larger Colonial Stadium, the club seemed to lack the support, atmosphere and composure they had built up. It reflected in the team's on field performances, losing four of their first six homes games and 7 from their opening 10 overall. Amidst this time the Storm was rocked when coach Anderson quit the club after the 42-18 loss to Parramatta in Round 7.

Along with Richard Swain and Matt Orford, replacement coach Mark Murray lifted the Storm from their bad beginning. Melbourne won seven of their next ten games to reach 6th place on the ladder.

But the bad start had taken its toll, and with the 2001 finals in sight they won only two more games. A last round loss to Canberra saw the Storm finish outside the Top 8.

The 2001 season continued to mark the endurability of Kiwi Test hooker Richard Swain. He was on the field for every minute of the Storm's season and had yet to miss a game for Melbourne in the club's history. [2]

Season Summary

  • Round 1 – 15,070 fans watch the first ever rugby league game played indoors, as Melbourne go down 10-14 against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Colonial Stadium. Referee Tim Mander, the touch judges and video referees are dropped after the round for failing to send off Storm prop forward Rodney Howe for a reckless high tackle on Steve Price. Howe is suspended for six games after pleading guilty to the charge.
  • Round 6 – Despite a ruling from the NRL, the Colonial Stadium roof stays open for Melbourne's game against Newcastle Knights.
  • 2 April – Head coach Chris Anderson quits after a poor start to the season and rumours of a falling out with club management. It had been reported that Anderson was interested in replacing outgoing Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks coach John Lang.[3] Norths Devils coach Mark Murray is installed as caretaker coach.
  • 9 April – Storm owners News Limited indicate that the company was willing to sell its 50% share of the North Queensland Cowboys, but had no intention of deserting Melbourne.
  • Round 9 – On Good Friday, halfback Matt Orford outpoints former Melbourne halfback Brett Kimmorley in the former Storm halfback's first game in Northern Eagles colours against Melbourne. Aaron Moule equals the club record with four tries in the game.[4]
  • 23 April – Former head coach Chris Anderson is appointed head coach of Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks from the 2002 season.
  • 24 May – Fullback Robbie Ross undergoes surgery on a chronic hamstring injury that is expected to sideline him for six weeks. In his place, Melbourne select former Australian Schoolboys rugby union halfback Paul Sheedy.[3]
  • Round 14 – Richard Swain plays his 100th consecutive first grade game.
  • Round 16 – Tasesa Lavea becomes the first Melbourne player to be an unused interchange player in club history.[5]
  • 1 July – The Sunday Mail reports that the Queensland Government has confirmed that it has held talks with the Melbourne Storm about relocating to Brisbane and basing itself at Lang Park.[3]
Mebourne Storm 100th game banner unfurled before the round 18 match against Wests Tigers
Inverse side of the Mebourne Storm 100th game banner
  • Round 18 – Melbourne celebrate their 100th game of premiership football with a record-breaking 64-0 win over Wests Tigers at Colonial Stadium. The 64 points is Melbourne's greatest winning margin, it was the first time holding the opposition to nil; while Matt Orford sets a new club record with 10 goals in the game. Richard Swain becomes the first player to have played in 100 games for the club, featuring in every game played since 1998.
  • 12 July – Penrith Panthers sign Storm forward Ben Roarty on a two-year contract from the 2002 NRL season.
  • Round 20 – Conceding a new club record of 54 points, Melbourne are thrashed by premiership fancy Parramatta Eels 10-54, with Jason Taylor equaling the Australian rugby league points scoring record of Daryl Halligan.
  • Round 21 – The retractable seats at Colonial Stadium are brought in for the first time for a Storm game. It is rumoured that the costs to bring the seats in and replace damaged turf is in excess of $1m. Marcus Bai scores his 50th try for the club, the first player to reach that milestone.[4]
  • Round 24 – Melbourne maintain slim hopes of a place in the top eight with a narrow 28-24 victory over last-placed Penrith in a Monday night match at Colonial Stadium.
  • Round 25 – A controversial 24-all draw with New Zealand Warriors seals the top eight door shut for Melbourne, meaning the club will miss the NRL finals for the first time. Referee Tim Mander is admonished for directing Matt Geyer to take a conversion kick two metres closer to the sideline than from where the Storm's final try was scored.[3]
  • Round 26 – Richard Swain becomes the first player to make 1000 tackles in a season. Swain also completes the marathon achievement of being the only forward to have played every minute of every game throughout the season.[3]
  • 20 November – Melbourne turn their back on Colonial Stadium, making the move back to Olympic Park for the 2002 season.

Milestone games

RoundPlayerMilestone
Round 1Junior LangiStorm debut
Round 1Matt OrfordStorm debut
Round 1Steven BellNRL debut
Round 4Paul WhatuiraStorm debut
Round 5Richard Swain100th game
Round 5Henry PerenaraStorm debut
Round 11Marcus Bai100th game
Round 14Paul SheedyNRL debut
Round 15Scott Hill100th game
Round 18Melbourne Storm100th game
Round 23Russell Bawden100th game
Round 24Semi TadulalaNRL debut

Jerseys

2001 home jersey

Melbourne's jerseys were again manufactured by Fila and carried the same design as the 1999-2000 home jersey. A new purple away jersey design with white and silver thunderbolts was worn in select games, with navy shorts and purple socks. For the first time, the jerseys displayed a front sponsor, with a white Adecco logo in a red box on the home jersey, with just the white logo on the purple away jersey.

Fixtures

Pre Season

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
27 JanuaryTrial Penrith PanthersLavington Sports Ground, AlburyWon4018B Roarty (2), B Martin, P Robinson, T Whatuira, M Bai, D Williams, B WattsM Orford (3), T Lavea[6]
2 FebruaryTrial Northern EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLost3040M Orford (2), B Roarty, J Langi, B Watts, R RossT Lavea (3)[7][8][9]

Regular season

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
18 February1 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsColonial Stadium, MelbourneLost1014M BaiT Lavea 3/3[10]
24 February2 North Queensland CowboysColonial Stadium, MelbourneLost2832B Roarty (2), M Bai, B Watts, D WilliamsT Lavea 2/3, M Orford 2/3[11]
3 March3 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, WollongongWon2016B Watts (2), M Bai, M OrfordT Lavea 2/5[12]
11 March4 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksColonial Stadium, MelbourneWon3424M Geyer, S Hill, J Langi, M Orford, M Rua, P WhatuiraT Lavea 5/7[13]
18 March5 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyLost1040R Kearns, R SwainT Lavea 1/2[14]
25 March6 Newcastle KnightsColonial Stadium, MelbourneLost2836S Hill, A Moule, M Orford, R Ross, R SwainT Lavea 3/4, M Geyer 1/1[15]
31 March7 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLost1842J Langi, A Moule, H PerenaraM Orford 3/3[16]
8 April8 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, BrisbaneLost1618M Bai, M Orford, H PerenaraM Orford 2/3[17]
13 April9 Northern EaglesColonial Stadium, MelbourneWon5218A Moule (4), M Bai (2), R Bawden, S Hill, S KearneyM Orford 8/10[18]
22 April10 Sydney RoostersColonial Stadium, MelbourneLost2223M Bai, M Orford, M Rua, P WhatuiraM Orford 3/5[19]
29 April11 Penrith PanthersPenrith Park, SydneyWon1458M Orford (2), D Williams (2), S Bell, M Geyer, S Hill, B Roarty, R Ross, M Rua, R SwainM Orford 7/11[20]
12 May12 New Zealand WarriorsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWon4020A Moule (2), S Bell, S Hill, M Orford, R Ross, D WilliamsM Orford 6/8[21]
19 May13 Canberra RaidersColonial Stadium, MelbourneWon3228M Geyer (2), R Bawden, A Moule, P Robinson, R RossM Orford 4/7[22]
27 May14 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSydney Showground, SydneyLost2826M Bai, R Bawden, S Bell, M Geyer, P RobinsonM Orford 3/6[23]
2 June15 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleWon2438S Bell (2), M Geyer (2), S Kearney, A Moule, H PerenaraM Orford 5/8[24]
17 June16 St George Illawarra DragonsColonial Stadium, MelbourneWon3428M Bai, S Bell, M Geyer, S Hill, F Moala, H PerenaraM Orford 5/6[25]
23 June17 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Park, SydneyLost1840S Bell, M Geyer, A Moule, M OrfordM Orford 1/4[26]
5 July18 Wests TigersColonial Stadium, MelbourneWon640M Geyer (3), A Moule (2), R Howe, F Moala, M Orford, H Perenara, B Roarty, R SwainM Orford 10/11[27]
15 July19 Newcastle KnightsMarathon Stadium, NewcastleLost1648M Bai, F Moala, M OrfordM Orford 2/4[28]
20 July20 Parramatta EelsColonial Stadium, MelbourneLost1054A Moule, M OrfordM Orford 1/2[29]
29 July21 Brisbane BroncosColonial Stadium, MelbourneWon3228M Bai, S Bell, M Geyer, F Moala, M Orford, R SwainM Orford 4/6[30]
4 August22 Northern EaglesNorthPower Stadium, GosfordLost1220F Moala, M OrfordM Orford 2/4[31]
12 August23 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLost2850S Kearney (2), S Bell, F Moala, P RobinsonM Orford 4/5[32]
20 August24 Penrith PanthersColonial Stadium, MelbourneWon2824R Ross (2), R Bawden, S Bell, T LaveaM Orford 4/6[33]
27 August25 New Zealand WarriorsColonial Stadium, MelbourneDraw2424S Bell, M Geyer, A Moule, M Orford, H PerenaraM Geyer 1/2, M Orford 1/3[34]
1 September26 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, CanberraLost632D WilliamsM Orford 1/1[35]

Source:[36]

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Parramatta Eels 262024839406+43342
2 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 261736617568+4937
3 Newcastle Knights (P) 261619782639+14333
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 261529594513+8132
5 Brisbane Broncos 2614111696511+18529
6 Sydney Roosters 2613112647589+5827
7 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2612212661573+8826
8 New Zealand Warriors 2612212638629+926
9 Melbourne Storm 2611114704725-2123
10 Northern Eagles 2611114603750-14723
11 Canberra Raiders 269116600623-2319
12 Wests Tigers 269116474746-27219
13 North Queensland Cowboys 266218514771-25714
14 Penrith Panthers 267019521847-32614

2001 Coaching Staff

2001 Squad

List current as of 10 August 2021[37]

Cap [lower-alpha 1] Nat. Player name Position First Storm Game Previous First Grade RL club [lower-alpha 2]
1 Australia Robbie Ross FB 1998 Australia Hunter Mariners
3 Australia Aaron Moule WG, CE 1998 Australia South Queensland Crushers
5 Papua New Guinea Marcus Bai WG 1998 Australia Gold Coast Chargers
6 Australia Scott Hill FE 1998 Australia Hunter Mariners
8 Australia Rodney Howe PR 1998 Australia Perth Reds
9 Australia Danny Williams LK, SR, HK 1998 Australia North Sydney Bears
10 Australia Robbie Kearns PR 1998 Australia Perth Reds
12 Australia Ben Roarty PR, SR, LK 1998 Australia Melbourne Storm
15 New Zealand Richard Swain HK 1998 Australia Hunter Mariners
16 Australia Russell Bawden PR 1998 Australia Brisbane Broncos
18 Australia Matt Geyer WG 1998 Australia Perth Reds
26 New Zealand Matt Rua PR, SR 1998 Australia Melbourne Storm
28 New Zealand Stephen Kearney SR 1999 Australia New Zealand Warriors
30 New Zealand Tasesa Lavea FE 1999 Australia Melbourne Storm
31 Australia Brad Watts FB 1999 Australia Melbourne Storm
32 Australia Brett O'Farrell PR 1999 Australia Melbourne Storm
34 Tonga Fifita Moala WG 2000 Australia Melbourne Storm
35 Australia Brook Martin WG 2000 Australia Melbourne Storm
37 New Zealand Glen Turner SR 2000 Australia Melbourne Storm
38 Australia Peter Robinson SR 2000 Australia Melbourne Storm
41 Australia Brenton Pomery PR 2000 Australia Wests Tigers
42 New Zealand Junior Langi CE 2001 Australia St George Illawarra Dragons
43 Australia Matt Orford HB 2001 Australia Northern Eagles
44 Australia Steven Bell CE 2001 Australia Melbourne Storm
45 New Zealand Paul Whatuira CE 2001 New Zealand Auckland Warriors
46 New Zealand Henry Perenara LK 2001 New Zealand Auckland Warriors
47 Australia Paul Sheedy FB 2001 Australia Melbourne Storm
48 Fiji Semi Tadulala WG 2001 Australia Melbourne Storm
- Australia Nic Henderson SR Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- New Zealand Tai Lavea FB Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- New Zealand Marty Turner HB Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- New Zealand Jason Wrigley PR Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm

Player movements

Team of the Century

In conjunction with the celebrations for Melbourne's 100th game in round 18 against Wests, Melbourne ran a "team of the century" promotion to honour the best 17 players over the first 100 games of the club's existence. The team was announced during half time of the round 21 game against Brisbane.[4]

Melbourne Storm
Team of the Century Interchange Coach

Head coach



Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice captain(s)

Updated: 14 September 2021
Source(s): [4]

Representative honours

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2001.

PlayerCity vs Country OriginState of Origin 1State of Origin 2State of Origin 3Midseason Tests[lower-alpha 3]October Test[lower-alpha 4]2001 Kangaroo tour
Marcus BaiPapua New Guinea
Russell BawdenQueensland
Scott HillCountry
Rodney HoweNew South Wales
Stephen KearneyNew Zealand
Robbie KearnsNew South WalesAustraliaAustraliaAustralia
Tasesa LaveaNew Zealand
Matt OrfordCity
Henry PerenaraNew Zealand
Matt RuaNew Zealand
Richard SwainNew Zealand

Statistics

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2001 NRL season.

NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPoints
Marcus Bai21110044
Russell Bawden2340016
Steven Bell20110044
Matt Geyer26142060
Scott Hill2060024
Rodney Howe171004
Stephen Kearney2640016
Robbie Kearns231004
Junior Langi102008
Tasesa Lavea19116036
Fifita Moala1060024
Aaron Moule21150060
Brett O'Farrell90000
Matt Orford2615780216
Henry Perenara2160024
Brenton Pomery20000
Ben Roarty2340016
Peter Robinson2030012
Robbie Ross1460024
Matt Rua2530012
Paul Sheedy20000
Richard Swain2650020
Semi Tadulala10000
Brad Watts730012
Paul Whatuira62008
Danny Williams2150020
26 players used128960704

Scorers

Most points in a game: 24 points

  • Round 18 - Matt Orford (1 try, 10 Goals) vs Wests Tigers

Most tries in a game: 4 [lower-alpha 5]

  • Round 9 - Aaron Moule vs Northern Eagles

Winning games

Highest score in a winning game: 64 points

  • Round 18 vs Wests Tigers

Lowest score in a winning game: 20 points

  • Round 3 vs St George Illawarra Dragons

Greatest winning margin: 64 points [lower-alpha 6]

  • Round 18 vs Wests Tigers

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 3

  • Round 11 - Round 13

Losing games

Highest score in a losing game: 28 points

  • Round 2 vs North Queensland Cowboys
  • Round 6 vs Newcastle Knights
  • Round 23 vs Sydney Roosters

Lowest score in a losing game: 6 points

  • Round 26 vs Canberra Raiders

Greatest losing margin: 44 points

  • Round 20 vs Parramatta Eels

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 4 [lower-alpha 5]

  • Round 5 - Round 8

Feeder Team

Melbourne Storm reserve players again travelled to Brisbane each week to play with Queensland Cup team Norths Devils. Making the finals for the fourth straight season, Norths Devils finished fourth, but were eliminated in the first week of the 2001 Queensland Cup finals.

2001 Queensland Cup
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
4 Norths Devils 2011362558446+11229

Awards and honours

Melbourne Storm Awards Night

Other Awards

Notes

  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.
  3. Tests between Australia vs NZ, NZ vs France
  4. Tests between Australia vs PNG
  5. Equal club record
  6. New club record

References

  1. "Melbourne Storm History". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. Middleton, David (2002). Rugby League 2002. Sydney: Harper Sports. ISBN 0732274664.
  3. 2002 Melbourne Storm Info Guide. Melbourne Storm.
  4. "NRL 2001 - Round 16". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  5. Barrow, Tim (28 January 2001). "Orford a real impact player". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney, New South Wales: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 57.
  6. Beikoff, Katrin (2 February 2001). "Eagle returns to nest - Charm before the Storm for Bret". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney, New South Wales: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 123.
  7. Vernon, Ben (3 February 2001). "Orford takes the points, not Storm". Herald-Sun. Melbourne, Victoria: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 81.
  8. Ritchie, Dean (3 February 2001). "Kimmorley sinks his former mates". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney, New South Wales: Nationwide News Pty Ltd.
  9. "NRL 2001 - Round 1". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  10. "NRL 2001 - Round 2". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  11. "NRL 2001 - Round 3". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  12. "NRL 2001 - Round 4". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  13. "NRL 2001 - Round 5". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  14. "NRL 2001 - Round 6". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  15. "NRL 2001 - Round 7". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  16. "NRL 2001 - Round 8". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  17. "NRL 2001 - Round 9". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  18. "NRL 2001 - Round 10". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  19. "NRL 2001 - Round 11". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  20. "NRL 2001 - Round 12". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  21. "NRL 2001 - Round 13". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  22. "NRL 2001 - Round 14". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  23. "NRL 2001 - Round 15". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  24. "NRL 2001 - Round 16". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  25. "NRL 2001 - Round 17". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  26. "NRL 2001 - Round 18". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  27. "NRL 2001 - Round 19". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  28. "NRL 2001 - Round 20". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  29. "NRL 2001 - Round 21". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  30. "NRL 2001 - Round 22". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  31. "NRL 2001 - Round 23". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  32. "NRL 2001 - Round 24". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  33. "NRL 2001 - Round 25". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  34. "NRL 2001 - Round 26". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  35. "Rugby League Tables - Melbourne". Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  36. "Storm Team List (2001)". melbournestorm.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 June 2001. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  37. "2001 Melbourne Point Scorers". afltables.com. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  38. "Melbourne Storm - NRL 2001". rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  39. "NRL Honour Board". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  40. 2002 Melbourne Storm Info Guide. Melbourne Storm. p. 123.
  41. "Recent news | AFANA".
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