2019 Melbourne Storm season


The 2019 Melbourne Storm season was the 22nd in the club's history, competing in the 2019 NRL season. The team was coached by Craig Bellamy, who coached the club for his 17th consecutive season. Melbourne Storm were captained by Cameron Smith, who had been the sole captain for the team since 2008. On 13 July 2019 Smith became the first NRL player to play 400 NRL games. On 31 August 2019 the Storm defeated the Manly Sea Eagles to win their fourth J. J. Giltinan Shield as the minor premiers.

Season summary

  • Pre-season – New recruits took part in Melbourne Storm IDQ camp for pre season training before New Years. Tom Eisenhuth was awarded the IDQ Iron bar with special recognition to both Sandor Earl & Nicho Hynes.
  • Round 1 – Prior to the commencement of play, the northern stand of AAMI Park was renamed "The Slater Stand" after Billy Slater. Storm defeated the Broncos 22–12 extending their winning streak in Round 1 to 17 seasons. Tom Eisenhuth makes Storm debut.
  • Round 3 – Storm defeat the Panthers 32–2 in Bathurst, Marion Seve scores his first NRL try
  • Round 5 – Cameron Smith becomes the game's highest ever points scorer with penalty goal in the 48th minute. Smith finished the game on 2422 points. Sandor Earl made his debut for the Storm and also played his first game following a four year ban from the game.
  • Round 9 – The NRL stage their first Magic Round at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium. The Storm completed one of the biggest wins in the club's history dominating the Parramatta Eels 64-10. Will Chambers played game 200.
  • Round 11 – The Storm defeat the Bulldogs away at Belmore Oval Sydney with Cameron Smith playing his 500th first grade game. Cameron Munster also played his 100th Game.
  • Round 16 – Missing 7 players due to State of Origin, Storm win 16–14 against St George Illawarra. The game was notable due to the large number of milestones; with Cameron Smith scoring his 2500th career point, Sandor Earl played his 50th NRL game, Craig Bellamy coached his 300th win and both Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Billy Walters making their playing debuts.
  • Round 17 – Cameron Smith becomes the first NRL player to play in 400 NRL games in the Storm's 40-16 win over Cronulla.
  • Round 19 – Cameron Smith captains his 300th NRL Game.
  • Round 22 – The Storm lose to the Canberra Raiders 22–18 after leading 18–0 shortly before half time. This result meant that it was the Storm's worst collapse in the history of the club.
  • Round 24 – Storm defeat the Manly Sea Eagles 36-6 and clinch the J. J. Giltinan Shield as the minor premiers for 2019. Nelson Asofa-Solomaona also played his 100th game.

Fixtures

Pre-season

Source:
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultMel.Opp.Source
23 FebruaryTrialNew Zealand WarriorsGMHBA Stadium, Geelong612
2 MarchTrialQueensland Cowboys">Queensland rugby league team">Queensland CowboysBB Print Stadium, Mackay614

Matches

Source:

Finals

Source:
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultMel.Opp.TriesGoalsField GoalsReport
14 SeptemberWeek 1 - Qualifying Final Canberra RaidersAAMI Park, Melbourne1012S VunivaluC Smith 3/4
21 SeptemberWeek 2 - Semi Final Parramatta EelsAAMI Park, MelbourneWon320J Addo-Carr, S Vunivalu, C Munster, J Hughes, R Papenhuyzen, N Asofa-SolomonaC Smith 1/6, R Papenhuyzen 1/1, C Munster 0/1
28 SeptemberWeek 3 - Preliminary Final Sydney RoostersSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney614N Asofa-SolomonaC Smith 1/1

Coaching staff

  • Craig Bellamy – Head Coach
  • Jason Ryles – Senior Assistant Coach
  • Marc Brentnall – Assistant Coach
  • Ben Jack – U/20s Head Coach
  • Aaron Bellamy – Development Coach
  • Ryan Hinchcliffe – Development Coach
  • Frank Ponissi – Football Director
  • Ryan Hoffman – Football Administration Coordinator
  • Nick Maxwell – Leadership Coach
  • Craig McRae – Kicking & Catching Coach
  • Billy Slater – Specialist Coach
  • Scott Sipple – Easts Tigers Feeder Club Coach
  • Craig Ingebrigtsen – Sunshine Coast Falcons Feeder Club Coach

2019 Squad

''List current as of 24 March 2019''

Player movements

Source:
Losses
Gains

Representative honours

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2019.
Player2019 All Stars matchState of Origin 12019 Oceania Cup R1 and InternationalsState of Origin 2State of Origin 3Rugby [League World Cup 9s]2019 Oceania Cup Rds 2 and 3
Josh Addo-CarrIndigenous All StarsNew [South Wales rugby league team|New South Wales]New South WalesNew South WalesAustraliaAustralia
Nelson Asofa-SolomonaNew Zealand
Jesse BromwichMaori All StarsNew Zealand
Kenny BromwichMaori All StarsNew ZealandNew Zealand
Will ChambersIndigenous All StarsQueenslandQueenslandQueensland
Tino Fa'asuamaleauiSamoaSamoa
Dale FinucaneNew South WalesNew South Wales
Jahrome HughesMaori All StarsNew ZealandNew Zealand
Tui Kamikamica FijiFiji
Felise KaufusiQueenslandQueenslandQueensland
Isaac LumelumeFijiFiji
Cameron MunsterQueenslandQueenslandQueenslandAustralia
Justin OlamPapua New Guinea
Ryan PapenhuyzenAustralia
Marion SeveSamoaSamoaSamoa
Brandon SmithMaori All StarsNew ZealandNew Zealand
Suliasi VunivaluFijiFijiFiji
Christian WelchQueensland

Statistics

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2019 NRL season.
NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField GoalsPoints
23160064
2760024
2750020
2750020
2461026
2254129
62008
40000
50000
262008
10000
2490036
10000
212008
251004
10000
61004
2482036
1470028
2292040
930012
1240016
2330012
2721040216
1350020
24110044
20000
161004
10000
29 players used—1131131679

Scorers

Most points in a game: 18 points
  • Round 9 – Cameron Smith vs Parramatta Eels
Most tries in a game: 3

Winning games

Highest score in a winning game: 64 points
  • Round 9 vs Parramatta Eels
Lowest score in a winning game: 13 points
Greatest winning margin: 54 points
  • Round 9 vs Parramatta Eels
Greatest number of Games won consecutively: 9
  • Round 9 – Round 18

Losing games

Highest score in a losing game: 20 points
Lowest score in a losing game: 6 points
  • Preliminary final vs Sydney Roosters
Greatest losing margin: 8 points
  • Preliminary final vs Sydney Roosters

Jersey

On 7 February the Storm announced that the 2019 Jersey will remain the same from 2018 however with updated NRL logos and the new 2019 Melbourne Storm logo. In addition the jersey now features the new Storm sponsor Purple Bricks.
RD1RD2RD3RD4RD5RD6RD7RD8RD9RD10RD11RD12RD13RD14RD15RD16RD17RD18RD19RD20RD21RD22RD23RD24RD25QFSFPF
HomeHomeClashHomeClashHomeANZACClashHomeHomeIndigenous#—ClashHomeClashHomeCAM400^ClashHeritage^^ClashClashWIL&HomeClashHomeHomeHomeClash

# Designed by Lenny Briggs.

^ Special jersey designed for Cameron Smith's 400th NRL game.

^^ Heritage jersey inspired by the 2009 home jersey; celebrating both the 1999 NRL Grand Final premiership and 2009 NRL Grand Final winning teams.

& Women in League jersey featuring pink thunderbolts motif.

Awards

Trophy Cabinet

Melbourne Storm Awards Night

Held at Crown Palladium, Melbourne on Tuesday 8 October.

Dally M Awards Night">2019 Dally M Awards">Dally M Awards Night

Held at The Star, Sydney on Wednesday 2 October 2019.

Rugby League Players’ Association Awards Night

Additional Awards