2004 Melbourne Storm season explained

Year:2004
Team Colour:
  1. 6C0094
Font Colour:
  1. ffd700
League:NRL
League Rank:6th
League Wins:13
League Draws:0
League Losses:11
Points For:684
Points Against:517
Playoff Result:Semi-final Loss
Ceo Title:CEO
Ceo:Frank Stanton (Interim)
Coach Title:Coach
Captain:Stephen Kearney (24 Games)
Rodney Howe (1 Game)
Robbie Kearns (1 Game)
Avg Attendance:8,886
High Attendance:10,621 (Round 16)
Top Tries:Steven Bell (18)
Top Goals:Matt Orford (56)
Top Points:Matt Orford (153)
List:yes
List Link:Melbourne Storm#Season summaries

The 2004 Melbourne Storm season was the 7th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2004 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 6th out of 15 teams.

Inconsistency plagued Storm in Craig Bellamy’s second season in charge, but the team won four games in a row during the middle part of the year to move into the top four. They could not maintain their run though, eventually finishing sixth. Once again Storm won its first final, a 31-14 triumph over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium before bowing out to the Bulldogs for the second straight season the following week. John Ribot departed the club early in the 2004 season with Frank Stanton stepping in as acting CEO for the next 12 months.[1]

Season Summary

Milestone games

Round Player Milestone
Round 2Storm debut
Round 2Storm debut
Round 3Storm debut
Round 6200th game
Round 7100th game
Round 850th game
Round 9NRL debut
Round 12200th game
Round 16150th game
Round 19Scott Hill150th game
Round 21250th game
Round 22100th game
Round 22150th game
Round 23NRL debut
Round 26Andrew McFadden100th game

Jerseys

Melbourne's jerseys were unchanged from the designs implemented by Canterbury of New Zealand in 2003. The club's clash colours were again a mostly white design with a purple chevron and gold thunderbolts, worn with navy shorts. Honda finished up as sponsor at the end of 2003, and there was no sleeve sponsor for 2004.

Fixtures

Pre Season

DateRound Opponent VenueResultMel. Opp.Source
24 JanuaryRugby League World Sevens LebanonAussie Stadium, Sydney2722
24 JanuaryRugby League World Sevens St George Illawarra DragonsAussie Stadium, Sydney1029
25 JanuaryRugby League World Sevens Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsAussie Stadium, Sydney1722
DateOpponentVenueResultTries Goals Field goals
14 FebruaryTrial Tweed Heads SeagullsNoosa District Sports Complex, Tewantin2814[5] [6]
21 FebruaryTrial Brisbane BroncosClive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba1014M Geyer, S HillM Geyer (1)[7]
28 FebruaryTrial Canberra RaidersEric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga2030G Turner, F Moala, M King, B SlaterC Smith (2)[8] [9] [10]
7 MarchTrial Newtown JetsHenson Park, Sydney540S Turner (3), F Moala (2), M King (2), B Slater, P Robinson, K ReynoldsonC Smith (5), M Geyer [11] [12] [13]

Regular season

Matches

Source:[14]

DateOpponentVenueResultTries Goals Field goals
13 March1Bye
21 March2Olympic Park, Melbourne2636S Hill, F Moala, B Slater, G TurnerC Smith 5/5[15]
28 March3Olympic Park, Melbourne346S Turner (2), D Cooper, M King, B MacDougall, M OrfordC Smith 4/7, D Cooper 1/1[16]
4 April4Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane2634M King (2), S Hill, R Hoffman, B SlaterC Smith 3/5, M Orford 0/1[17]
11 April5Penrith Park, Sydney2630M King (2), D Cooper, M Orford, P RobinsonC Smith 3/5[18]
17 April6Olympic Park, Melbourne504J Webster (3), D Williams (2), D Cooper, D Kidwell, M Orford, C SmithC Smith 5/6, M Orford 1/1, D Williams 1/1, D Cooper 1/1[19]
24 April7Olympic Park, Melbourne286S Bell, M Geyer, D Johnson, K Reynoldson, B SlaterC Smith 3/5, M Orford 1/1[20]
2 May8Ericsson Stadium, Auckland1420S Bell (2), S HillC Smith 1/3[21]
8 May9Olympic Park, Melbourne2636S Bell (2), D Cooper (2), B SlaterC Smith 3/5[22]
16 May10Parramatta Stadium, Sydney3616D Cooper (2), S Bell, D Johnson, R Kearns, C SmithC Smith 6/8[23]
22 May11Olympic Park, Melbourne2218C Cronk, S Hill, S Kearney, B MacDougallM Orford 3/4[24]
29 May12EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle2818M Geyer (3), S Hill, B SlaterC Smith 4/5[25]
5 June13Olympic Park, Melbourne3024S Bell, D Johnson, R Kearns, D Kidwell, B SlaterM Orford 3/4, C Smith 2/3[26]
12 June14Aussie Stadium, Sydney2628A Chan (2), S Bell, D Cooper, D KidwellM Orford 3/5[27]
19 June15Bye
26 June16Olympic Park, Melbourne426M King (3), B MacDougall (2), S Bell, D Kidwell, B SlaterM Orford 4/7, D Cooper 1/1[28]
2 July17Olympic Park, Melbourne6614S Turner (3), C Cronk (2), M King (2), S Hill, R Hoffman, D Kidwell, B MacDougallM Orford 11/12[29]
11 July18Sydney Showground, Sydney1825D Kidwell, B Slater, C SmithM Orford 3/3[30]
17 July19Leichhardt Oval, Sydney1832B Slater (2), M OrfordM Orford 3/3[31]
24 July20Olympic Park, Melbourne2216M Orford (3), M KingM Orford 3/5[32]
1 August21Olympic Park, Melbourne1026M King, C SmithM Orford 1/2[33]
6 August22WIN Stadium, Wollongong1434S Bell, M King, M OrfordM Orford 1/3[34]
15 August23Canberra Stadium, Canberra3618S Bell, M Geyer, M King, B MacDougall, M Orford, B Slater, J SmithM Orford 4/7[35]
22 August24Olympic Park, Melbourne2212S Bell, S Hill, D JohnsonM Orford 5/6[36]
28 August25Toyota Park, Sydney3628M Geyer (2), S Bell, D Johnson, D Kidwell, B MacDougall, B SlaterM Orford 4/7, S Kearney 0/1[37]
5 September26Brookvale Oval, Sydney2830S Bell (2), S Hill (2), C CronkC Smith 4/5[38]

Finals

----

Ladder

See main article: 2004 NRL season.

2004 Coaching Staff

2004 squad

List current as of 20 September 2021[40]

width=5%Cap width=1%Nat.width=30%Player namewidth=15%Positionwidth=10%First Storm Gamewidth=35%Previous First Grade RL club
1Robbie RossFB1998 Hunter Mariners
6Scott HillFE1998 Hunter Mariners
8Rodney HowePR1998 Perth Reds
9Danny WilliamsLK, SR, HK1998 North Sydney Bears
10Robbie KearnsPR1998 Perth Reds
18Matt GeyerWG1998 Perth Reds
28Stephen KearneySR1999 New Zealand Warriors
34Fifita MoalaWG2000 Melbourne Storm
37Glen TurnerSR2000 Melbourne Storm
38Peter RobinsonSR2000 Melbourne Storm
43Matt OrfordHB2001 Northern Eagles
44Steven BellCE2001 Melbourne Storm
55Cameron SmithHK2002 Melbourne Storm
56Kirk ReynoldsonSR2002 Melbourne Storm
58Billy SlaterFB2003 Melbourne Storm
59David KidwellSR2003 Sydney Roosters
60Dallas JohnsonLK2003 Melbourne Storm
61Jake WebsterWG2003 Melbourne Storm
62Ryan HoffmanSR2003 Melbourne Storm
63Andrew McFaddenHB2003 Parramatta Eels
64Robert TanieluPR2003 Brisbane Broncos
66Dustin CooperWG2003 Melbourne Storm
67Nathan FriendHK2003 Brisbane Broncos
68Antonio KaufusiPR2003 Melbourne Storm
69Matt KingCE2003 Melbourne Storm
70Ben MacDougallCE2004 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
71Alex ChanPR2004 Parramatta Eels
72Steve TurnerWG2004 Penrith Panthers
75Cooper CronkHB2004 Melbourne Storm
76Jeremy SmithSR2004 Melbourne Storm
Luke DyerCEYet to debut Penrith Panthers
Sione FinefeuiakiPRYet to debut Melbourne Storm

Player movements

Losses

Gains

Representative honours

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2004.

Player Tri-Nations
Country Australia
New Zealand
New Zealand New Zealand
Country
City
Queensland Queensland Queensland
Queensland Queensland Queensland

Statistics

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2004 NRL season.

NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPoints
24180072
182008
1382036
1340016
30000
2180032
24100040
202008
230000
1950020
60000
241004
222008
2670028
20150060
20000
2270028
11004
2510561153
201004
61004
22140056
234430102
21004
30000
101004
750020
630012
1721010
29 players used 132 102 1 733

Scorers

Most points in a game: 22 points

Most tries in a game: 3

Winning games

Highest score in a winning game: 66 points

Lowest score in a winning game: 22 points

Greatest winning margin: 52 points

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 4

Losing games

Highest score in a losing game: 28 points

Lowest score in a losing game: 10 points

Greatest losing margin: 25 points

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 2

Feeder Team

Melbourne Storm reserve players again travelled to Brisbane each week to play with Queensland Cup team Norths Devils. Coached for a second season by Gary Greinke, Norths returned to the finals, finishing second in the regular season behind eventual premiers Burleigh Bears. However, the Devils were bundled out of the finals in straight sets. Melbourne Storm rookie Jeremy Smith won the Devils Player of the Year Award.

During the season, Greg Inglis made his first grade debut as a 17-year-old, scoring two tries. Inglis would play six Queensland Cup games for the season, scoring eight tries, also representing Queensland in underage representative games.[43]

See main article: 2004 Queensland Cup.

Awards and honours

Melbourne Storm Awards Night

Dally M Awards Night

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History Melbourne Storm. melbournestorm.com.au. 9 January 2017.
  2. Book: Middleton . David . 2004 Official Rugby League Annual . News Magazines . Surrey Hills.
  3. Web site: Melbourne find an ice way to kick sand in Fitzgerald's face . smh.com.au . 6 September 2021.
  4. News: de Kroo . Karl . Storm back in title race - Bulldogs juggernaut derailed . The Courier-Mail . 23 August 2004 . Brisbane, Queensland . 3 (sport liftout).
  5. News: de Kroo . Karl . Rookie Cronk cranks it up . Herald-Sun . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 16 February 2004 . Melbourne, Victoria . 42.
  6. News: Stedman . Chris . Playmaker Hill on comeback road . The Australian . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 16 February 2004 . Canberra, Australia . 21.
  7. News: Ricketts . Steve . Lockie at home in trial run as pivot . The Courier-Mail . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 22 February 2004 . Brisbane, Queensland . 140.
  8. Web site: Injury sours Raiders' win . theage.com.au . Fairfax Media . 3 March 2022 . 29 February 2004.
  9. News: de Kroo . Karl . Storm falls short . Herald-Sun . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 29 February 2004 . Melbourne, Victoria . 50.
  10. News: Drew blow for Raiders . . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 29 February 2004 . Sydney, New South Wales . 56.
  11. Web site: Flashback Friday – Newtown Jets v Melbourne Storm 2004 . . 16 September 2021.
  12. News: Mascord . Steve . Storm in a rout . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited . 7 March 2004 . Sydney, New South Wales . 16.
  13. News: Mascord . Steve . Stormy week ends on a high as Geyer show lifts Melbourne . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited . 7 March 2004 . Sydney, New South Wales . 109.
  14. Web site: Rugby League Tables - Melbourne. 27 September 2021.
  15. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 2. 27 September 2021.
  16. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 3. 27 September 2021.
  17. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 4. 27 September 2021.
  18. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 5. 27 September 2021.
  19. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 6. 27 September 2021.
  20. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 7. 27 September 2021.
  21. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 8. 27 September 2021.
  22. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 9. 27 September 2021.
  23. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 10. 27 September 2021.
  24. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 11. 27 September 2021.
  25. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 12. 27 September 2021.
  26. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 13. 27 September 2021.
  27. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 14. 27 September 2021.
  28. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 16. 27 September 2021.
  29. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 17. 27 September 2021.
  30. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 18. 27 September 2021.
  31. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 19. 27 September 2021.
  32. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 20. 27 September 2021.
  33. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 21. 27 September 2021.
  34. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 22. 27 September 2021.
  35. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 23. 27 September 2021.
  36. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 24. 27 September 2021.
  37. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 25. 27 September 2021.
  38. Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 26. 27 September 2021.
  39. Web site: Brian Smith . Brian Smith (rugby league, born 1954) . SMITHY: A Sharp mind and a fine coach . theroar.com.au . 14 March 2022 . 2 July 2014 . Showing how highly rated he was in the wider coaching community, Melbourne Storm snapped him up for two seasons as an assistant immediately after the five year stint on Sydney’s north shore..
  40. Web site: Player Profiles (2004) . melbournestorm.com.au . 19 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041229210012/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/player_profile.php . 29 December 2004.
  41. Web site: 2004 Melbourne Point Scorers. afltables.com. 27 September 2021.
  42. Web site: Melbourne Storm - NRL 2004. rugbyleagueproject.org. 27 September 2021.
  43. Web site: Burgin . Robert . When Greg Inglis, 17, blew the Intrust Super Cup apart . qrl.com.au . 27 September 2021 . 1 August 2018.
  44. 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 .
  45. Web site: ORFORD CROWNED STORM PLAYER OF THE YEAR . melbournestorm.com.au . 10 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041022211447/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news.php?id=527 . 22 October 2004.