Wikipedia

2011 Melbourne Storm season

The 2011 Melbourne Storm season was the 14th in the club's history. They competed in the 2011 NRL season and finished the regular season in first place, winning the J.J. Giltinan Shield for taking out the minor premiership.

2011 Melbourne Storm season
NRL Rank1st (Minor Premier)
Play-off resultPreliminary Final Loss
2011 recordWins: 19; draws: 0; losses: 5
Points scoredFor: 521; against: 308
Team information
CEORon Gauci
CoachCraig Bellamy
Captain
StadiumAAMI Park – 30,050
Avg. attendance14,246
High attendance24,081 (Round 24)[a]
Top scorers
TriesBilly Slater (12)
Cooper Cronk (12)
Matt Duffie (12)
GoalsCameron Smith (78)
PointsCameron Smith (164)
← 2010 List of seasons 2012 →

Melbourne would play nine of their first 13 games at AAMI Park, and enjoyed a strong start to the season with a 7–3 record from the opening 10 rounds. Their run of stellar form continued, losing just two games for the remainder of the season. Both of those came on the eve of the finals but the team was still able to win the minor premiership, finishing two points clear of Manly. After beating Newcastle 18–8 in the Qualifying final, Storm's season was prematurely ended with a home preliminary final loss to the Warriors. Melbourne again finished the season with the competition's best defence.[1] At the Dally M awards, the club featured prominently. Gareth Widdop also enjoyed a breakout season, playing 25 games while making 16 line breaks and providing 16 try assists.


Season summary edit

  • 4 February – Chief Executive Officer Ron Gauci announces that Crown Melbourne will be the club's new major sponsor.[2][3][4] With the club's management also able to secure long-term commitments from a number of other sponsors.[5]
  • 13 February – Club owners News Limited announce that they will officially exit the game on 30 April 2011, as part of the competition's move to an independent commission to control rugby league in Australia. News vows to continue to support the Melbourne Storm via the $8m grant provided to the club.[6]
  • 18 February – Four prominent player managers are named in investigation reports into the club's 2010 salary cap breaches, as the fallout continued.[7]
  • Pre-season – In a trial match against Queensland Cup teams Easts Tigers and Ipswich Jets, Melbourne open their 2011 season with a win and a loss. Melbourne faced Ipswich in two 20-minute halves, winning 34–0, then faced another two 20-minute halves against affiliate team Easts, losing 10–0.[8][9]
  • Round 1 – Melbourne earn their first competition points, defeating bitter rivals the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 18–6 at AAMI Park, with Jaiman Lowe and Troy Thompson making their club debuts. Winger Chase Stanley was injured in the match, suffering a knee injury that would keep him out for the season.[10]
  • 16 March – The NRL call in police to investigate a betting plunge that reportedly earned punters $200,000 by using inside information before Melbourne's salary cap breach news broke in April 2010.[11][7]
  • Round 2 – Billy Slater equals Matt Geyer's club record of 113 tries in a 40–12 win over the Gold Coast Titans. Slater scored two tries with Melbourne jumping out to a 28–0 lead at half time.[7]
  • Round 3 – At a wet and windy Dairy Farmers Stadium the North Queensland Cowboys defeat Melbourne 34–6, with the loss exacerbated by a broken ankle suffered by Sika Manu.[7]
  • 10 April – Billy Slater re-signs with the Storm for a further four seasons, with the new contract keeping him with Melbourne until the end of the 2015 season.[7]
  • Round 4 – Two tries to winger Matt Duffie, including one in the opening minute saw Melbourne back on the winner's list with in a 30–16 victory over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.[7]
  • Round 5 – Melbourne thrash the Parramatta Eels 38–0, with Beau Champion scoring two tries. The victory making for an uncomfortable return for former Storm player and assistant coach Stephen Kearney, who departed the Storm at the end of 2010, to take on the Eels head coach position.[7] It was Melbourne's first win over Parramatta since the 2009 NRL Grand Final.
  • Round 6 – The club win their first game away from home after seven successive defeats outside of Melbourne, a streak stretching back almost a year.[7]
  • Round 7 – In front of a crowd over 22,000, the New Zealand Warriors win the annual ANZAC Day match 18–14 to retain the Michael Moore Trophy.
  • 6 May – Victoria Police confirm that no criminal charges will be laid over the club's salary cap breach.[7]
 
Melbourne Storm players saluting the travelling fans following their win over the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium
  • Round 9 – With four Melbourne players backing up from playing in a test match the night before, the Storm leave it late to defeat an understrength Brisbane Broncos 29–22 thanks to a Cooper Cronk field goal and a final try to Anthony Quinn. Brisbane had levelled the scoreboard at 22–all after trailing at half time.[7]
  • 11 May – NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert releases a report into the salary cap scandal, recommending lifetime bans to former club officials Brian Waldron, Matt Hanson and two other officials. Schubert's report exposing a "toxic culture of deceit."[7]
  • Round 10 – Canberra Raiders defeat Melbourne in Victoria for the first time since the 2000 season, with the visitors snapping their losing streak in a 20–12 upset.[7]
  • Round 12 – Celebrating captain Cameron Smith's 200th NRL match, Melbourne defeat the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 14–8 after a scoreless first half. Smith had suffered a head knock late in the first half and looked dazed leaving the field, but returned in the second half to spark the win.[12][7]
  • Round 14 – Missing players due to State of Origin selection, Melbourne led by stand-in captain Adam Blair defeat the Sydney Roosters 21–4 with coach Craig Bellamy quoted as saying "it was a real complete team performance and...it was one of the best team efforts since I've been here."[7]
  • Round 15 – Melbourne return to the top of the NRL ladder for the first time since the 2010 salary cap scandal, defeating the Wests Tigers 12–4 after a scoreless second half.[7]
  • Round 16 – Melbourne regain the Michael Moore Trophy from the Warriors, claiming their fifth straight win 16–8 at Mt Smart Stadium with Billy Slater scoring two tries.[7]
  • Round 19 – Avenging their defeat in round 10, Melbourne hold the Canberra Raiders scoreless for the first time in their history at their own home ground Canberra Stadium.[13]
  • Round 20 – After six weeks away from AAMI Park, Melbourne return to Victoria in a heavily promoted match against the Broncos. Almost 23,000 spectators attended the match, seeing the Storm victorious 26–6. Cameron Smith notched up his 500th goal during the match.[7]
  • Round 21 – Trailing 18–0 in the 54th minute, Melbourne surge past the Parramatta Eels away at Parramatta Stadium for a remarkable 22–18 victory.[7]
  • Round 23 – Justin O'Neill suffers a season-ending back injury in the club's 11th straight win, this time accounting for the Gold Coast Titans 40–16, with Cooper Cronk scoring a hat-trick of tries at a rainy AAMI Park.[7]
  • Round 24 – In Billy Slater's 200th NRL match, Melbourne records their 12th consecutive victory, eclipsing the previous club record set in 2006.[7] The 8–6 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons, saw the highest home crowd of the season and their 4th highest home crowd of all time, with 24,081 in attendance.
  • Round 25 – In a violent match known as the "Battle of Brookvale," Melbourne lose 18–4 to the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval. Adam Blair was first sin binned, and then sent off for his part in a wild on-field brawl, later receiving a five-match suspension, meaning he had played his last game for the club.[14] Other players would also receive suspensions, with the club fined $50,000 by the NRL, with NRL chief David Gallop saying "this kind of ugly brawling is simply not on."[7]
  • Round 26 – With the minor premiership secured before taking the field, Craig Bellamy opts to rest Billy Slater and Cameron Smith for the match against the Sydney Roosters. Melbourne lose the match 40–8 and also suffer injuries to Gareth Widdop, Maurice Blair and Jaiman Lowe.
  • 6 September – Billy Slater was crowned Dally M Player of the Year at the 2011 Dally M Awards. Teammate Cooper Cronk finished third in the count.[15] Craig Bellamy also won coach of the year and Cameron Smith won the Representative player of the year award.
  • Qualifying final – Melbourne jump out to a 16–0 lead in the first half of their final against the eighth-placed Newcastle Knights, eventually winning 18–8 to earn a home preliminary final and a week off. After the match NRL chief David Gallop presents Melbourne with the J. J. Giltinan Shield, with Gallop receiving a torrent of boos from the Storm fans over his role in the punishments handed out to the club.[7]
  • 13 September – David Gallop is forced to apologise after using an analogy to compare Storm fans to terrorists. Gallop saying in a radio interview "I never really go for that whole passion line. I mean terrorists are passionate about what they do and, you know, that doesn't make it right."[16]
  • Preliminary final – Melbourne's season comes to a sudden end, upset 20–12 by the New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park. Opposition halfback Shaun Johnston playing a starring role for the visitors, who led 14–12 at half time and withstood Melbourne's pressure in the second half. Craig Bellamy saying "I don't care what else comes out of tonight, we are disappointed, we're bitterly disappointed, but at the same time this club has come a long wat to where we were this time last year."[7]

Milestone games edit

Round Player Milestone
Round 1 Jaiman Lowe Storm debut
Troy Thompson Storm debut
Round 2 Adam Blair 100th game
Round 2 Beau Champion Storm debut
Round 4 Atelea Vea Storm debut
Round 4 Adam Woolnough Storm debut
Round 9 Maurice Blair Storm debut
Round 9 Sisa Waqa Storm debut
Round 10 Dane Chisholm NRL debut
Round 12 Cameron Smith 200th game
Round 24 Billy Slater 200th game
Round 26 Jack Afamasaga Storm debut

Jerseys edit

In 2011 the Storm jerseys were made by Kooga. They retained their predominantly purple home jersey from 2010 and also their predominantly white away jersey from 2010.

On 4 February 2011 Crown Casino was named the major sponsor of the Storm in 2011[17] with their corporate logo added to the front of the jersey. Suzuki Australia continued as major sponsors as well, with their logo appearing on the sleeves. There was no sponsorship on the rear of the jersey.[18] Makita also announced a continuation of their sponsorship and their logo on the players shorts.[19]

Heritage

In round 5 for the NRL's heritage round, Melbourne wore a replica of their original 1998 home jersey.

Special

In the round 20 home game against the Brisbane Broncos, Storm wore a special "platinum battle" jersey. The jersey was mostly navy blue with a large grey and white chevron on the front, also featured the word "Melbourne" printed across the upper back. This jersey was to symbolise the links to the state of Victoria and Melbourne, following the City of Melbourne's sponsorship of the match.[20]

Attendance averages edit

[21] Total Matches Average
Home 170,952 12 14,246
Away 173,173 12 14,431
All regular season games 344,125 24 14,339
Finals 43,425 2 21,712
All Games 387,550 26 14,906

Fixtures edit

Pre season edit

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
11 February Trial[b]   Ipswich Jets Langlands Park, Brisbane Won 34 0 S Thorpe (2), A Vea, E Niko, M Johnson, S Griffen G Widdop (3), D Chisholm (2) [22][8][9]
11 February Trial[c]   Easts Tigers Langlands Park, Brisbane Lost 0 10 [8][9]
19 February Trial   Canberra Raiders Bega Recreation Ground, Bega Won 24 4 C Stanley (2), A Vea, T Maori G Widdop 2/2, D Chisholm 2/2 [23][24][25]
26 February Trial   Brisbane Broncos Dolphin Oval, Brisbane Lost 6 26 J O'Neill C Smith 1/1 [26][27]

Regular season edit

Source:[28]

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
12 March 1   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 18 6 C Stanley, M Duffie, D Nielsen C Smith 2/2 [29][30]
19 March 2   Gold Coast Titans AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 40 12 B Slater (2), A Quinn, S Manu, C Smith, J O'Neill, C Cronk C Smith 6/7 [31][32]
28 March 3   North Queensland Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Lost 6 34 G Widdop C Smith 1/1 [33][34]
4 April 4   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 30 16 M Duffie (2), K Proctor, D Nielsen, J Bromwich C Smith 5/6 [35][36]
10 April 5[i]   Parramatta Eels AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 38 0 B Champion (2), C Cronk, B Slater, A Quinn, M Duffie C Smith 4/6, G Widdop 1/1 [37][38]
17 April 6   Penrith Panthers Centrebet Stadium, Sydney Won 25 10 C Cronk, B Norrie, B Slater, M Duffie C Smith 4/5 C Cronk 1/1 [39][40]
25 April 7[ii]   New Zealand Warriors AAMI Park, Melbourne Lost 14 18 B Champion, C Cronk C Smith 3/3 [41][42]
30 April 8   Newcastle Knights AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 42 12 B Champion, M Duffie, T Lowrie, D Nielsen, B Norrie, B Slater, A Quinn C Smith 7/7 [43][44]
7 May 9   Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Won 29 22 C Cronk, R Hinchcliffe, D Nielsen, A Quinn, S Waqa C Smith 4/5 C Cronk 1/2 [45][46]
14 May 10   Canberra Raiders AAMI Park, Melbourne Lost 12 20 M Duffie, K Proctor C Smith 2/2 [47][48]
21 May 11 Bye
29 May 12   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 14 8 D Nielsen, S Waqa C Smith 3/3 [49][50]
5 June 13   South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Won 16 6 M Blair, J Bromwich, C Smith C Smith 1/2, G Widdop 1/1 [51][52]
13 June 14   Sydney Roosters AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 21 4 J O'Neill (2), B Champion G Widdop 4/5 G Widdop [53][54]
19 June 15   Wests Tigers Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Won 12 4 R Hinchcliffe, K Proctor M Duffie 1/1, C Smith 1/1 [55][56]
26 June 16   New Zealand Warriors Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Won 16 8 B Slater (2), G Widdop C Smith 2/3 [57][58]
2 July 17 Bye
9 July 18   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Won 28 18 C Cronk (2), J Bromwich, M Duffie, S Waqa C Smith 3/4, G Widdop 1/1 [59]
17 July 19   Canberra Raiders Canberra Stadium, Canberra Won 26 0 M Duffie (2), J Bromwich, C Cronk, R Hinchcliffe C Smith 3/4, G Widdop 0/1 [60]
22 July 20   Brisbane Broncos AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 26 6 M Blair (2), C Cronk, J O'Neill C Smith 5/5 [61][62]
1 August 21   Parramatta Eels Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Won 22 18 D Nielsen, J O'Neill, B Slater, S Waqa C Smith 3/4 [63]
6 August 22   Penrith Panthers AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 26 6 R Hinchcliffe, S Manu, K Proctor, B Slater C Smith 5/5 [64][65]
13 August 23   Gold Coast Titans Skilled Park, Gold Coast Won 40 16 C Cronk (3), B Slater (2), S Manu, A Quinn C Smith 6/7 [66][67]
19 August 24   St. George Illawarra Dragons AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 8 6 A Quinn C Smith 2/2 [68][69]
26 August 25   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Brookvale Oval, Sydney Lost 4 18 B Slater G Widdop 0/1 [70][71]
4 September 26   Sydney Roosters Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Lost 8 40 B Champion, M Duffie C Cronk 0/1, G Widdop 0/1 [72][73]
Fixture notes:
  1. ^ Heritage Round
  2. ^ ANZAC Day

Finals edit

Qualifying final
11 September 2011
16:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Melbourne Storm   40 – 12   Newcastle Knights
Tries: 3
Beau Champion  
Matt Duffie  
Sika Manu  
Goals: 3
Cameron Smith   (3/4)
 1st: 16–0
2nd: 2–8
[74]
 Tries: 2
Kurt Gidley  
Akuila Uate  
Goals: 0
Kurt Gidley (0/2)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 14,845
Referees: Ashley Klein, Adam Devcich
Preliminary final
24 September 2011
19:45 AEST (UTC+10)
Melbourne Storm   12 – 20   New Zealand Warriors
Tries: 2
Beau Champion  
Sika Manu  
Goals: 2
Cameron Smith   (2/2)
 1st: 12–14
2nd: 0–6
[75]
 Tries: 3
Lewis Brown  
James Maloney  
Bill Tupou  
Goals: 4
James Maloney   (4/4)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 28,580
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Tony Archer

Ladder edit

Further information: 2011 NRL season
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership
Pos. Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Melbourne Storm 24 19 0 5 2 521 308 213 42
2   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (P) 24 18 0 6 2 539 331 208 40
3   Brisbane Broncos 24 18 0 6 2 511 372 139 40
4   Wests Tigers 24 15 0 9 2 519 430 89 34
5   St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 14 1 9 2 483 341 142 33
6   New Zealand Warriors 24 14 0 10 2 504 393 111 32
7   North Queensland Cowboys 24 14 0 10 2 532 480 52 32
8   Newcastle Knights 24 12 0 12 2 478 443 35 28
9   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 12 0 12 2 449 489 -40 28
10   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 11 0 13 2 531 562 -31 26
11   Sydney Roosters 24 10 0 14 2 417 500 -83 24
12   Penrith Panthers 24 9 0 15 2 430 517 -87 22
13   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 7 0 17 2 428 557 -129 18
14   Parramatta Eels 24 6 1 17 2 385 538 -153 17
15   Canberra Raiders 24 6 0 18 2 423 623 -200 16
16   Gold Coast Titans 24 6 0 18 2 363 629 -266 16

2011 Coaching Staff edit

NRL edit

  • Head coach: Craig Bellamy
  • Assistant coaches: David Kidwell[76] & Kevin Walters[77]
  • Development coach: Tony Adam
  • Specialist coach: Robbie Kearns
  • Strength and conditioning Coach: Alex Corvo
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coaches: Adrian Jiminez & Dan Di Pasqua
  • Head physiotherapist: Kieran Morgan
  • Assistant physiotherapist: Andrew Nawrocki
  • Head Trainer: Craig Sultana
  • General Manager Football Operations: Frank Ponissi
  • Recruitment manager: Darren Bell[78]

NRL Under 20s edit

  • Head coach: Dean Pay
  • Assistant coach: Adam O'Brien
  • Development coach: Chad Buckby
  • High Performance Manager: Chris Jones
  • Physiotherapist: Aaron Howlett[78]

2011 squad edit

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm players
Cap Nat. Player name Position First Storm game Previous First Grade RL club [d]
55   Cameron Smith (c) HK 2002   Melbourne Storm
58   Billy Slater FB 2003   Melbourne Storm
73   Cooper Cronk HB 2004   Melbourne Storm
86   Adam Blair PR 2006   Melbourne Storm
91   Anthony Quinn WG 2007   Newcastle Knights
98   Sika Manu SR 2007   Melbourne Storm
104   Dane Nielsen CE 2008   Cronulla Sharks
105   Kevin Proctor SR 2008   Melbourne Storm
110   Ryan Hinchcliffe HK,LK 2009   Canberra Raiders
116   Luke Kelly FE,HB 2009   Melbourne Storm
119   Jesse Bromwich PR 2010   Melbourne Storm
120   Rory Kostjasyn HK,LK 2010   Melbourne Storm
121   Todd Lowrie SR,LK 2010   Newcastle Knights
122   Luke MacDougall WG 2010   Newcastle Knights
123   Bryan Norrie PR 2010   Cronulla Sharks
124   Matt Duffie WG 2010   Melbourne Storm
125   Gareth Widdop FE,FB 2010   Melbourne Storm
126   Chase Stanley CE 2010   St George Illawarra Dragons
127   Justin O'Neill CE 2010   Melbourne Storm
128   Robbie Rochow SR 2010   Melbourne Storm
129   Sione Kite PR 2010   Canterbury Bulldogs
130   Jaiman Lowe PR 2011   South Sydney Rabbitohs
131   Troy Thompson PR 2011   Canberra Raiders
132   Beau Champion CE 2011   South Sydney Rabbitohs
133   Atelea Vea CE 2011   Cronulla Sharks
134   Maurice Blair CE, FE 2011   Penrith Panthers
135   Adam Woolnough PR 2011   Penrith Panthers
136   Sisa Waqa WG 2011   Sydney Roosters
137   Dane Chisholm FE 2011   Melbourne Storm
138   Jack Afamasaga SR 2011   Cronulla Sharks
-   Elijah Niko SR Yet to Debut   Melbourne Storm
-   Slade Griffen HK Yet to Debut   Melbourne Storm
-   Jake Hawkins FE Yet to Debut   Melbourne Storm
-   Kirisome Auva'a CE Yet to Debut   Melbourne Storm
-   Jordan McLean PR Yet to Debut   Melbourne Storm
-   Mitchel Johnson PR Yet to Debut   Melbourne Storm

Player movements edit

Representative honours edit

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2011.

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm representatives
Player 2011 All Stars match 2011 ANZAC Test City vs Country Origin State of Origin 1 State of Origin 2 State of Origin 3 2011 Four Nations
Adam Blair — New Zealand — — — — New Zealand
Beau Champion Indigenous All Stars — City — — — —
Cooper Cronk — Australia — Queensland Queensland Queensland Australia
Matt Duffie — New Zealand — — — — —
Ryan Hinchcliffe — — Country — — — —
Sika Manu — — — — — — New Zealand
Dane Nielsen — — — Queensland Queensland — —
Kevin Proctor — — — — — — New Zealand[f]
Billy Slater — Australia — Queensland Queensland Queensland Australia
Cameron Smith NRL All Stars Australia — Queensland Queensland Queensland Australia
Gareth Widdop — — — — — — England

Statistics edit

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2011 NRL season.

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm records
Name Appearances Tries Goals Field goals Points
Jack Afamasaga 1 0 0 0 0
Adam Blair 23 1 0 0 4
Maurice Blair 14 3 0 0 12
Jesse Bromwich 22 4 0 0 16
Beau Champion 16 8 0 0 32
Dane Chisholm 1 0 0 0 0
Cooper Cronk 23 12 0 2 50
Matthew Duffie 18 12 1 0 50
Ryan Hinchcliffe 25 4 0 0 16
Sione Kite 1 0 0 0 0
Rory Kostjasyn 12 0 0 0 0
Jaiman Lowe 23 0 0 0 0
Todd Lowrie 19 1 0 0 4
Sika Manu 18 5 0 0 20
Dane Nielsen 24 6 0 0 24
Bryan Norrie 24 2 0 0 8
Justin O'Neill 12 5 0 0 20
Kevin Proctor 26 4 0 0 16
Anthony Quinn 15 6 0 0 24
Robbie Rochow 1 0 0 0 0
Billy Slater 24 12 0 0 48
Cameron Smith 24 2 78 0 164
Chase Stanley 1 1 0 0 4
Troy Thompson 7 0 0 0 0
Atelea Vea 11 0 0 0 0
Sisa Waqa 10 4 0 0 16
Gareth Widdop 25 2 7 1 23
Adam Woolnough 21 0 0 0 0
28 players used – 94 86 3 551

Scorers edit

Most points in a game: 16 points

  • Round 2 – Cameron Smith (1 try, 6 goals) vs Gold Coast Titans

Most tries in a game: 3

  • Round 23 – Cooper Cronk vs Gold Coast Titans

Winning games edit

Highest score in a winning game: 42 points

  • Round 8 vs Newcastle Knights

Lowest score in a winning game: 8 points

  • Round 24 vs St George Illawarra Dragons

Greatest winning margin: 38 points

  • Round 5 vs Parramatta Eels

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 12

  • Round 12 – Round 24

Losing games edit

Highest score in a losing game: 14 points

  • Round 7 vs New Zealand Warriors

Lowest score in a losing game: 4 points

  • Round 25 vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles

Greatest losing margin: 32 points

  • Round 26 vs Sydney Roosters

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 2

  • Round 25 – Round 26

NRL Under 20s edit

Main article: 2011 NRL Under-20s season

In the fourth season of the NRL's National Youth Championship, Dean Pay continued as coach for a second season, with Melbourne finishing the regular season in 4th place on the ladder to qualify for the finals. Kenny Bromwich would make the competition's team of the year, selected as an interchange player.[85]

Ladder edit

2011 National Youth Competition season
Pos. Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   New Zealand Warriors (P) 24 19 1 4 2 851 494 +357 43
2   North Queensland Cowboys 24 17 0 7 2 758 509 +249 38
3   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 16 1 7 2 707 600 +107 37
4   Melbourne Storm 24 16 0 8 2 678 517 +161 36
5   Sydney Roosters 24 15 1 8 2 639 523 +116 35
6   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 14 0 10 2 659 458 +201 32
7   Wests Tigers 24 12 2 10 2 607 529 +78 30
8   Newcastle Knights 24 12 1 11 2 638 660 -22 29
9   Brisbane Broncos 24 11 2 11 2 752 551 +201 28
10   Penrith Panthers 24 12 0 12 2 558 709 -151 28
11   St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 10 2 12 2 562 594 -32 26
12   Parramatta Eels 24 10 1 13 2 547 556 -9 25
13   Canberra Raiders 24 8 1 15 2 683 749 -66 21
14   Gold Coast Titans 24 5 1 18 2 467 779 -312 15
15   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 4 1 19 2 454 881 -427 13
16   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 24 4 0 20 2 432 843 -411 12

Finals edit

Qualifying final
11 September 2011 		Melbourne Storm   26–10
[86] 		  Sydney Roosters AAMI Park, Melbourne
1:30pm AEST
 Tries:
Mahe Fonua
Tohu Harris
John Leiataua
Matt McGahan
Young Tonumaipea
Goals:
Matt McGahan 3/6 		Tries:
Ethan Lowek
Curtis Rona
Goals:
Ethan Lowe 1/2
Referee: David Munro
Semi final
17 September 2011 		Melbourne Storm   20–22
[87] 		  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
4:15pm AEST
 Tries:
Denny Solomona (3)
Sean Loxley
Goals:
Matt McGahan 2/4 		Tries:
Daniel Abou-Sleiman
Sam Ahofono
Sean Deaves
Ed Murphy
Goals:
Jaline Graham 3/4
Referee: David Munro

Statistics edit

Source:[88]

Scorers edit

Most points in a game: 16 points

  • Round 2 – Matt McGahan (1 try, 6 goals) vs Gold Coast Titans

Most tries in a game: 3

  • Round 1 – Ben Hampton vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
  • Round 7 – Slade Griffin vs New Zealand Warriors
  • Round 13 – Young Tonumaipea vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
  • Round 14 – Ryan Pooley vs Sydney Roosters
  • Round 20 – Tohu Harris vs Brisbane Broncos
  • Qualifying final – Denny Solomona vs Sydney Roosters

Most points (season): 212

Most tries (season): 18

Feeder clubs edit

As announced by the club after the 2010 season, Melbourne ended their reserve grade program in the NSW Cup, announcing new feeder club agreements. Reserve players were sent to either Easts Tigers to play in the Queensland Cup, or to play in NSW Cup in a combined side with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[89]

In the NSW Cup, Cronulla coached by Tony Herman would finish third on the ladder after the regular season, progressing through the preliminary final where they were defeated 30–26 in golden point extra time by eventual runners-up the Auckland Vulcans.[90]

2011 New South Wales Cup
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
3   Cronulla Sharks 23 16 1 6 2 656 447 +209 37

In the Queensland Cup, Easts Tigers coached by Troy McCarthy improved with the addition of Melbourne Storm players, finishing in eighth position on the ladder, winning more games than in the 2010 season.[91]

2011 Queensland Cup
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
8   Easts Tigers 22 8 1 13 428 524 -96 17

S. G. Ball Cup edit

Melbourne's junior representative team in the New South Wales Rugby League under-18s competition S. G. Ball Cup struggled in their third season in the competition. Coached by club high performance manager Kim Williams, the team would win only two of their nine matches for the season, finishing in 14th place on the ladder out of the 18 teams competing.[92]

Awards edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Regular season home games only
  2. ^ Split squad match played in 20 minute halves
  3. ^ Split squad match played in 20 minute halves
  4. ^ Previous First Grade RL club: 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
  5. ^ Previously played for Sydney Roosters in 2009, but did not have a professional sporting contract in 2010.
  6. ^ Proctor was named in the New Zealand squad for the tournament, but did not play a match in the series.
  7. ^ Awarded to the club with the most competition points across the NRL and NRL Under-20s season

References edit

  1. ^ "History Melbourne Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  2. ^ Gould, Russell (5 February 2011). "Crown's a jewel for Storm". Herald-Sun. Melbourne, Victoria: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 46.
  3. ^ Hawthorne, Mark (4 February 2011). "Storm signs casino as new sponsor". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: Fairfax Digital. p. 19.
  4. ^ "Storm confirm casino deal". AAP Sports News Wire. Sydney, New South Wales: Australian Associated Press Pty Limited. 4 February 2011.
  5. ^ Kogoy, Peter (2 February 2011). "Corporate world embraces Storm again". The Australian. Canberra, Australia: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 31.
  6. ^ Honeysett, Stuart (14 February 2011). "Storm to deny rival clubs $8m . NEWS LIMITED EXIT COMES WITH MELBOURNE SURVIVAL CLAUSE". The Australian. Canberra, Australia: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 33.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Middleton, David (ed.). 2011 Official Rugby League Annual. Alexandra, New South Wales: NewsLifeMedia.
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