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 season, 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 Rank | 3rd | |||
Play-off result | Premiers | |||
1999 record | Wins: 16; draws: 0; losses: 8 | |||
Points scored | For: 639; against: 392 | |||
Team information | ||||
Executive Director | John Ribot | |||
Coach | Chris Anderson | |||
Captain |
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Stadium | Olympic Park Stadium | |||
Avg. attendance | 12,902 | |||
High attendance | 16,473 (Round 9) | |||
Top scorers | ||||
Tries | Matt Geyer (20), Robbie Ross (20) | |||
Goals | Matt Geyer (81) | |||
Points | Matt Geyer (242) | |||
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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.[1] There was nothing in the Storm's performance to indicate that a comeback was possible.[1]
But Melbourne Storm recovered from their poor start with inspiring[1] 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.[1]
Round | Player | Milestone |
---|---|---|
Round 1 | Stephen Kearney | Storm debut |
Scott Hill | 50th game | |
Round 5 | Marcus Bai | 50th game |
Round 7 | Brett Kimmorley | 50th game |
Round 10 | Richard Swain | 50th game |
Round 11 | Aseri Laing | Storm debut |
Round 13 | Tasesa Lavea | NRL debut |
Round 15 | Tawera Nikau | 100th game |
Round 16 | Brad Watts | NRL debut |
Round 18 | Brett O'Farrell | NRL debut |
Round 22 | Robbie Kearns | 150th game |
Round 23 | Russell Bawden | 50th game |
Round 24 | Melbourne Storm | 50th game |
Round 25 | Glenn Lazarus | 250th game |
Grand Final | Danny Williams | 100th game |
During the 1998 season, Melbourne struck an apparel sponsorship agreement with Fila to manufacture and merchandise a range of club apparel. The home jersey was redesigned, maintaining the same colours as the 1998 version, but with white thunderbolts in a purple chevron. The gold trim and collars remained, and Honda continued with their sleeve advertisement.
A striking gold jersey was also designed as the club's clash colours; with that jersey worn in rounds 10, 15 and 23.
Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 February | Trial | Auckland Warriors | Lang Park, Brisbane | Lost | 14 | 16 | C Smith, R Ross, S Hill | C Smith 1/3 | [5][6] | |
20 February | Trial | Canberra Raiders | Lavington Sports Ground, Albury | Won | 24 | 18 | S Kearney (2), C Smith, M Bai, S Hill | C Smith, B Kimmorley | [7][8] |
Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 March | 1 | Penrith Panthers | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 32 | 10 | R Bawden, M Geyer, A Moule, R Ross, R Swain | M Geyer 6/9 | [9] | ||
13 March | 2 | Balmain Tigers | Leichhardt Oval, Sydney | Lost | 6 | 16 | P Bell | M Geyer 1/3 | [10] | ||
21 March | 3 | Brisbane Broncos | ANZ Stadium, Brisbane | Won | 48 | 6 | R Ross (2), P Bell, W Evans, S Hill, B Kimmorley, T Martin, T Nikau | M Geyer 8/9 | [11] | ||
26 March | 4 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 26 | 17 | M Bai (2), S Hill, R Kearns, B Kimmorley | M Geyer 3/6 | [12] | ||
4 April | 5 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Lost | 16 | 20 | S Hill, P Marquet, B Roarty | M Geyer 2/3 | [13] | ||
9 April | 6 | Auckland Warriors | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland | Won | 38 | 10 | M Bai (2), P Bell (2), M Geyer (2), R Kearns, B Roarty | M Geyer 2/7, B Kimmorley 1/1 | [14] | ||
17 April | 7 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney | Lost | 14 | 26 | M Bai, M Geyer, S Hill | M Geyer 1/3 | [15] | ||
24 April | 8 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 52 | 16 | M Bai (2), M Geyer (2), R Bawden, B Kimmorley, T Martin, B Roarty, R Ross | M Geyer 8/10 | [16] | ||
2 May | 9 | Brisbane Broncos | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 28 | 18 | R Ross (2), S Hill, M Rua, D Williams | M Geyer 4/6 | [17] | ||
8 May | 10 | Western Suburbs Magpies | Lathlain Park, Perth | Won | 62 | 6 | M Geyer (4), R Ross (3), R Bawden, B Kimmorley, T Martin, A Moule | M Geyer 9/13 | [18] | ||
15 May | 11 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 28 | 6 | R Ross (2), M Geyer, T Nikau, R Swain | M Geyer 4/5 | [19] | ||
21 May | 12 | Bye | |||||||||
28 May | 13 | St George Illawarra Dragons | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Lost | 16 | 28 | R Ross (2), M Geyer | M Geyer 2/3 | [20] | ||
4 June | 14 | Canberra Raiders | Bruce Stadium, Canberra | Lost | 6 | 26 | A Laing | B Kimmorley 1/2 | [21] | ||
12 June | 15 | Newcastle Knights | Marathon Stadium, Newcastle | Lost | 26 | 27 | M Geyer (2), M Bai, T Martin, T Nikau | M Geyer 3/5 | [22] | ||
18 June | 16 | Sydney City Roosters | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 26 | 8 | S Kearney, T Martin, A Moule, T Nikau, M Rua | B Kimmorley 3/6 | [23] | ||
27 June | 17 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Brookvale Oval, Sydney | Won | 19 | 18 | B Kimmorley (2), B Roarty | M Geyer 3/5 | B Kimmorley | [24] | |
2 July | 18 | Parramatta Eels | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Lost | 6 | 20 | R Ross | M Geyer 1/1 | [25] | ||
10 July | 19 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Stadium Australia, Sydney | Won | 20 | 24 | A Moule (2), M Bai, M Geyer, B Watts | M Geyer 2/6 | [26] | ||
16 July | 20 | Canberra Raiders | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 30 | 10 | B Watts (2), M Bai, T Martin, R Ross | M Geyer 5/7 | [27] | ||
25 July | 21 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Shark Park, Sydney | Won | 26 | 18 | S Kearney (2), B Anderson, M Geyer, R Ross | M Geyer 3/5 | [28] | ||
1 August | 22 | Auckland Warriors | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 16 | 14 | M Geyer, P Marquet, A Moule | M Geyer 2/3 | [29] | ||
7 August | 23 | North Queensland Cowboys | Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville | Won | 30 | 24 | M Bai, R Bawden, P Bell, B Kimmorley, R Ross, M Rua | M Geyer 3/7 | [30] | ||
15 August | 24 | Western Suburbs Magpies | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Won | 44 | 14 | M Rua (2), R Howe, B Kimmorley, G Lazarus, T Martin, R Ross, B Watts | M Geyer 5/7, G Lazarus 1/1 | [31] | ||
22 August | 25 | North Sydney Bears | North Sydney Oval, Sydney | Lost | 20 | 24 | R Bawden, M Geyer, A Moule, R Ross | M Geyer 2/5 | [32] | ||
28 August | 26 | Bye |
Source:[33]
Melbourne Storm | 10 – 34 | St. George Illawarra Dragons |
---|---|---|
Tries: 2 Moule 20' Kearney 48' Goals: 1 Geyer 48' (1/3) |
1st: 4–10 2nd: 6–24 Report |
Tries: 6 Blacklock 63', 70', 78' McGregor 15' Wishart 27' Ainscough 43' Goals: 5 Bartrim 15', 43', 70', 78' (4/4) Mackay 63' (1/2) |
Melbourne Storm | 24 – 22 | Canterbury Bulldogs |
---|---|---|
Tries: 4 Geyer 29', 69' Bai 3' Ross 13' Goals: 4 Smith 14', 30', pen 39', 70' (4/5) |
1st: 18–12 2nd: 6–10 Report |
Tries: 4 Silva 7' El Masri 24' S Hughes 55' Sherwin 61' Goals: 3 Halligan 8', 24', 62' (3/4) |
Parramatta Eels | 16 – 18 | Melbourne Storm |
---|---|---|
Tries: 2 Wagon 10' Kelly 37' Goals: 4 Schifcofske pen 7', 11', pen 32', 38' (4/5) |
1st: 16–6 2nd: 0–12 Report |
Tries: 3 Kimmorley 22' Moule 55' Swain 63' Goals: 3 Smith 23', 56', 64' (3/3) |
Melbourne Storm | 20 – 18 | St. George-Illawarra Dragons |
---|---|---|
Tries: 3 Martin 53' Roarty 57' Smith (penalty) 75' Goals: 4 Smith pen 42', 59', pen 64' (3/4) Geyer 77' (1/1) |
1st: 0–14 2nd: 20–4 Report[4] |
Tries: 3 Fitzgibbon 13' Blacklock 29' McGregor 56' Goals: 3 Bartrim 15', 31' (2/3) Fitzgibbon pen 23' (1/1) |
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 107,999[34] Referee: Bill Harrigan Touch judges: Colin White, John McCormack Clive Churchill Medal: Brett Kimmorley (Melbourne) |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 586 | 332 | +254 | 40 |
2 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 500 | 294 | +206 | 38 |
3 | Melbourne Storm (P) | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 639 | 392 | +247 | 36 |
4 | Sydney City Roosters | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 592 | 377 | +215 | 36 |
5 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 15 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 520 | 462 | +58 | 35 |
6 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 588 | 416 | +172 | 34 |
7 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 575 | 484 | +91 | 33 |
8 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 510 | 368 | +142 | 32 |
9 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 618 | 439 | +179 | 31 |
10 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 492 | 428 | +64 | 27 |
11 | Auckland Warriors | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 538 | 498 | +40 | 24 |
12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 349 | 556 | -207 | 24 |
13 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 454 | 623 | -169 | 23 |
14 | North Sydney Bears | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 490 | 642 | -152 | 20 |
15 | Balmain Tigers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 345 | 636 | -291 | 20 |
16 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 398 | 588 | -190 | 13 |
17 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 24 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 285 | 944 | -659 | 10 |
List current as of 27 July 2021[35]
Losses
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Gains
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1999 Premiership Team | Interchange | Coach | |||||||
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Head coach
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This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 1999.
Player | 1999 ANZAC Test | State of Origin 1 | State of Origin 2 | State of Origin 3 | 1999 Tri-Nations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matt Geyer | — | New South Wales | New South Wales | New South Wales | — |
Rodney Howe | — | New South Wales | New South Wales | New South Wales | Australia |
Glenn Lazarus | Australia | New South Wales | — | — | — |
Stephen Kearney | — | — | — | — | New Zealand |
Robbie Kearns | Australia | — | — | — | Australia |
Brett Kimmorley | — | — | — | — | Australia |
Robbie Ross | — | New South Wales | New South Wales | New South Wales | Australia |
Matt Rua | — | — | — | — | New Zealand |
Richard Swain | — | — | — | — | New Zealand |
This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 1999 NRL season.
Name | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ben Anderson | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Marcus Bai | 28 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
Russell Bawden | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Paul Bell | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Wayne Evans | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Matt Geyer | 26 | 20 | 81 | 0 | 242 |
Scott Hill | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Rodney Howe | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Stephen Kearney | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Robbie Kearns | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Brett Kimmorley | 28 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 47 |
Aseri Laing | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Tasesa Lavea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Glenn Lazarus | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Paul Marquet | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Tony Martin | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
Aaron Moule | 25 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
Tawera Nikau | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Brett O'Farrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ben Roarty | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Robbie Ross | 25 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
Matt Rua | 26 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Craig Smith | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
Richard Swain | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Brad Watts | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Danny Williams | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
26 players used | — | 129 | 97 | 1 | 711 |
Most points in a game: 34 points [e]
Most tries in a game: 4 [e]
Highest score in a winning game: 62 points
Lowest score in a winning game: 16 points
Greatest winning margin: 54 points
Greatest number of games won consecutively: 6
Highest score in a losing game: 26 points
Lowest score in a losing game: 6 points
Greatest losing margin: 24 points
Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 3
Melbourne Storm reserve players again travelled to Brisbane each week to play with Queensland Cup team Norths Devils. Backing up the successful 1998 season by finishing second on the ladder, Norths Devils fell one game short of the 1999 Queensland Cup Grand Final, losing to eventual runners-up Redcliffe Dolphins in the Preliminary Final. Kevin Carmichael won his second straight player of the year award.
1999 Queensland Cup | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
2 | Norths Devils | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 791 | 393 | +398 | 34 |