1999 Melbourne Storm season

The 1999 Melbourne Storm season was the second in the club's history. Coached by Chris Anderson and captained by Glenn Lazarus, they competed in the National Rugby League's 1999 Telstra Premiership, finishing the regular season in 3rd out of 17 teams. Melbourne reached the 1999 NRL grand final and defeated the St George Illawarra Dragons, claiming their first premiership.

1999 Melbourne Storm season
NRL Rank3rd
Play-off resultPremiers
1999 recordWins: 16; Draws: 0; Losses: 8
Points scoredFor: 639; Against: 392
Team information
CEOJohn Ribot
CoachChris Anderson
Captain
StadiumOlympic Park Stadium
Top scorers
TriesMatt Geyer (20), Robbie Ross (20)
GoalsMatt Geyer (81)
PointsMatt Geyer (242)
< 1998 List of seasons 2000 >

Stability in playing talent and continued off-field support from Melbourne's core supporters, produced a continued improvement in 1999. Injury took away Scott Hill and Robbie Kearns for much of the season. Melbourne's fullback Robbie Ross, winger Matt Geyer and front-row forwards Rodney Howe and Glenn Lazarus were all selected to play for New South Wales in the 1999 State of Origin series.

In their final home game at Olympic Park, the Storm lost to the North Sydney Bears and having had a bye in the last round and they had no opportunity to lift their form before fronting the St. George Illawarra Dragons in their first final. The Storm ultimately lost this game to the Dragons by 34-10 and looked set for a repeat of the 1998 exit.

Despite lacking confidence,[1] Melbourne Storm outlasted the Canterbury Bulldogs by 24–22 to reach the preliminary final against Parramatta Eels. The Eels had let a place in the Grand Final slip out of their grasp in the same match in 1998, and were tipped to be much hungrier for a win than the Storm. Parramatta took a hold on the match, but the Storm did not relent and thanks to some last-ditch tackling stayed in the game. A late try to the Storm saw them win by 18-16 and secure a re-match against the Dragons for the title.

The Storm had lost twice to the Dragons already in 1999 and by the time Melbourne was behind by 0–14 at half time, it was more than apparent that St. George - Illawarra were going to take the premiership in their first ever season.[2] There was nothing in the Storm's performance to indicate that a comeback was possible.[3]

But Melbourne Storm recovered from their poor start with inspiring[4] efforts from Paul Marquet, Brett Kimmorley and Tawera Nikau. Into the final minutes of the game the Dragons led 18-14 but were forced to drop out from their own line. On the fifth tackle Kimmorley kicked high into the Dragons' corner. As the Storm's winger Craig Smith caught the ball over the try-line he was knocked unconscious in a head-high tackle by Jamie Ainscough and lost the ball.

Referee Bill Harrigan deferred to the video referee and the replay clearly showed that if not for the illegal tackle Smith would have scored a try. A penalty try was awarded giving the Storm's Matt Geyer a conversion from in front of the posts to take Melbourne Storm to a 20-18 lead and the title.[5]

Fixtures

[6]

Regular Season
RoundOpponentResultMel.Opp.DateVenue
1Penrith PanthersWin32105 MarOlympic Park
2Balmain TigersLoss61613 MarLeichhardt Oval
3Brisbane BroncosWin48621 MarQE2 Stadium
4Canterbury BulldogsWin261726 MarOlympic Park
5Cronulla SharksLoss16204 AprOlympic Park
6Auckland WarriorsWin38109 AprMt Smart Stadium
7Parramatta EelsLoss142617 AprParramatta Stadium
8South Sydney RabbitohsWin52624 AprOlympic Park
9Brisbane BroncosWin28182 MayOlympic Park
10Wests TigersWin6268 MayLathlain Park
11Manly Sea EaglesWin28615 MayOlympic Park
12Bye
13St. George Illawarra DragonsLoss162828 MayOlympic Park
14Canberra RaidersLoss6264 JunBruce Stadium
15Newcastle KnightsLoss262712 JunHunter Stadium
16Sydney City RoostersWin26818 JunOlympic Park
17Manly Sea EaglesWin191827 JunBrookvale Oval
18Parramatta EelsLoss6202 JulOlympic Park
19Canterbury BulldogsWin242010 JulStadium Australia
20Canberra RaidersWin301016 JulOlympic Park
21Cronulla SharksWin261825 JulToyota Park
22Auckland WarriorsWin16141 AugOlympic Park
23North Queensland CowboysWin30247 AugDairy Farmers Stadium
24Wests TigersWin441415 AugOlympic Park
25North Sydney BearsLoss202422 AugNorth Sydney Oval
26Bye

Finals
Qualifying final
4 September 1999
St. George Illawarra Dragons 34 - 10
[7]		 Melbourne Storm
Tries: Blacklock (3)
Ainscough
McGregor
Wishart
Goals: Bartrim 4/4
Mackay 1/2		 Tries: Kearney
Moule
Goals: Geyer 1/3
Olympic Park Stadium
Attendance: 15,653
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Semi final
12 September 1999
Melbourne Storm 24 - 22
[8]		 Canterbury Bulldogs
Tries: Geyer (2)
Bai
Ross
Goals: Smith 4/5		 Tries: El Masri
Hughes
Sherwin
Silva
Goals: Halligan 3/4
Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 20,075
Referee: Steve Clark
Preliminary final
18 September 1999
Melbourne Storm 18 - 16
[9]		 Parramatta Eels
Tries: Kimmorley
Moule
Swain
Goals: Smith 3/3		 Tries: Kelly
Wagon
Goals: Schifcofske 4/5
Sydney Football Stadium
Attendance: 27,555
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Grand Final
26 September 1999
Melbourne Storm 20 - 18
[10]		 St. George Illawarra Dragons
Tries: Martin
Roarty
Smith
Goals: Smith 3/4
Geyer 1/1		 Tries: Blacklock
Fitzgibbon
McGregor
Goals: Bartrim 2/3
Fitzgibbon 1/1
Stadium Australia
Attendance: 107,558
Referee: Bill Harrigan

Ladder
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Cronulla 2418062586332+25440
2 Parramatta 2417072500294+20638
3 Melbourne 2416082639392+24736
4 Sydney City 2416082592377+21536
5 Canterbury 2415182520462+5835
6 St. George Illawarra 2415092588416+17234
7 Newcastle 2414192575484+9133
8 Brisbane 2413292510368+14232
9 Canberra 24131102618439+17931
10 Penrith 24111122492428+6427
11 Auckland 24100142538498+4024
12 South Sydney 24100142349556-20724
13 Manly 2491142454623-16923
14 North Sydney 2480162490642-15220
15 Balmain 2480162345636-29120
16 North Queensland 2441192398588-19013
17 Western Suburbs 2430212285944-65910

1999 Squad

List current as of 3 June 2017

(a) - 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.

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm players
Cap Nat. Player name Position First Melbourne Storm Game Previous First Grade RL club (a)
1 Marcus Bai WG 1998 Gold Coast Chargers
2 Russell Bawden PR 1998 Brisbane Broncos
3 Paul Bell CE 1998 Perth Reds
5 Scott Hill FE 1998 Hunter Mariners
6 Rodney Howe PR 1998 Perth Reds
7 Robbie Kearns PR 1998 Perth Reds
8 Brett Kimmorley HB 1998 Hunter Mariners
9 Glenn Lazarus PR 1998 Brisbane Broncos
10 Paul Marquet PR,SR 1998 Hunter Mariners
11 Aaron Moule WG,CE 1998 South Queensland Crushers
12 Tawera Nikau LK 1998 Cronulla Sharks
13 Ben Roarty PR,SR,LK 1998 Melbourne Storm
14 Robbie Ross FB 1998 Hunter Mariners
15 Craig Smith WG 1998 Melbourne Storm
16 Richard Swain HK 1998 Hunter Mariners
17 Danny Williams LK, SR, HK 1998 North Sydney Bears
18 Matt Geyer WG 1998 Perth Reds
19 Ben Anderson FE 1998 Melbourne Storm
20 Wayne Evans SR 1998 Perth Reds
21 Tony Martin WG, CE 1998 London Broncos
23 Wade Fenton SR, PR 1998 Melbourne Storm
24 John Wilshere CE 1998 Perth Reds
25 Daniel Frame PR,SR 1998 Perth Reds
26 Matt Rua PR,SR 1998 Melbourne Storm
28 Stephen Kearney SR 1999 New Zealand Warriors
29 Aseri Laing WG 1999 Western Suburbs Magpies
30 Tasesa Lavea FE 1999 Melbourne Storm
31 Brad Watts FB 1999 Melbourne Storm
32 Brett O'Farrell PR 1999 Melbourne Storm

1999 Premiership Team
Melbourne Storm
1999 Premiership Team Interchange Coach

Head coach


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

Awards and honours

Trophy Cabinet

Individual
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References
  1. "Melbourne Storm History". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. "Melbourne Storm History". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  3. "Melbourne Storm History". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  4. "Melbourne Storm History". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  5. "Melbourne Storm History". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  6. http://stats.rleague.com/rl/teams/melbourne/melbourne_by.html#1999
  7. NRL 1999 - Qualifying Final. Rugby League Project. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  8. NRL 1999 - Semi Final. Rugby League Project. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  9. NRL 1999 - Preliminary Final. Rugby League Project. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  10. NRL 1999 - Grand Final. Rugby League Project. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  11. "NRL Honour Board". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
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