2004 Melbourne Storm season explained
| Year: | 2004 |
| Team Colour: | - 6C0094
|
| Font Colour: | - 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
- World Sevens – Storm avenge their 2003 loss to Lebanon in the Rugby League World Sevens, but fail to progress out of Pool C.
- 4 March – In the wake of the Coffs Harbour scandal overshadowing the start of the 2004 NRL season, reports emerge two Melbourne players are being accused of sexual assault, claims which are later ruled unfounded.
- 7 March – With a forthcoming bye in Round 1, Melbourne play foundation NSWRL club Newtown Jets in an extra trial match at Henson Park.
- 12 March – Club founder John Ribot resigns as executive director of the club. Ribot later sells his remaining shares in the club to News Limited. Ribot and News are forced to deny the decision was connected to Ribot's handling of allegations against two Melbourne players.[2] Frank Stanton is appointed interim CEO of the club.
- 17 March – Coach Craig Bellamy agrees to a new contract to coach Melbourne until the end of 2007.
- Round 2 – Despite leading 14-10 at half time, Melbourne lose their first game for the season at home to Newcastle Knights.
- 28 April – Melbourne is found by the NRL to have exceeded the competition's salary cap in 2003 and are fined $130,956.
- Round 6 – Celebrating his 200th NRL game, Danny Williams scores two tries and adds a late conversion to bring up a 50-4 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs.
- Round 8 – Referee Tony Archer awards New Zealand Warriors goalkicker Sione Faumuina a second shot at goal after Melbourne captain Stephen Kearney deliberately threw a water bottle in his line of vision. The Warriors regain the Michael Moore Trophy with a 20-14 win in Auckland.
- 13 May – Outspoken Parramatta Eels CEO Denis Fitzgerald declares that Melbourne Storm be disbanded and forced to relocate to the Gold Coast, saying "promoting rugby league in Melbourne is akin to promoting beach volleyball in Iceland."[3]
- Round 12 – Melbourne win their first ever game at EnergyAustralia Stadium, beating the Newcastle Knights 28-16. The club had previously lost six straight games at the venue.
- Round 14 – Despite reaching a 16-0 lead, Melbourne lose 28-26 to South Sydney Rabbitohs in Souths' caretaker coach Arthur Kitinis first game in charge.
- Round 16 – In a night of milestones with the club celebrating Robbie Kearns (250 games), Matt Geyer (150 games, 144 games for Melbourne to equal Marcus Bai's record); Storm thrash Warriors 42-6 to take back the Michael Moore Trophy.
- Round 17 – Melbourne blitz Penrith Panthers 66-14, setting new club records for the highest score and record winning margin at Olympic Park. Matt Orford scored a new club record 11 goals from 12 attempts.
- 14 July – Club captain Stephen Kearney announces he will be leaving Melbourne at the end of the season to finish his career with Super League club Hull F.C.
- Round 19 – Danny Williams is sent off for king-hitting Wests Tigers forward Mark O'Neill. O'Neill is cited and later found guilty of a careless high tackle on Williams, but receives no suspension. After the NRL judiciary hearing is adjourned for two weeks after evidence is introduced claiming Williams was suffering "post-traumatic amnesia", he receives a 18-match suspension, the longest suspension handed down in over a decade.
- Round 20 – Scoring 18 points (3 tries, 3 goals) himself, a controversial last second Matt Orford try hands Melbourne a 22-16 win against Parramatta. Eels coach Brian Smith furious with video referee Chris Ward to award the Orford try, calling the decision "disgusting".
- Round 23 – Jeremy Smith makes his NRL debut, scoring a try with his first touch of the ball. Smith is the first former Melbourne Storm junior to play with the club.
- Round 24 – In their last game at Olympic Park, Rodney Howe and Stephen Kearney lead Melbourne to a 22-12 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the club's first win against that club since 2000.[4]
- September 13 – News Limited appoint former St Kilda CEO Brian Waldron as the club's new CEO.
- Round 26 – Secure in sixth position on the NRL ladder, Craig Bellamy rests a number of players from the club's final regular season game against Manly. Melbourne lose 30-28 with Bellamy expressing his anger at match referee Steve Lyons and video referee Paul Simpkins over a number of contentious decisions.
- September 7 – With 23 points, Matt Orford finishes in a tied for third in the 2004 Dally M Medal count, four points behind winner Danny Buderus.
- Qualifying Final – Down 8-0 at half time, Melbourne stun the Brisbane Broncos in a pulsating second half, winning 31-14 at Suncorp Stadium. Matt Orford also kicks the first field goal for Melbourne in over five years.
- Semi Final – For the second straight season, Melbourne are eliminated from the NRL finals by the Bulldogs, this time going down 43-18 at Aussie Stadium. Down 16-0 early, Melbourne were never really in the match, in what was former captain Rodney Howe's last game of rugby league.
Milestone games
| Round | Player | Milestone |
|---|
| Round 2 | | Storm debut |
| Round 2 | | Storm debut |
| Round 3 | | Storm debut |
| Round 6 | | 200th game |
| Round 7 | | 100th game |
| Round 8 | | 50th game |
| Round 9 | | NRL debut |
| Round 12 | | 200th game |
| Round 16 | | 150th game |
| Round 19 | Scott Hill | 150th game |
| Round 21 | | 250th game |
| Round 22 | | 100th game |
| Round 22 | | 150th game |
| Round 23 | | NRL debut |
| Round 26 | Andrew McFadden | 100th 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
| Date | | Opponent | Venue | Result | | | Tries | Goals | Field goals | |
|---|
| 14 February | Trial | Tweed Heads Seagulls | Noosa District Sports Complex, Tewantin | | | 28 | 14 | | | | [5] [6] |
| 21 February | Trial | Brisbane Broncos | Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba | | 10 | 14 | M Geyer, S Hill | M Geyer (1) | | [7] |
| 28 February | Trial | Canberra Raiders | Eric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga | | 20 | 30 | G Turner, F Moala, M King, B Slater | C Smith (2) | | [8] [9] [10] |
| 7 March | Trial | Newtown Jets | Henson Park, Sydney | | 54 | 0 | S Turner (3), F Moala (2), M King (2), B Slater, P Robinson, K Reynoldson | C Smith (5), M Geyer | | [11] [12] [13] | |
Regular season
Matches
Source:[14]
| Date | | Opponent | Venue | Result | | | Tries | Goals | Field goals | |
|---|
| 13 March | 1 | Bye |
| 21 March | 2 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 26 | 36 | S Hill, F Moala, B Slater, G Turner | C Smith 5/5 | | [15] |
| 28 March | 3 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 34 | 6 | S Turner (2), D Cooper, M King, B MacDougall, M Orford | C Smith 4/7, D Cooper 1/1 | | [16] |
| 4 April | 4 | | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | | 26 | 34 | M King (2), S Hill, R Hoffman, B Slater | C Smith 3/5, M Orford 0/1 | | [17] |
| 11 April | 5 | | Penrith Park, Sydney | | 26 | 30 | M King (2), D Cooper, M Orford, P Robinson | C Smith 3/5 | | [18] |
| 17 April | 6 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 50 | 4 | J Webster (3), D Williams (2), D Cooper, D Kidwell, M Orford, C Smith | C Smith 5/6, M Orford 1/1, D Williams 1/1, D Cooper 1/1 | | [19] |
| 24 April | 7 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 28 | 6 | S Bell, M Geyer, D Johnson, K Reynoldson, B Slater | C Smith 3/5, M Orford 1/1 | | [20] |
| 2 May | 8 | | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland | | 14 | 20 | S Bell (2), S Hill | C Smith 1/3 | | [21] |
| 8 May | 9 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 26 | 36 | S Bell (2), D Cooper (2), B Slater | C Smith 3/5 | | [22] |
| 16 May | 10 | | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney | | 36 | 16 | D Cooper (2), S Bell, D Johnson, R Kearns, C Smith | C Smith 6/8 | | [23] |
| 22 May | 11 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 22 | 18 | C Cronk, S Hill, S Kearney, B MacDougall | M Orford 3/4 | | [24] |
| 29 May | 12 | | EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle | | 28 | 18 | M Geyer (3), S Hill, B Slater | C Smith 4/5 | | [25] |
| 5 June | 13 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 30 | 24 | S Bell, D Johnson, R Kearns, D Kidwell, B Slater | M Orford 3/4, C Smith 2/3 | | [26] |
| 12 June | 14 | | Aussie Stadium, Sydney | | 26 | 28 | A Chan (2), S Bell, D Cooper, D Kidwell | M Orford 3/5 | | [27] |
| 19 June | 15 | Bye |
| 26 June | 16 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 42 | 6 | M King (3), B MacDougall (2), S Bell, D Kidwell, B Slater | M Orford 4/7, D Cooper 1/1 | | [28] |
| 2 July | 17 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 66 | 14 | S Turner (3), C Cronk (2), M King (2), S Hill, R Hoffman, D Kidwell, B MacDougall | M Orford 11/12 | | [29] |
| 11 July | 18 | | Sydney Showground, Sydney | | 18 | 25 | D Kidwell, B Slater, C Smith | M Orford 3/3 | | [30] |
| 17 July | 19 | | Leichhardt Oval, Sydney | | 18 | 32 | B Slater (2), M Orford | M Orford 3/3 | | [31] |
| 24 July | 20 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 22 | 16 | M Orford (3), M King | M Orford 3/5 | | [32] |
| 1 August | 21 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 10 | 26 | M King, C Smith | M Orford 1/2 | | [33] |
| 6 August | 22 | | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | | 14 | 34 | S Bell, M King, M Orford | M Orford 1/3 | | [34] |
| 15 August | 23 | | Canberra Stadium, Canberra | | 36 | 18 | S Bell, M Geyer, M King, B MacDougall, M Orford, B Slater, J Smith | M Orford 4/7 | | [35] |
| 22 August | 24 | | Olympic Park, Melbourne | | 22 | 12 | S Bell, S Hill, D Johnson | M Orford 5/6 | | [36] |
| 28 August | 25 | | Toyota Park, Sydney | | 36 | 28 | M Geyer (2), S Bell, D Johnson, D Kidwell, B MacDougall, B Slater | M Orford 4/7, S Kearney 0/1 | | [37] |
| 5 September | 26 | | Brookvale Oval, Sydney | | 28 | 30 | S Bell (2), S Hill (2), C Cronk | C Smith 4/5 | | [38] | |
Finals
----
Ladder
See main article: 2004 NRL season.
2004 Coaching Staff
- Football Manager: Greg Brentnall
- Physical Preparation Coach: Alex Corvo
- Physiotherapist: Matt Natusch
- Head Trainer: Troy Thompson
2004 squad
List current as of 20 September 2021[40]
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.
| Name | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Points |
|---|
| 24 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 13 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 36 |
| 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| 24 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 20 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 25 | 10 | 56 | 1 | 153 |
| 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
| 23 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 102 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 players used | — | 132 | 102 | 1 | 733 | |
|---|
Scorers
Most points in a game: 22 points
- Round 17 - Matt Orford (11 goals) vs Penrith Panthers
Most tries in a game: 3
- Round 6 - Jake Webster vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Round 12 - Matt Geyer vs Newcastle Knights
- Round 17 - Steve Turner vs Penrith Panthers
- Round 20 - Matt Orford vs Parramatta Eels
- Round 23 - Matt King vs New Zealand Warriors
Winning games
Highest score in a winning game: 66 points
- Round 17 vs Penrith Panthers
Lowest score in a winning game: 22 points
- Round 11 vs Canberra Raiders
- Round 20 vs Parramatta Eels
Greatest winning margin: 52 points
- Round 17 vs Penrith Panthers
Greatest number of games won consecutively: 4
Losing games
Highest score in a losing game: 28 points
- Round 26 vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Lowest score in a losing game: 10 points
- Round 21 vs Sydney Roosters
Greatest losing margin: 25 points
- Semi Final vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 2
- Round 4 - Round 5
- Round 8 - Round 9
- Round 18 - Round 19
- Round 21 - Round 22
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
Notes and References
- Web site: History Melbourne Storm. melbournestorm.com.au. 9 January 2017.
- Book: Middleton . David . 2004 Official Rugby League Annual . News Magazines . Surrey Hills.
- Web site: Melbourne find an ice way to kick sand in Fitzgerald's face . smh.com.au . 6 September 2021.
- News: de Kroo . Karl . Storm back in title race - Bulldogs juggernaut derailed . The Courier-Mail . 23 August 2004 . Brisbane, Queensland . 3 (sport liftout).
- News: de Kroo . Karl . Rookie Cronk cranks it up . Herald-Sun . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 16 February 2004 . Melbourne, Victoria . 42.
- News: Stedman . Chris . Playmaker Hill on comeback road . The Australian . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 16 February 2004 . Canberra, Australia . 21.
- News: Ricketts . Steve . Lockie at home in trial run as pivot . The Courier-Mail . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 22 February 2004 . Brisbane, Queensland . 140.
- Web site: Injury sours Raiders' win . theage.com.au . Fairfax Media . 3 March 2022 . 29 February 2004.
- News: de Kroo . Karl . Storm falls short . Herald-Sun . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 29 February 2004 . Melbourne, Victoria . 50.
- News: Drew blow for Raiders . . Nationwide News Pty Ltd . 29 February 2004 . Sydney, New South Wales . 56.
- Web site: Flashback Friday – Newtown Jets v Melbourne Storm 2004 . . 16 September 2021.
- News: Mascord . Steve . Storm in a rout . The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited . 7 March 2004 . Sydney, New South Wales . 16.
- 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.
- Web site: Rugby League Tables - Melbourne. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 2. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 3. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 4. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 5. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 6. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 7. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 8. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 9. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 10. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 11. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 12. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 13. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 14. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 16. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 17. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 18. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 19. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 20. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 21. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 22. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 23. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 24. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 25. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: NRL 2004 - Round 26. 27 September 2021.
- 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..
- 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.
- Web site: 2004 Melbourne Point Scorers. afltables.com. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: Melbourne Storm - NRL 2004. rugbyleagueproject.org. 27 September 2021.
- Web site: Burgin . Robert . When Greg Inglis, 17, blew the Intrust Super Cup apart . qrl.com.au . 27 September 2021 . 1 August 2018.
- 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 .
- 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.
Lebanon
