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2003 Melbourne Storm season

The 2003 Melbourne Storm season was the 6th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2003 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 5th out of 15 teams, before reaching the semi-final where they were knocked out by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. It was Craig Bellamy's first season as head coach of the club.

Under new coach Craig Bellamy, the 2003 season for the Storm was one of regaining premiership credibility. Melbourne reached the finals for the first time since 2000 with evergreen Robbie Kearns and a confident Matt Orford showing the way.

A disappointing exit two weeks before the Grand Final was tempered by the rise of young Queenslanders Billy Slater and Cameron Smith. Unheard of at the start of 2003, the steady hooker and dummy-half Smith gave splendid service to Orford and his forwards. He was rewarded with a place in the Maroons Origin side and was unlucky to miss the Kangaroos train-on squad.

The silky and pacy moves of Slater in the centres and at fullback were attention getters for fans and keen judges of football talent alike. His debut season for the Storm realised a record 19 tries and talk of a big future in the game.^[1]

• Pre season – Melbourne are one of four clubs fined for salary cap breaches during the 2002 NRL season. Melbourne's fine is $66,698 relating to previous contracts.
• World Sevens – Storm participate in the return of Rugby League World Sevens, losing all three of their pool matches at Aussie Stadium. Steven Bell captained the squad, which included a number of new recruits and players yet to make their NRL debut.^[2]
• 14 February – Stephen Kearney is appointed as Melbourne captain.
• 20 February – Reports emerge former trackwork jockey Billy Slater has secured a spot in Melbourne's squad ahead of the 2003 season.^[3]
• 27 February – Willie Leyshon announces his retirement from rugby league after a succession of serious knee injuries.^[3] Leyshon blaming strength and conditioning coach Alex Corvo and physiotherapist Matt Natusch for ignoring his pleas for an altered training program due to his persistent knee injuries.^[4]
• 5 March – A number of Sydney NRL clubs voice their opposition to the NRL's decision to grant salary cap concessions to Melbourne to help support relocated players.
• 12 March – NRL CEO David Gallop throws his support behind the proposal to allow Melbourne salary cap concessions to cover relocation expenses for players.^[3] Melbourne had put forward a proposal asking the NRL for a $265,000 concession on top of the $3.25m salary cap.^[5]
• Round 1 – Recovering from a 22–0 deficit, Melbourne stage an amazing comeback victory 36–32 over Cronulla-Sutherland SharksatToyota Park. On his NRL debut, Billy Slater scores a stunning try to spark the comeback, with Steven Bell scoring a hat-trick.
• 18 March – Melbourne Executive Director John Ribot withdraws Melbourne's application for salary cap concessions for players living away from home, saying "Melbourne don't want to be the source of division among the other clubs." Parramatta Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald and Penrith Panthers boss Shane Richardson had been outspoken in the days since the proposal was first mooted, with Canberra Raiders also requesting salary cap concessions.^[3]
• Round 2 – Prop forward Rodney Howe suffers a serious knee injury as an understrength Melbourne thrash Penrith 42–16. Head coach Craig Bellamy praises rookie Billy Slater who scored two tries in the win, saying "he's got something special about him. I wasn't quite sure when he was going to actually show it, but he's showed it pretty early. He's a special talent."^[3] Jake Webster becomes the first Melbourne-born player to debut with the club,^[6] but it would be his only appearance for the season after injurying his anterior cruciate ligament the following week playing for Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup.^[7]
• 23 April – Aaron Moule announces his retirement from rugby league due to niggling injury problems.
• Round 7 – In his Storm debut, Andrew McFadden is injured again, succumbing to a groin injury in the first half. McFadden's injuries keep him out of the line-up for the rest of the season.
• Round 8 – Returning after a two-week injury break, Matt Orford scores 16 points in Melbourne's dominate 46–6 victory over a depleted Newcastle Knights.^[3]
• 9 May – Robbie Ross undergoes surgery on a bulging disc injury, after playing five of the opening eight games of the season.
• Round 9 – Melbourne inflict Canberra Raiders' first defeat of the season 30–10, despite an injury in the warm-up to Junior Langi.
• Round 10 – In the last game of rugby league at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium, an injury to Matt Orford cruels Melbourne's quest for a first win over the Broncos since 2001.
• 6 June – Matt Geyer signs a two-year contract extension, to keep him in Melbourne until the end of the 2005 NRL season.
• 7 June – Scott Hill re-signs with Melbourne, inking a new five-year contract.^[3]
• Round 13 – South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Melbourne for the first time, with the league cellar-dwellers stunning Melbourne 41–14.
• Round 14 – Ending a two-game winless streak, Melbourne defeat Penrith 32–12 to end the Panthers' eight-game winning streak.
• Round 15 – Five-eighth Scott Hill suffers a shoulder injury in Melbourne's loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Hill had feared his season was over, but subsequent scans cleared him of a serious injury.
• Round 17 – 0–4 at the venue, Melbourne upset Canberra 18–8 to win their first game ever at Bruce Stadium.
• 9 July – Melbourne sign promising fullback Steve Turner to a three-year contract from 2004.^[3]
• 11 July – John Ribot is forced to deny rumours the club would merge with Collingwood saying, "I don't think you'll see us merging. I've got more chance of flying to the moon."^[3]
• 19 July – Robbie Kearns signs on with Melbourne for a further two seasons.
• Round 19 – Brisbane Broncos pip Melbourne 26–22 in the club's first ever golden point game, after scores were tied 22–all after 80 minutes. Broncos winger Scott Minto scores the winning try three minutes into extra time.
• 27 July – Fan-favourite Marcus Bai announces he will be leaving Melbourne at the end of the season, taking up a two-year contact with Leeds Rhinos.
• Round 21 – Melbourne reclaim the Michael Moore Trophy, winning 14–12 over New Zealand Warriors with a 41-metre penalty goal from Matt Orford the difference.
• Round 23 – After his first game back from injury since June, Scott Hill is ruled out for the rest of the season after re-injuring his troublesome shoulder.^[3]
• 4 September – In a dispute with the RLPA, the NRL cancel the annual Dally M Awards. Both Billy Slater and Cameron Smith were among the favourites for the Rookie of the Year Award.
• Round 26 – In a rousing farewell, Marcus Bai scores and converts a try in his farewell appearance at Olympic Park. Melbourne thrash Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 40–10 to finish the season in fifth place, securing the club's first finals appearance since the 2000 NRL season.
• Qualifying Final – In a controversial 30–18 upset win over Canberra, referee Tim Mander cracks down on Melbourne players employing so-called 'grapple tackles' to slow down the play-the-ball. Coach Craig Bellamy accuses Canberra of making complaints to the NRL about the tackling style, claims rejected by both the NRL and Canberra coach Matt Elliott.^[3] The controversy overshadows Melbourne's first finals win since the 1999 NRL Grand Final, causing much media talk in the days after the game between Melbourne officials, referee's boss Robert Finch and league pundits.
• Semi Final – Melbourne are eliminated from the finals in a whitewash by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, held scoreless in a 30–0 defeat. It is the first time in 158 NRL games that Melbourne had failed to score.

Melbourne signed up a new apparel partner for the 2003 season, with Canterbury of New Zealand the new manufacturer of club jerseys. The home jersey design was unchanged from the 2001-02 jersey, but for a white collar replacing the gold. The club's clash colours was changed to a mostly white design with a purple chevron and gold thunderbolts, worn with navy shorts.

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Mel.	Opp.	Source
1 February	Rugby League World Sevens	Brisbane Broncos	Aussie Stadium, Sydney	Lost	18	38
1 February	Rugby League World Sevens	Canberra Raiders	Aussie Stadium, Sydney	Lost	8	24
2 February	Rugby League World Sevens	Lebanon	Aussie Stadium, Sydney	Lost	10	20

Date	Rd	Opponent	Venue	Result	Mel.	Opp.	Tries	Goals	Field goals	Ref
22 February	Trial	South Sydney Rabbitohs	North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich	Won	44	24	B Slater (2), R Ross, R Kearns, D Johnson, S Bell, S Tadulala, M Orford	M Orford (5), M Geyer		[8]
1 March	Trial	Canberra Raiders	Morwell Recreation Reserve, Morwell	Lost	4	6	R Ross			[9]

Source:^[10]

• (g.p.) – Golden Point extra time
• (pen) – Penalty try

Date	Rd	Opponent	Venue	Result	Mel.	Opp.	Tries	Goals	Field goals	Ref
16 March	1	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Toyota Park, Sydney	Won	36	32	S Bell (3), M Geyer (2), M Orford, B Slater	M Orford 4/7		[11]
22 March	2	Penrith Panthers	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	42	16	B Slater (2), S Tadulala (2), M Geyer, P Robinson, C Smith, D Williams	M Geyer 5/9		[12]
29 March	3	Bye
5 April	4	Newcastle Knights	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle	Lost	28	44	A Moule (2), M Bai, M Orford, R Ross	M Orford 4/5		[13]
12 April	5	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	18	12	B Slater (2), M Bai	M Orford 2/2, C Smith 1/1		[14]
20 April	6	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Brookvale Oval, Sydney	Lost	14	20	R Ross, B Slater, S Tadulala	C Smith 1/1, M Turner 0/2		[15]
26 April	7	North Queensland Cowboys	Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville	Lost	12	32	M Bai, M Sargent	C Smith 2/2		[16]
3 May	8	Newcastle Knights	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	46	6	B Slater (2), S Bell, S Kearney, D Kidwell, M Orford, R Ross, C Smith	M Orford 6/8, C Smith 1/1		[17]
10 May	9	Canberra Raiders	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	30	10	S Bell, M Geyer, K Reynoldson, P Robinson	M Orford 7/7		[18]
18 May	10	Brisbane Broncos	ANZ Stadium, Brisbane	Lost	16	36	M Geyer, D Kidwell, B Slater	M Orford 1/2, C Smith 1/1		[19]
24 May	11	Parramatta Eels	Parramatta Stadium, Sydney	Won	12	10	S Kearney, S Tadulala	M Orford 2/4		[20]
1 June	12	Sydney Roosters	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Lost	20	27	S Bell (2), M Orford	M Orford 4/4		[21]
8 June	13	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Aussie Stadium, Sydney	Lost	14	41	M Bai, M Geyer, K Reynoldson	M Orford 1/3		[22]
14 June	14	Penrith Panthers	Penrith Park, Sydney	Won	32	12	M Bai, M Geyer, R Kearns, D Kidwell, M Orford	M Orford 6/6		[23]
22 June	15	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Lost	12	26	B Slater	M Orford 4/4		[24]
28 June	16	Wests Tigers	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	16	8	B Slater (2), D Cooper	M Orford 2/3		[25]
6 July	17	Canberra Raiders	Bruce Stadium, Canberra	Won	18	8	S Bell, M Geyer, F Moala	M Orford 2/2, C Smith 1/1		[26]
12 July	18	North Queensland Cowboys	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	22	16	M Geyer, R Hoffman, F Moala, M Orford	M Orford 3/6		[27]
20 July	19	Brisbane Broncos	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Lost (g.p.)	22	26	M Bai, R Hoffman, F Moala, B Slater	M Orford 3/5		[28]
26 July	20	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	24	6	B Slater (2), M Geyer, R Kearns	M Orford 4/5		[29]
2 August	21	New Zealand Warriors	Ericsson Stadium, Auckland	Won	14	12	M Bai, K Reynoldson	M Orford 3/4		[30]
10 August	22	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Sydney Showground, Sydney	Lost	4	50	M Geyer	M Orford 0/1		[31]
17 August	23	Parramatta Eels	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	50	12	B Slater (3), M Bai, S Bell, F Moala, M Orford, C Smith, D Williams	M Orford 6/8, C Smith 1/2		[32]
22 August	24	St George Illawarra Dragons	WIN Stadium, Wollongong	Won	22	14	F Moala (2), M Sargent, B Slater	M Orford 3/5		[33]
30 August	25	Bye
6 September	26	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Olympic Park, Melbourne	Won	40	10	M Geyer (2), M Bai, S Bell, M King, F Moala, D Williams	M Orford 4/5, M Bai 1/1, M Sargent 1/1		[34]

Canberra Raiders	18 - 30 [35]	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Jamaal Lolesi Joel Monaghan Michael Monaghan Goals: Clinton Schifcofske 3/4		Tries: Marcus Bai (2) Matt Geyer Fifita Moala Matt Orford Cameron Smith Goals: Matt Orford 3/6

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	30 - 0 [36]	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Nigel Vagana (2) Corey Hughes Willie Mason Adam Perry Goals: Hazem El Masri 4/7 Field Goals: Braith Anasta (2)

2003 NRL season v t e
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Penrith Panthers (P)	24	18	0	6	2	659	527	+132	40
2	Sydney Roosters	24	17	0	7	2	680	445	+235	38
3	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	16	0	8	2	702	419	+283	36
4	Canberra Raiders	24	16	0	8	2	620	463	+157	36
5	Melbourne Storm	24	15	0	9	2	564	486	+78	34
6	New Zealand Warriors	24	15	0	9	2	545	510	+35	34
7	Newcastle Knights	24	14	0	10	2	632	635	-3	32
8	Brisbane Broncos	24	12	0	12	2	497	464	+33	28
9	Parramatta Eels	24	11	0	13	2	570	582	-12	26
10	St George Illawarra Dragons	24	11	0	13	2	548	593	-45	26
11	North Queensland Cowboys	24	10	0	14	2	606	629	-23	24
12	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	8	0	16	2	497	704	-207	20
13	Wests Tigers	24	7	0	17	2	470	598	-128	18
14	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	24	7	0	17	2	557	791	-234	18
15	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	3	0	21	2	457	758	-301	10

• Head coach: Craig Bellamy
• Assistant coach: Dean Lance
• Football manager: Greg Brentnall
• Physical Preparation Coach: Alex Corvo
• Physiotherapist: Matt Natusch
• Head trainer: Troy Thompson

^[37]

List current as of 6 September 2021

Cap [a]	Nat.	Player name	Position	First Storm Game	Previous First Grade RL club [b]
1		Robbie Ross	FB	1998	Hunter Mariners
3		Aaron Moule	WG, CE	1998	South Queensland Crushers
5		Marcus Bai	WG	1998	Gold Coast Chargers
6		Scott Hill	FE	1998	Hunter Mariners
8		Rodney Howe	PR	1998	Perth Reds
9		Danny Williams	LK, SR, HK	1998	North Sydney Bears
10		Robbie Kearns	PR	1998	Perth Reds
18		Matt Geyer	WG	1998	Perth Reds
28		Stephen Kearney	SR	1999	New Zealand Warriors
34		Fifita Moala	WG	2000	Melbourne Storm
37		Glen Turner	SR	2000	Melbourne Storm
38		Peter Robinson	SR	2000	Melbourne Storm
42		Junior Langi	CE	2001	St George Illawarra Dragons
43		Matt Orford	HB	2001	Northern Eagles
44		Steven Bell	CE	2001	Melbourne Storm
48		Semi Tadulala	WG	2001	Melbourne Storm
51		Mitchell Sargent	PR	2002	Melbourne Storm
53		Michael Russo	SR	2002	Melbourne Storm
54		Marty Turner	HB	2002	Melbourne Storm
55		Cameron Smith	HK	2002	Melbourne Storm
56		Kirk Reynoldson	SR	2002	Melbourne Storm
57		Keith Mason	PR	2002	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
58		Billy Slater	FB	2003	Melbourne Storm
59		David Kidwell	SR	2003	Sydney Roosters
60		Dallas Johnson	LK	2003	Melbourne Storm
61		Jake Webster	WG	2003	Melbourne Storm
62		Ryan Hoffman	SR	2003	Melbourne Storm
63		Andrew McFadden	HB	2003	Parramatta Eels
64		Robert Tanielu	PR	2003	Brisbane Broncos
65		Nathan Sologinkin	SR	2003	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
66		Dustin Cooper	WG	2003	Melbourne Storm
67		Nathan Friend	HK	2003	Brisbane Broncos
68		Antonio Kaufusi	PR	2003	Melbourne Storm
69		Matt King	CE	2003	Melbourne Storm
–		Marc Brentnall	HB	Yet to debut	Melbourne Storm[c]
–		Cooper Cronk	HB	Yet to debut	Melbourne Storm
–		Brett Finn	HK	Yet to debut	Melbourne Storm[d]

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2003.

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2003 NRL season.

• Statistics sources:^[39][40]

Most points in a game: 16 points

• Round 8 - Matt Orford (1 try, 6 goals) vs Newcastle Knights
• Round 14 - Matt Orford (1 try, 6 goals) vs Penrith Panthers
• Round 23 - Matt Orford (1 try, 6 goals) vs Parramatta Eels

Most tries in a game: 3

• Round 1 - Steven Bell vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
• Round 23 - Billy Slater vs Parramatta Eels

Highest score in a winning game: 50 points

• Round 23 vs Parramatta Eels

Lowest score in a winning game: 12 points

• Round 11 vs Parramatta Eels

Greatest winning margin: 40 points

• Round 8 vs Newcastle Knights

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 4

• Round 23 - Qualifying Final

Highest score in a losing game: 28 points

• Round 4 vs Newcastle Knights

Lowest score in a losing game: 0 points

• Semi Final vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Greatest losing margin: 46 points

• Round 22 vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 2

• Round 6 - Round 7
• Round 12 - Round 13

Melbourne Storm reserve players again travelled to Brisbane each week to play with Queensland Cup team Norths Devils. Coached by Gary Greinke, Norths missed the finals for the first time under the affiliation with Melbourne, with Cooper Cronk winning club's player of the year award.

2003 Queensland Cup
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
8	Norths Devils	22	10	1	11	615	589	+26	21

• Melbourne Storm Player of the Year: Robbie Kearns^[41]
• Melbourne Storm Rookie of the Year: Cameron Smith
• Melbourne Storm Clubman of the Year: Marcus Bai
• Mick Moore Chairman's Award: Danny Williams