[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki24\/2003-melbourne-storm-season-wikipedia\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki24\/2003-melbourne-storm-season-wikipedia\/","headline":"2003 Melbourne Storm season – Wikipedia","name":"2003 Melbourne Storm season – Wikipedia","description":"before-content-x4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia after-content-x4 The 2003 Melbourne Storm season was the 6th in the club’s history. 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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.       (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});after-content-x4A 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]Table of Contents       (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});after-content-x4Season Summary[edit]Milestone games[edit]Jerseys[edit]Fixtures[edit]Pre Season[edit]Regular season[edit]Finals[edit]2003 Coaching Staff[edit]2003 squad[edit]Player movements[edit]Representative honours[edit]Statistics[edit]Scorers[edit]Winning games[edit]Losing games[edit]Feeder Team[edit]Awards and honours[edit]Melbourne Storm Awards Night[edit]References[edit]Season Summary[edit]Pre season \u2013 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 \u2013 Storm participate in the return of Rugby League World Sevens, losing all three of their pool matches at Aussie Stadium.14 February \u2013 Stephen Kearney is appointed as Melbourne captain.20 February \u2013 Reports emerge former trackwork jockey Billy Slater has secured a spot in Melbourne’s squad ahead of the 2003 season.[2]27 February \u2013 Willie Leyshon announces his retirement from rugby league after a succession of serious knee injuries.[2]5 March \u2013 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 \u2013 NRL CEO David Gallop throws his support behind the proposal to allow Melbourne salary cap concessions to cover relocation expenses for players.[2]Round 1 \u2013 Recovering from a 22-0 deficit, Melbourne stage an amazing comeback victory 36-32 over Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Toyota Park. On his NRL debut, Billy Slater scores a stunning try to spark the comeback, with Steven Bell scoring a hat-trick.18 March \u2013 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.[2]Round 2 \u2013 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.”[2]23 April \u2013 Aaron Moule announces his retirement from rugby league due to niggling injury problems.Round 7 \u2013 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 \u2013 Returning after a two-week injury break, Matt Orford scores 16 points in Melbourne’s dominate 46-6 victory over a depleted Newcastle Knights. [2]9 May \u2013 Robbie Ross undergoes surgery on a bulging disc injury, after playing five of the opening eight games of the season.Round 9 \u2013 Melbourne inflict Canberra Raiders’ first defeat of the season 30-10, despite an injury in the warm-up to Junior Langi.Round 10 \u2013 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 \u2013 Matt Geyer signs a two-year contract extension, to keep him in Melbourne until the end of the 2005 NRL season.7 June \u2013 Scott Hill re-signs with Melbourne, inking a new five-year contract.[2]Round 13 \u2013 South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Melbourne for the first time, with the league cellar-dwellers stunning Melbourne 41-14.Round 14 \u2013 Ending a two-game winless streak, Melbourne defeat Penrith 32-12 to end the Panthers’ eight-game winning streak.Round 15 \u2013 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 \u2013 0-4 at the venue, Melbourne upset Canberra 18-8 to win their first game ever at Bruce Stadium.9 July \u2013 Melbourne sign promising fullback Steve Turner to a three-year contract from 2004.[2]11 July \u2013 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.”[2]19 July \u2013 Robbie Kearns signs on with Melbourne for a further two seasons.Round 19 \u2013 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 \u2013 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 \u2013 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 \u2013 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.[2]4 September \u2013 In a dispute with the RLPA, the NRL cancel the annual Dally M Awards. Both Billy Slater and Cameron Smith were favourites for the Rookie of the Year Award.Round 26 \u2013 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 \u2013 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.[2] 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 \u2013 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.Milestone games[edit]Jerseys[edit]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.Fixtures[edit]Pre Season[edit]Regular season[edit]Source:[3]DateRoundOpponentVenueResultMel.Opp.TriesGoalsField goalsReport16 March1 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Park, SydneyWin3632S Bell (3), M Geyer (2), M Orford, B SlaterM Orford 4\/7[4]22 March2 Penrith PanthersOlympic Park, MelbourneWin4216B Slater (2), S Tadulala (2), M Geyer, P Robinson, C Smith, D WilliamsM Geyer 5\/9[5]29 March3Bye5 April4 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss2844A Moule (2), M Bai, M Orford, R RossM Orford 4\/5[6]12 April5 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksOlympic Park, MelbourneWin1812B Slater (2), M BaiM Orford 2\/2, C Smith 1\/1[7]20 April6 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLoss1420R Ross, B Slater, S TadulalaC Smith 1\/1, M Turner 0\/2[8]26 April7 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLoss1232M Bai, M SargentC Smith 2\/2[9]3 May8 Newcastle KnightsOlympic Park, MelbourneWin466B Slater (2), S Bell, S Kearney, D Kidwell, M Orford, R Ross, C SmithM Orford 6\/8, C Smith 1\/1[10]10 May9 Canberra RaidersOlympic Park, MelbourneWin3010S Bell, M Geyer, K Reynoldson, P RobinsonM Orford 7\/7[11]18 May10 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, BrisbaneLoss1636M Geyer, D Kidwell, B SlaterM Orford 1\/2, C Smith 1\/1[12]24 May11 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyWin1210S Kearney, S TadulalaM Orford 2\/4[13]1 June12 Sydney RoostersOlympic Park, MelbourneLoss2027S Bell (2), M OrfordM Orford 4\/4[14]8 June13 South Sydney RabbitohsAussie Stadium, SydneyLoss1441M Bai, M Geyer, K ReynoldsonM Orford 1\/3[15]14 June14 Penrith PanthersPenrith Park, SydneyWin3212M Bai, M Geyer, R Kearns, D Kidwell, M OrfordM Orford 6\/6[16]22 June15 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsOlympic Park, MelbourneLoss1226B SlaterM Orford 4\/4[17]28 June16 Wests TigersOlympic Park, MelbourneWin168B Slater (2), D CooperM Orford 2\/3[18]6 July17 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, CanberraWin188S Bell, M Geyer, F MoalaM Orford 2\/2, C Smith 1\/1[19]12 July18 North Queensland CowboysOlympic Park, MelbourneWin2216M Geyer, R Hoffman, F Moala, M OrfordM Orford 3\/6[20]20 July19 Brisbane BroncosOlympic Park, MelbourneLoss (GP)2226M Bai, R Hoffman, F Moala, B SlaterM Orford 3\/5[21]26 July20 South Sydney RabbitohsOlympic Park, MelbourneWin246B Slater (2), M Geyer, R KearnsM Orford 4\/5[22]2 August21 New Zealand WarriorsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin1412M Bai, K ReynoldsonM Orford 3\/4[23]10 August22 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsSydney Showground, SydneyLoss450M GeyerM Orford 0\/1[24]17 August23 Parramatta EelsOlympic Park, MelbourneWin5012B Slater (3), M Bai, S Bell, F Moala, M Orford, C Smith, D WilliamsM Orford 6\/8, C Smith 1\/2[25]22 August24 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, WollongongWin2214F Moala (2), M Sargent, B SlaterM Orford 3\/5[26]30 August25Bye6 September26 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesOlympic Park, MelbourneWin4010M Geyer (2), M Bai, S Bell, M King, F Moala, D WilliamsM Orford 4\/5, M Bai 1\/1, M Sargent 1\/1[27]Finals[edit]Qualifying final12 September 2003Semi final21 September 20032003 Coaching Staff[edit][30]2003 squad[edit]List current as of 6 September 2021Player movements[edit]Representative honours[edit]This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2003.Statistics[edit]This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2003 NRL season.Scorers[edit]Most points in a game: 16 pointsRound 8 – Matt Orford (1 try, 6 goals) vs Newcastle KnightsRound 14 – Matt Orford (1 try, 6 goals) vs Penrith PanthersRound 23 – Matt Orford (1 try, 6 goals) vs Parramatta EelsMost tries in a game: 3 Round 1 – Steven Bell vs Cronulla-Sutherland SharksRound 23 – Billy Slater vs Parramatta EelsWinning games[edit]Highest score in a winning game: 50 points Round 23 vs Parramatta EelsLowest score in a winning game: 12 pointsRound 11 vs Parramatta EelsGreatest winning margin: 40 points Round 8 vs Newcastle KnightsGreatest number of games won consecutively: 4Round 23 – Qualifying FinalLosing games[edit]Highest score in a losing game: 28 pointsRound 4 vs Newcastle KnightsLowest score in a losing game: 0 points Semi Final vs Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsGreatest losing margin: 46 pointsRound 22 vs Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsGreatest number of games lost consecutively: 2 Round 6 – Round 7Round 12 – Round 13Feeder Team[edit]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 CupPosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts8 Norths Devils2210111615589+2621Awards and honours[edit]Melbourne Storm Awards Night[edit]^ Players are listed with the cap number as they appear on the Melbourne Storm honour board. Additional squad members do not have a cap number.^ 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.^ Finn played in the trial game against South Sydney Rabbitohs. He was later released and played for Souths in the 2004 World Sevens tournament.[31]^ Test between Australia vs New ZealandReferences[edit]Wikimedia ErrorOur servers are currently under maintenance or experiencing a technical problem.Please try again in a few\u00a0minutes.See the error message at the bottom of this page for more\u00a0information.      (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});after-content-x4"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki24\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Enzyklop\u00e4die"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki24\/2003-melbourne-storm-season-wikipedia\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"2003 Melbourne Storm season – Wikipedia"}}]}]