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)[lower-alpha 1]
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

  • 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 commmission 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

RoundPlayerMilestone
Round 1Jaiman LoweStorm debut
Troy ThompsonStorm debut
Round 2Adam Blair100th game
Round 2Beau ChampionStorm debut
Round 4Atelea VeaStorm debut
Round 4Adam WoolnoughStorm debut
Round 9Maurice BlairStorm debut
Round 9Sisa WaqaStorm debut
Round 10Dane ChisholmNRL debut
Round 12Cameron Smith200th game
Round 24Billy Slater200th game
Round 26Jack AfamasagaStorm debut

Jerseys

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 against the Brisbane Broncos. 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

[21]TotalMatchesAverage
Home170,9521214,246
Away173,1731214,431
All regular season games344,1252414,339
Finals43,425221,712
All Games387,5502614,906

Fixtures

Pre season

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
11 FebruaryTrial[lower-alpha 2] Ipswich JetsLanglands Park, BrisbaneWon340S Thorpe (2), A Vea, E Niko, M Johnson, S GriffenG Widdop (3), D Chisholm (2)[22][8][9]
11 FebruaryTrial[lower-alpha 3] Easts TigersLanglands Park, BrisbaneLost010[8][9]
19 FebruaryTrial Canberra RaidersBega Recreation Ground, BegaWon244C Stanley (2), A Vea, T MaoriG Widdop 2/2, D Chisholm 2/2[23][24][25]
26 FebruaryTrial Brisbane BroncosDolphin Oval, BrisbaneLost626J O'NeillC Smith 1/1[26][27]

Regular season

Source:[28]

Date Rd Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Ref
12 March1 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesAAMI Park, MelbourneWon186C Stanley, M Duffie, D NielsenC Smith 2/2[29][30]
19 March2 Gold Coast TitansAAMI Park, MelbourneWon4012B Slater (2), A Quinn, S Manu, C Smith, J O'Neill, C CronkC Smith 6/7[31][32]
28 March3 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLost634G WiddopC Smith 1/1[33][34]
4 April4 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsAAMI Park, MelbourneWon3016M Duffie (2), K Proctor, D Nielsen, J BromwichC Smith 5/6[35][36]
10 April5[lower-roman 1] Parramatta EelsAAMI Park, MelbourneWon380B Champion (2), C Cronk, B Slater, A Quinn, M DuffieC Smith 4/6, G Widdop 1/1[37][38]
17 April6 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, SydneyWon2510C Cronk, B Norrie, B Slater, M DuffieC Smith 4/5C Cronk 1/1[39][40]
25 April7[lower-roman 2] New Zealand WarriorsAAMI Park, MelbourneLost1418B Champion, C CronkC Smith 3/3[41][42]
30 April8 Newcastle KnightsAAMI Park, MelbourneWon4212B Champion, M Duffie, T Lowrie, D Nielsen, B Norrie, B Slater, A QuinnC Smith 7/7[43][44]
7 May9 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneWon2922C Cronk, R Hinchcliffe, D Nielsen, A Quinn, S WaqaC Smith 4/5C Cronk 1/2[45][46]
14 May10 Canberra RaidersAAMI Park, MelbourneLost1220M Duffie, K ProctorC Smith 2/2[47][48]
21 May11Bye
29 May12 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksAAMI Park, MelbourneWon148D Nielsen, S WaqaC Smith 3/3[49][50]
5 June13 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyWon166M Blair, J Bromwich, C SmithC Smith 1/2, G Widdop 1/1[51][52]
13 June14 Sydney RoostersAAMI Park, MelbourneWon214J O'Neill (2), B ChampionG Widdop 4/5G Widdop[53][54]
19 June15 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWon124R Hinchcliffe, K ProctorM Duffie 1/1, C Smith 1/1[55][56]
26 June16 New Zealand WarriorsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWon168B Slater (2), G WiddopC Smith 2/3[57][58]
2 July17Bye
9 July18 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsAdelaide Oval, AdelaideWon2818C Cronk (2), J Bromwich, M Duffie, S WaqaC Smith 3/4, G Widdop 1/1[59]
17 July19 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraWon260M Duffie (2), J Bromwich, C Cronk, R HinchcliffeC Smith 3/4, G Widdop 0/1[60]
22 July20 Brisbane BroncosAAMI Park, MelbourneWon266M Blair (2), C Cronk, J O'NeillC Smith 5/5[61][62]
1 August21 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyWon2218D Nielsen, J O'Neill, B Slater, S WaqaC Smith 3/4[63]
6 August22 Penrith PanthersAAMI Park, MelbourneWon266R Hinchcliffe, S Manu, K Proctor, B SlaterC Smith 5/5[64][65]
13 August23 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastWon4016C Cronk (3), B Slater (2), S Manu, A QuinnC Smith 6/7[66][67]
19 August24 St. George Illawarra DragonsAAMI Park, MelbourneWon86A QuinnC Smith 2/2[68][69]
26 August25 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLost418B SlaterG Widdop 0/1[70][71]
4 September26 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLost840B Champion, M DuffieC Cronk 0/1, G Widdop 0/1[72][73]
Fixture notes:
  1. Heritage Round
  2. ANZAC Day

Finals

Qualifying final
11 September 2011
16:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Melbourne Storm 40 – 12 Newcastle Knights
Tries: 3
Beau Champion rugby ball
Matt Duffie rugby ball
Sika Manu rugby ball
Goals: 3
Cameron Smith rugby goalposts icon (3/4)
1st: 16–0
2nd: 2–8
[74]
Tries: 2
Kurt Gidley rugby ball
Akuila Uate rugby ball
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 rugby ball
Sika Manu rugby ball
Goals: 2
Cameron Smith rugby goalposts icon (2/2)
1st: 12–14
2nd: 0–6
[75]
Tries: 3
Lewis Brown rugby ball
James Maloney rugby ball
Bill Tupou rugby ball
Goals: 4
James Maloney rugby goalposts icon (4/4)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 28,580
Referees: Matt Cecchin, Tony Archer

Ladder

Pos. Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne Storm 241905252130821342
2 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (P) 241806253933120840
3 Brisbane Broncos 241806251137213940
4 Wests Tigers 24150925194308934
5 St. George Illawarra Dragons 241419248334114233
6 New Zealand Warriors 2414010250439311132
7 North Queensland Cowboys 241401025324805232
8 Newcastle Knights 241201224784433528
9 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24120122449489-4028
10 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24110132531562-3126
11 Sydney Roosters 24100142417500-8324
12 Penrith Panthers 2490152430517-8722
13 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2470172428557-12918
14 Parramatta Eels 2461172385538-15317
15 Canberra Raiders 2460182423623-20016
16 Gold Coast Titans 2460182363629-26616

2011 Coaching Staff

NRL

  • 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

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

2011 squad

Cap Nat. Player name Position First Storm game Previous First Grade RL club [lower-alpha 4]
55 Australia Cameron Smith (c) HK 2002 Australia Melbourne Storm
58 Australia Billy Slater FB 2003 Australia Melbourne Storm
73 Australia Cooper Cronk HB 2004 Australia Melbourne Storm
86 New Zealand Adam Blair PR 2006 Australia Melbourne Storm
91 Australia Anthony Quinn WG 2007 Australia Newcastle Knights
98 New Zealand Sika Manu SR 2007 Australia Melbourne Storm
104 Australia Dane Nielsen CE 2008 Australia Cronulla Sharks
105 New Zealand Kevin Proctor SR 2008 Australia Melbourne Storm
110 Australia Ryan Hinchcliffe HK,LK 2009 Australia Canberra Raiders
116 Australia Luke Kelly FE,HB 2009 Australia Melbourne Storm
119 New Zealand Jesse Bromwich PR 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
120 Republic of Ireland Rory Kostjasyn HK,LK 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
121 Australia Todd Lowrie SR,LK 2010 Australia Newcastle Knights
122 Australia Luke MacDougall WG 2010 Australia Newcastle Knights
123 Australia Bryan Norrie PR 2010 Australia Cronulla Sharks
124 New Zealand Matt Duffie WG 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
125 England Gareth Widdop FE,FB 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
126 New Zealand Chase Stanley CE 2010 Australia St George Illawarra Dragons
127 Vanuatu Justin O'Neill CE 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
128 Australia Robbie Rochow SR 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
129 Tonga Sione Kite PR 2010 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
130 Australia Jaiman Lowe PR 2011 Australia South Sydney Rabbitohs
131 Australia Troy Thompson PR 2011 Australia Canberra Raiders
132 Australia Beau Champion CE 2011 Australia South Sydney Rabbitohs
133 Tonga Atelea Vea CE 2011 Australia Cronulla Sharks
134 Australia Maurice Blair CE, FE 2011 Australia Penrith Panthers
135 Australia Adam Woolnough PR 2011 Australia Penrith Panthers
136 Fiji Sisa Waqa WG 2011 Australia Sydney Roosters
137 France Dane Chisholm FE 2011 Australia Melbourne Storm
138 Samoa Jack Afamasaga SR 2011 Australia Cronulla Sharks
- New Zealand Elijah Niko SR Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- New Zealand Slade Griffen HK Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- Australia Jake Hawkins FE Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- Samoa Kirisome Auva'a CE Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- Australia Jordan McLean PR Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm
- Australia Mitchel Johnson PR Yet to Debut Australia Melbourne Storm

Player movements

Representative honours

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

Player2011 All Stars match2011 ANZAC TestCity vs Country OriginState of Origin 1State of Origin 2State of Origin 32011 Four Nations
Adam BlairNew ZealandNew Zealand
Beau ChampionIndigenous All StarsCity
Cooper CronkAustraliaQueenslandQueenslandQueenslandAustralia
Matt DuffieNew Zealand
Ryan HinchcliffeCountry
Sika ManuNew Zealand
Dane NielsenQueenslandQueensland
Kevin ProctorNew Zealand[lower-alpha 6]
Billy SlaterAustraliaQueenslandQueenslandQueenslandAustralia
Cameron SmithNRL All StarsAustraliaQueenslandQueenslandQueenslandAustralia
Gareth WiddopEngland

Statistics

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

NameAppearancesTriesGoalsField goalsPoints
Jack Afamasaga10000
Adam Blair231004
Maurice Blair1430012
Jesse Bromwich2240016
Beau Champion1680032
Dane Chisholm10000
Cooper Cronk23120250
Matthew Duffie18121050
Ryan Hinchcliffe2540016
Sione Kite10000
Rory Kostjasyn120000
Jaiman Lowe230000
Todd Lowrie191004
Sika Manu1850020
Dane Nielsen2460024
Bryan Norrie242008
Justin O'Neill1250020
Kevin Proctor2640016
Anthony Quinn1560024
Robbie Rochow10000
Billy Slater24120048
Cameron Smith242780164
Chase Stanley11004
Troy Thompson70000
Atelea Vea110000
Sisa Waqa1040016
Gareth Widdop2527123
Adam Woolnough210000
28 players used94863551

Scorers

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

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

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

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

Pos. Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 New Zealand Warriors (P) 2419142851494+35743
2 North Queensland Cowboys 2417072758509+24938
3 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2416172707600+10737
4 Melbourne Storm 2416082678517+16136
5 Sydney Roosters 2415182639523+11635
6 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24140102659458+20132
7 Wests Tigers 24122102607529+7830
8 Newcastle Knights 24121112638660-2229
9 Brisbane Broncos 24112112752551+20128
10 Penrith Panthers 24120122558709-15128
11 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24102122562594-3226
12 Parramatta Eels 24101132547556-925
13 Canberra Raiders 2481152683749-6621
14 Gold Coast Titans 2451182467779-31215
15 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2441192454881-42713
16 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2440202432843-41112

Finals

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

Source:[88]

Scorers

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

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 2316162656447+20937

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 228113428524-9617

S. G. Ball Cup

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

Notes

  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

  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. Middleton, David (ed.). 2011 Official Rugby League Annual. Alexandra, New South Wales: NewsLifeMedia.
  8. Barton, Joe (11 February 2023). "Storm cruise to trial victory". AAP Sports News Wire. Sydney, New South Wales: Australian Associated Press Pty Limited.
  9. "Tale of two halves". melbournestorm.com.au. 11 February 2011. Archived from the original on 15 February 2011.
  10. Paxinos, Stathi (16 March 2011). "Season ends for Storm's Stanley". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: Fairfax Digital. p. 34.
  11. Rothfield, Phil (17 March 2011). "Insider `leaked Storm news'". Ad. Adelaide, South Australia: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 77.
  12. Paxinos, Stathi (30 May 2011). "Memories not made of this for Smith". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: Fairfax Digital. p. 19.
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