1998 Melbourne Storm season explained

Year:1998
Team Colour:
  1. 6C0094
Font Colour:
  1. ffd700
League:NRL
League Rank:3rd
League Wins:17
League Draws:1
League Losses:6
Points For:546
Points Against:372
Playoff Result:Semi-final Loss
Ceo Title:Chairman
Coach Title:Coach
Captain:Glenn Lazarus (18 Games)
Tawera Nikau (9 Games)
Avg Attendance:12,716
High Attendance:20,522 (Round 4)
Top Tries:Scott Hill & Marcus Bai (14)
Top Goals:Craig Smith (51)
Top Points:Craig Smith (110)
List:yes
List Link:Melbourne Storm#Season summaries

The 1998 Melbourne Storm season was the first in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's inaugural Premiership and their first season was a major surprise to many, with the new team reaching the top of the ladder in Round 15 and finishing the regular season in 3rd place, only one win behind minor premiers Brisbane. Adopting coach Chris Anderson's new "flat-line" attack, the big Storm forwards laid a platform for their young halves Scott Hill and Brett Kimmorley to wreak havoc on opposing teams. Melbourne's front-rowers Glenn Lazarus, Robbie Kearns and Rodney Howe were all selected to play for New South Wales in the 1998 State of Origin series. A late season injury to captain Lazarus combined with a lack of Finals experience saw the Storm knocked out in the play-offs. The club though had proven they were to be taken seriously, and they had easily produced the best debut season of any new team in the game's history.[1]

Season summary

Milestone games

Round Player Milestone
Round 1See inaugural team Storm debuts
NRL debut
Round 250th game
Storm debut
Round 4Storm debut
NRL debut
Round 7 Storm debut
Round 13 Storm debut
NRL debut
Round 14 Storm debut
Round 15 NRL debut
Round 16 NRL debut
Round 19 200th NRL game coached
Round 20 Storm debut
Preliminary qualifying final 150th game

Jerseys

Melbourne's inaugural jerseys were navy blue jerseys with a stylised white and purple chevron design, with gold trim and collars, worn with navy blue shorts and socks. Until late in the season, there were no advertising logos, except that of manufacturer Nike. Unusually, Melbourne carried on the Super League innovation of having player names on the back of jerseys, ostensibly to assist new fans to identify players. The team wore the predominately blue jerseys in every game in 1998, except for the round 15 game against North Queensland Cowboys, when a predominately white jersey was worn with white shorts and socks.

Fixtures

Pre season

DateOpponentVenueResultTries Goals Field goals
7 FebruaryTrial Adelaide RamsNorth Hobart Oval, Hobart2622J Wilshere (2), T Brady-Smith, B Kimmorley, M BaiM Geyer 3/5[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
28 FebruaryTrial Canberra RaidersLavington Sports Ground, Albury1634S Hill, R Swain, P MarquetM Geyer 2/3

Regular season

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultTries Goals Field goals
14 March1WIN Stadium, Wollongong1412S Hill (2)C Smith 3/3[10]
22 March2Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney2616M Bai, P Bell, R Kearns, R Ross, D WilliamsC Smith 3/8[11]
28 March3Shark Park, Sydney2618R Bawden (2), M Bai, S Hill, R SwainC Smith 3/5[12]
3 April4Olympic Park, Melbourne2416M Bai, S Hill, P Marquet, C SmithC Smith 4/5[13]
10 April5Ericsson Stadium, Auckland1216M Bai, P BellC Smith 2/2[14]
19 April6Parramatta Stadium, Sydney3222M Bai, J Carlaw, R Howe, B Kimmorley, T Nikau, R RossC Smith 4/6[15]
25 April7Olympic Park, Melbourne2214J Carlaw (2), P Bell, R KearnsC Smith 3/6[16]
1 May8Olympic Park, Melbourne5416R Ross (2), R Bawden, J Carlaw, S Hill, R Kearns, P Marquet, B Roarty, D WilliamsC Smith 9/10[17]
8 May9Olympic Park, Melbourne1418R Bawden, D WilliamsC Smith 3/4[18]
15 May10Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney146P Bell, A MouleC Smith 3/3[19]
24 May11Olympic Park, Melbourne1414G Lazarus, R RossC Smith 3/3[20]
31 May12Olympic Park, Melbourne626S Hill (2), R Ross (2), M Bai, R Bawden, B Kimmorley, P Marquet, T Martin, T Nikau, D WilliamsT Martin 6/8, B Kimmorley 2/3[21]
7 June13Leichhardt Oval, Sydney2516R Bawden (2), A Moule, B RoartyB Kimmorley 2/4, T Martin 2/2B Kimmorley[22]
13 June14Olympic Park, Melbourne244S Hill (2), M Bai, B RoartyJ Wilshere 3/4, B Kimmorley 1/1[23]
20 June15Malanda Stadium, Townsville108R BawdenC Smith 3/4[24]
27 June16Olympic Park, Melbourne2124S Hill, T Martin, T Nikau, R RossC Smith 2/5B Kimmorley[25]
3 July17ANZ Stadium, Brisbane1634M Bai, B Kimmorley, R RossC Smith 2/3[26]
10 July18Olympic Park, Melbourne2212P Bell, W Evans, T Martin, C SmithC Smith 2/2, B Kimmorley 1/2[27]
17 July19North Sydney Oval, Sydney1034J Carlaw, R SwainB Kimmorley 1/2[28]
24 July20Olympic Park, Melbourne3216M Bai (3), S Hill, B Kimmorley, R SwainB Kimmorley 4/7[29]
2 August21Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney3220P Bell, T Brady-Smith, J Carlaw, S Hill, R Kearns, P MarquetB Kimmorley 4/6[30]
7 August22Olympic Park, Melbourne2010D Williams (2), M Bai, P BellB Kimmorley 2/4[31]
14 August23Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney48T NikauT Martin 0/1[32]
21 August24Olympic Park, Melbourne1612S Hill, B Kimmorley, T MartinB Kimmorley 2/3[33]
Source:[34]

Finals

--------

Ladder

See main article: 1998 NRL season.

1998 Coaching Staff

1998 squad

List current as of 21 July 2021[35]

width=5%Capwidth=1%Nat.width=30%Player namewidth=15%Positionwidth=10%First Storm Gamewidth=35%Previous First Grade RL club
1Robbie RossFB1998 Hunter Mariners
2Craig SmithWG1998 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
3Aaron MouleWG, CE1998 South Queensland Crushers
4Paul BellCE1998 Perth Reds
5Marcus BaiWG1998 Gold Coast Chargers
6Scott HillFE1998 Hunter Mariners
7Brett KimmorleyHB1998 Hunter Mariners
8Rodney HowePR1998 Perth Reds
9Danny WilliamsLK, SR, HK1998 North Sydney Bears
10Robbie KearnsPR1998 Perth Reds
11Paul MarquetPR, SR1998 Hunter Mariners
12Ben RoartyPR, SR, LK1998 Melbourne Storm
13Tawera NikauLK1998 Cronulla Sharks
14Glenn LazarusPR1998 Brisbane Broncos
15Richard SwainHK1998 Hunter Mariners
16Russell BawdenPR1998 London Broncos
17John CarlawCE1998 Hunter Mariners
18Matt GeyerWG1998 Perth Reds
19Wayne EvansSR1998 Perth Reds
20Ben AndersonFE1998 Melbourne Storm
21Tony MartinWG, CE1998 London Broncos
22Anthony BonusPR1998 Parramatta Eels
23Wade FentonSR, PR1998 Melbourne Storm
24John WilshereCE1998 Perth Reds
25Daniel FramePR, SR1998 Melbourne Storm
26Matt RuaPR, SR1998 Melbourne Storm
27Tristan Brady-SmithWG1998 Perth Reds
Ryan BakerSRYet to debut–
Ryan GundryPRYet to debut–
Chris McCauslandFEYet to debut–
David PalaviHKYet to debut–

Inaugural Team

The first Melbourne Storm team to take to the field in Round 1 of the 1998 NRL season[36]

Representative honours

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 1998.

Player October Test Matches
Australia New South WalesNew South Wales
Robbie KearnsNew South WalesAustralia
Glenn LazarusAustralia New South WalesNew South Wales

Statistics

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 1998 NRL season.

NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPoints
40000
27140056
2780032
2570028
10000
31004
2460024
171004
20000
70000
112008
26141058
121004
2640016
27522266
181004
2750020
2168040
82008
2740016
2530012
2190036
60000
172510110
2530012
2060024
10306
27 players used – 104 85 2 588

Scorers

Most points in a game: 18 points

Most tries in a game: 3

Winning games

Highest score in a winning game: 62 points

Lowest score in a winning game: 10 points

Greatest winning margin: 54 points

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 4

Losing games

Highest score in a losing game: 21 points

Lowest score in a losing game: 4 points

Greatest losing margin: 24 points

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 2

Feeder team

Upon entry to the NRL, Melbourne Storm signed an affiliation agreement with Queensland Cup team Norths Devils to act as a feeder club and to provide Melbourne players who were not selected to play first grade a match each weekend. Players would fly to Brisbane each week after training in Melbourne to play Queensland Cup. The arrangement bore immediate results as the side coached by Mark Murray won the minor premiership. Featuring a number of players who had played for Melbourne in 1998, Norths Devils would go on to win the 1998 Queensland Cup Grand Final 35–18 against Wests Panthers.

See main article: 1998 Queensland Cup.

Awards and honours

Melbourne Storm Awards Night

Dally M Awards Night

Additional Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Melbourne Storm History . melbournestorm.com.au . . 7 March 2018.
  2. Book: Middleton . David . Rugby League 1999 . October 1998 . Harper Sports . Sydney . 0732267773.
  3. Book: 2002 Melbourne Storm Info Guide . . 112.
  4. Prichard . Greg . That Hollow Feeling . . Sydney, New South Wales . Pacific Publications Pty Ltd. 79. 31. 62–64.
  5. Web site: 1998 NRL Country Carnival Results . rleague.com . 12 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20001025151851/http://rleague.com/nrl98/a98cc.html . 25 October 2000 . dead.
  6. Web site: Melbourne Storm – How we got here . melbournestorm.com.au . 30 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/19991023061444/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/HowW.asp . 23 October 1999.
  7. News: Storm roars off to claim its first win . The Age . 8 February 1998 . Melbourne, Victoria . 8.
  8. News: Storm off on right foot . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited . 8 February 1998 . Sydney, New South Wales . 85.
  9. News: Crawley . Paul . Raiders, Broncos take the honours . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited . 1 March 1998 . Sydney, New South Wales . 95.
  10. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 1. 20 July 2021.
  11. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 2. 20 July 2021.
  12. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 3. 20 July 2021.
  13. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 4. 20 July 2021.
  14. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 5. 20 July 2021.
  15. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 6. 20 July 2021.
  16. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 7. 20 July 2021.
  17. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 8. 20 July 2021.
  18. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 9. 20 July 2021.
  19. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 10. 20 July 2021.
  20. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 11. 20 July 2021.
  21. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 12. 20 July 2021.
  22. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 13. 20 July 2021.
  23. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 14. 20 July 2021.
  24. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 15. 20 July 2021.
  25. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 16. 20 July 2021.
  26. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 17. 20 July 2021.
  27. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 18. 20 July 2021.
  28. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 19. 20 July 2021.
  29. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 20. 20 July 2021.
  30. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 21. 20 July 2021.
  31. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 22. 20 July 2021.
  32. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 23. 20 July 2021.
  33. Web site: NRL 1998 – Round 23. 20 July 2021.
  34. Web site: Rugby League Tables – Melbourne. 20 July 2021.
  35. Web site: Storm players (1998) . melbournestorm.com.au . 21 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/19990128034738/https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/players/pla_2.htm. 28 January 1999.
  36. Web site: NRL 1998 Round 1. 23 July 2020.
  37. Web site: 1998 Melbourne Point Scorers. afltables.com. 21 July 2021.
  38. Web site: Melbourne Storm – NRL 1998. rugbyleagueproject.org. 21 July 2021.
  39. Web site: NRL Honour Board . melbournestorm.com.au . . 10 February 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928161940/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/default.aspx?s=nrl-honour-board . 28 September 2013 .

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