2016 Melbourne Storm season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
NRL Rank | 1st (Minor Premier) | |||
Play-off result | Runner-up | |||
2016 record | Wins: 19; draws: 0; losses: 5 | |||
Points scored | For: 563; against: 302 | |||
Team information | ||||
CEO | Dave Donaghy | |||
Coach | Craig Bellamy | |||
Captain |
| |||
Stadium | AAMI Park – 30,050 Suncorp Stadium - 52,500 (1 Game) | |||
Top scorers | ||||
Tries | Suliasi Vunivalu (23) | |||
Goals | Cameron Smith (87) | |||
Points | Cameron Smith (184) | |||
|
The 2016 Melbourne Storm season was the 19th in the club's history, they competed in the 2016 NRL season and were coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching for his 14th consecutive season during which he coached his 350th Game. Melbourne Storm were also captained in 2016 by Cameron Smith, who was the sole captain for the team since 2008 making this his 9th consecutive season. In the pre-season the Storm competed in the 2016 Auckland Nines tournament, reaching the semi-finals.
Storm kicked off the season with three straight wins despite playing below their best. Marika Koroibete scored a double in a season-opening win against the Dragons while Will Chambers did the same the following week in a 34-16 triumph over the Gold Coast. Two losses soon followed against the Sharks and Bulldogs before a Round 7 golden point-win over Wests Tigers saw Melbourne hit their straps. Cooper Cronk's 85th minute field goal in that game kick-started a stellar run for Storm that saw them win 13 of their next 14 games to move into top spot on the NRL ladder. Cronk went on to play his 300th NRL game in a Preliminary final later in the season – becoming just the 25th player to reach that mark. The team managed to do that whilst also experiencing one of the longest injury lists the Club has seen. With their outside back stocks all but depleted, Cheyse Blair, rookie Suliasi Vunivalu and mid-season signing Ryan Morgan were all handed Storm debuts. [1]
For the first time in the Club's history, Storm kept their opponents scoreless in consecutive weeks, first on ANZAC Day against the Warriors (42-0) then the Titans a week later (38-0). Round 10 saw the Melbourne take part in the first ever NRL Double Header in front of 52,347 fans at Suncorp Stadium – the largest non-finals crowd of the season. That night Cameron Smith helped Storm to a thrilling one-point win over the Cowboys with a field goal in the 71st minute. Melbourne then went through the Origin period with a 5-1 record, its best performance during that part of a season in six years. Big away wins over the Roosters and Broncos by 46 and 42 points respectively were the highlights. Vunivalu scored three tries that night against Brisbane to make it 16 tries from his opening 10 games. The 20-year-old ultimately finished with 23 for the season to finish the year as the NRL's leading try scorer and break Storm's try-scoring record. The final game of the season saw the men in purple clinch the Club's first Minor Premiership since 2011 with a 26-6 win over Cronulla. They backed up their efforts in Week One of the finals, defeating reigning premiers North Queensland 16-10. After earning a week off, Craig Bellamy's side booked their place in a sixth Grand Final in 11 years, narrowly defeating the Canberra Raiders 14-12. That game also broke a new record for Storm as it was the first time in history the Club recorded four consecutive home crowds of 20,000-plus. [1]
Storm then gave their absolute all against the Sharks in the Grand Final and took the lead with 15 minutes to play. However, they were ultimately pipped for the top prize, going down 14-12. [1]
Round | Player | Milestone |
---|---|---|
Round 1 | Marika Koroibete | 50th NRL game |
Round 2 | Curtis Scott | NRL debut |
Round 6 | Suliasi Vunivalu | NRL debut |
Round 11 | Ryan Morgan | Storm debut |
Round 15 | Brodie Croft | NRL debut |
Round 19 | Matthew White | Storm debut |
Round 20 | Jesse Bromwich | 150th game |
Round 21 | Marika Koroibete | 50th Storm game |
Finals Week 3 | Cooper Cronk | 300th Game |
Source: [28]
Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 February | Auckland Nines Pool Games | Parramatta Eels | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | Win | 14 | 4 | [29] |
6 February | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Win | 18 | 12 | [29] | ||
7 February | Sydney Roosters | Loss | 7 | 26 | [29] | ||
7 February | Auckland Nines Quarter-final | North Queensland Cowboys | Win | 14 | 6 | [29] | |
7 February | Auckland Nines Semi-final | Parramatta Eels | Loss | 8 | 17 | [29] | |
13 February | Trial | Wests Tigers | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast | Loss | 16 | 18 | [30] |
20 February | Trial | Canterbury Bulldogs | Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore | Loss | 0 | 20 | [31] |
Source: [32]
Date | Rd | Opponent | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 March | 1 | St George-Illawarra Dragons | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 18 | 16 | M Koroibete (2), K Bromwich | C Smith 3/5 | [6] | ||
13 March | 2 | Gold Coast Titans | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 34 | 16 | W Chambers (2), D Finucane, B Green, C Munster, Y Tonumaipea | C Smith 5/6 | [8] | ||
20 March | 3 | New Zealand Warriors | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Won | 21 | 14 | K Bromwich, C Munster, M Koroibete | C Smith 4/4 | C Cronk 1/1 | [33] | |
28 March | 4 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney | Lost | 6 | 14 | F Kaufusi | C Smith 1/1 | [34] | ||
2 April | 5 | Newcastle Knights | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 18 | 14 | C Cronk (2), R Kennar | C Smith 3/4 | [35] | ||
11 April | 6 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Lost | 12 | 18 | T Harris, Y Tonumaipea | C Smith 2/3 | [36] | ||
17 April | 7 | Wests Tigers | Leichhardt Oval, Sydney | Won ( g.p. ) | 19 | 18 | S Vunivalu (2), C Cronk, M Koroibete | C Smith 1/5 | C Cronk 1/2, C Smith 0/1 | [37] | |
25 April | 8 | New Zealand Warriors | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 42 | 0 | S Vunivalu (2), T Harris, T Glasby, J Bromwich, M Koroibete, C Munster, C Cronk | CSmith 5/8 | [38] | ||
1 May | 9 | Gold Coast Titans | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast | Won | 38 | 0 | S Vunivalu (2), C Cronk (2), M Blair, T Harris, B Green | C Smith 5/8 | [13] | ||
14 May | 10 | North Queensland Cowboys | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Won | 15 | 14 | T Harris, K Proctor | C Smith 3/3 | C Smith 1/1 | [15] | |
23 May | 11 | Parramatta Eels | Pirtek Stadium, Sydney | Won | 18 | 6 | S Vunivalu (2), M Koroibete, M Blair | C Smith 1/4 | [39] | ||
28 May | 12 | Bye | |||||||||
4 June | 13 | Penrith Panthers | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 24 | 6 | J Bromwich, K Proctor, R Morgan, C Cronk | C Smith 4/5 | [40] | ||
11 June | 14 | Sydney Roosters | Allianz Stadium, Sydney | Won | 46 | 0 | S Vunivalu (3), C Cronk (2), K Proctor, M Blair, C Munster | C Smith 7/8 | [41] | ||
18 June | 15 | St George-Illawarra Dragons | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | Lost | 10 | 20 | S Vunivalu (2) | T Harris 1/3 | [42] | ||
26 June | 16 | Wests Tigers | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 29 | 20 | F Kaufusi (2), T Harris, M Koroibete | C Smith 6/6 | C Cronk 1/2 | [43] | |
1 July | 17 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Won | 48 | 6 | S Vunivalu (3), M Blair (2), K Proctor, R Morgan, M Koroibete | C Smith 8/8 | [20] | ||
9 July | 18 | Bye | |||||||||
17 July | 19 | Newcastle Knights | Hunter Stadium, Newcastle | Won | 20 | 16 | M Koroibete (2), S Vunivalu, T Harris | C Smith 2/4 | [44] | ||
23 July | 20 | Sydney Roosters | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 26 | 10 | D Finucane, K Proctor, C Cronk, T Harris | C Smith 5/5 | [45] | ||
30 July | 21 | North Queensland Cowboys | 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville | Won | 16 | 8 | K Proctor, M Koroibete, T Glasby | C Smith 2/3 | [46] | ||
6 August | 22 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won ( g.p. ) | 15 | 14 | M Koroibete, M Blair | C Smith 3/4 | C Smith 1/1, C Cronk 0/1 | [23] | |
15 August | 23 | Canberra Raiders | GIO Stadium, Canberra | Lost | 8 | 22 | C Cronk | C Smith 2/2 | [47] | ||
20 August | 24 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Brookvale Oval, Sydney | Won | 38 | 18 | S Vunivalu (4), K Bromwich, C Smith, F Kaufusi | C Smith 4/6, T Harris 1/1 | [24] | ||
26 August | 25 | Brisbane Broncos | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Lost | 16 | 26 | T Harris, B Hampton, C Smith | C Smith 2/3 | [48] | ||
3 September | 26 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 26 | 6 | M Blair (2), S Vunivalu, J Bromwich | C Smith 5/6 | [25] |
Melbourne Storm | 16 – 10 | North Queensland Cowboys |
---|---|---|
Tries:2 Vunivalu 32' J Bromwich 52' Goals:4 Smith pen 30', pen 49', 54', pen 77'(4/5) | 1st: 6–6 2nd: 10–4 [26] | Tries:2 Winterstein 40' Feldt 62' Goals:1 Thurston 40'(1/2) |
AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 21,233 Referees: Ben Cummins, Grant Atkins Player of the Match: Jesse Bromwich (Melbourne) |
Melbourne Storm | 14 – 12 | Canberra Raiders |
---|---|---|
Tries:2 Cronk 32' Blair 60' Goals:3 Smith pen 16', 33', pen 64'(3/4) | 1st: 8–6 2nd: 6–6 [49] | Tries:2 Rapana 23' Whitehead 76' Goals:2 Sezer 25', 77'(2/2) |
AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 28,161 Referees: Matt Cecchin, Alan Shortall Player of the Match: Cooper Cronk (Melbourne) |
Melbourne Storm | 12 – 14 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
---|---|---|
Tries:2 J Bromwich 50' Chambers 64' Goals:2 Smith 51', 66'(2/2) | 1st: 0–8 2nd: 12–6 Report | Tries:2 Barba 15' Fifita 69' Goals:3 Maloney pen 8', 16', 71'(3/3) |
ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 83,625 Referees: Matt Cecchin, Ben Cummins Touch judges: Jeff Younis, Brett Suttor Clive Churchill Medal: Luke Lewis (Cronulla-Sutherland) |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 19 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 563 | 302 | +261 | 42 |
2 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 688 | 456 | +232 | 39 |
3 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (P) | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 580 | 404 | +176 | 39 |
4 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 584 | 355 | +229 | 34 |
5 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 554 | 434 | +120 | 34 |
6 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 563 | 463 | +100 | 32 |
7 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 506 | 448 | +58 | 32 |
8 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 508 | 497 | +11 | 27 |
9 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 499 | 607 | −108 | 26 |
10 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 513 | 601 | −88 | 24 |
11 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 341 | 538 | −197 | 24 |
12 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 473 | 549 | −76 | 22 |
13 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 454 | 563 | −109 | 20 |
14 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 298 | 324 | −26 | 181 |
15 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 443 | 576 | −133 | 16 |
16 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 2 | 305 | 800 | −495 | 7 |
1 Parramatta were deducted 12 competition points and their for/against tally accumulated between rounds 1-9 for gross long-term salary cap breaches.
Academy & Affiliate
Reference: [50]
As of 20 July 2016
Source: [51]
Losses
| Gains
|
The following players have played a representative match in 2016. (C) = Captain
2016 All Stars match [52] | City Vs Country [53] | Rugby League internationals 2016 Anzac Test [54] [55] Pacific Tests [56] | State of Origin 1 [57] | State of Origin 2 | State of Origin 3 | Four Nations (b) [58] [59] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cameron Smith | World All Stars (C) | - | Australia (C) | Queensland (C) | Queensland (C) | Queensland (C) | Australia (C) |
Will Chambers | Indigenous All Stars | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Jordan McLean | - | Country | - | - | - | - | - |
Dale Finucane | - | Country | - | - | - | - | - |
Cooper Cronk | - | - | Australia | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland | Australia |
Jesse Bromwich | - | - | New Zealand (C) | - | - | - | New Zealand (C) |
Tohu Harris | - | - | New Zealand | - | - | - | New Zealand |
Kevin Proctor | - | - | New Zealand | - | - | - | New Zealand |
Ben Nakubuwai | - | - | Fiji | - | - | - | - |
Tui Kamikamica | - | - | Fiji | - | - | - | - |
Nafe Seluini | - | - | Tonga | - | - | - | - |
Felise Kaufusi | - | - | Tonga | - | - | Queensland (a) | - |
(a) - Felise Kaufusi was selected as the 18th Man for Queensland in State of Origin Game 3 but did not play.
(b) - includes the AUS vs NZL pre-tournament game to be played in Perth prior to travelling to England
Statistics Source: [60] Complete as of the end of the 2016 Regular season, (these stats do not include finals).
Name | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nelson Asofa-Solomona | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cheyse Blair | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
Jesse Bromwich | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Kenny Bromwich | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Will Chambers | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Brodie Croft | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cooper Cronk | 23 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 47 |
Dale Finucane | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Tim Glasby | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Blake Green | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Ben Hampton | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Tohu Harris | 24 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 36 |
Jeremy Hawkins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Felise Kaufusi | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Richard Kennar | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Marika Koroibete | 22 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
Jordan McLean | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ryan Morgan | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Cameron Munster | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Mark Nicholls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kevin Proctor | 21 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Curtis Scott | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nafe Seluini | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Billy Slater | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cameron Smith | 23 | 2 | 83 | 2 | 176 |
Young Tonumaipea | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Suliasi Vunivalu | 18 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 88 |
Christian Welch | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Matt White | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
26 Players used | - | 97 | 85 | 5 | 563 |
Scorers
Most Points in a Game: 16 points
Most tries in a Game: 4
Winning Games
Highest score in a winning game: 48 points
Lowest score in a winning game: 14 points
Greatest winning margin: 46 points
Greatest number of Games won consecutively: 7
Losing Games
Highest score in a losing game: 16 points
Lowest score in a losing game: 6 points
Greatest losing margin: 14 points
In November 2015 the Melbourne Storm signed a new 5-year deal with Melbourne-based manufacturer STAR. [61] New Home and Away jerseys have been designed for the upcoming season. The Home jersey is predominantly Navy Blue at the Top and morphing into purple as you move down the jersey, the lightning bolts also make a return on the sides of the jersey. The Away jersey is a striking white top with a Navy Blue and Purple V across the chest. [62]
RD1 | RD2 | RD3 | RD4 | RD5 | RD6 | RD7 | RD8 | RD9 | RD10 | RD11 | RD12 | RD13 | RD14 | RD15 | RD16 | RD17 | RD18 | RD19 | RD20 | RD21 | RD22 | RD23 | RD24 | RD25 | RD26 | QF | SF | PF | GF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Home | Home | Clash^ | Home | Home | Home | Clash | Home^^ | Clash | Indigenous# | Clash | — | Home | Clash | Home | Home | Clash | — | Clash | Heritage% | Clash | WIL& | Home | Clash | Home | Home | Home | — | Home | Home |
^ Alternate sponsor logo used due to New Zealand restrictions on gambling advertising.
^^ Added ANZAC Appeal and RSL Centenary logos.
# Designed by Lenny Briggs and Dixon Patten. [63]
%Replica of 2000 World Club Challenge jersey, also worn in Round 5 2000 at the MCG.
& Women in League jersey — mostly pink and purple design.
Trophy Cabinet
Melbourne Storm Awards NightHeld at Docklands, Melbourne on Friday 7 October 2016. [64]
| Dally M Awards NightMelbourne Storm players walked away from rugby league's Dally M awards on 28 September 2016 with a total of six Dally M awards. [66]
RLPA Awards Night
Rugby League World Golden BootOn 22 December 2016, Cooper Cronk won the 2016 Rugby League World Golden Boot Award (Worlds best player). [67] Additional Awards
|
The 2007 Melbourne Storm season was the 10th in the club's history. They competed for NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, finishing the season in 1st place to claim the minor premiership before going on to reach the 2007 NRL grand final, their third. In the grand final the Storm defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to claim their second premiership. However two years after the event Melbourne were stripped of their 2007 titles after being found guilty of long-term salary cap breaches.
The 2006 Melbourne Storm season was the 9th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2006 Telstra Premiership, winning a record 20 out of 24 regular season games to finish in first place and win the minor premiership, eight points clear of the second-placed Bulldogs. The team backed up their stellar defensive effort the previous year to concede just 404 points in 2006. The retirement of Robbie Kearns saw a rotating captaincy introduced between David Kidwell, Scott Hill, Cameron Smith, Matt Geyer and Michael Crocker. Cooper Cronk also assumed the halfback duties following the departure of Matt Orford. Storm won 13 of their last 14 games of the season to take a great run of form into the finals where they progressed to reach their first Grand Final since 1999 after wins over the Eels and Dragons. This broke a run of three straight semi-final exits for Craig Bellamy’s team.
The 2008 Melbourne Storm season was the 11th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2008 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season as minor premiers before reaching the grand final in which they were beaten by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40–0, the largest margin in grand final history. The minor premiership won by the Storm in 2008 was later stripped by the NRL in 2010 when it was revealed the club had been in breach of salary cap rules.
The 2009 Melbourne Storm season was the 12th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 4th out of 16 teams. They then progressed to their fourth consecutive grand final, this time to be played against the Parramatta Eels and won, claiming their second premiership in three seasons, a title later stripped in 2010 after being found guilty of salary cap breaches.
The 2010 Melbourne Storm season was the 13th in the club's history and competed in the NRL's 2010 Telstra Premiership. After winning the first four games of the season, Storm's season would hit a significant challenge after Round 6 when the NRL penalised the club for salary cap breaches with the team unable to play for points for the remainder of the season. These revelations also saw them stripped of the 2007 and 2009 Premierships and the 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premiership titles.
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.
The 2012 Melbourne Storm season was the club's 15th NRL season. Coached by Craig Bellamy and captained by Cameron Smith, they competed in and won the NRL's 2012 Telstra Premiership. The first nine weeks of the season were very successful, with the club winning all games for what was at the time their best start to a season. From round 10 to round 21 they won only three games and lost seven, including a five-game losing streak between rounds 16 and 21, their second worst ever. From round 22 onward they recovered their winning form and finished the regular season with five straight wins, finishing in second place. The Storm then went on to defeat South Sydney and Manly in the finals series before going on to face minor premiers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 2012 NRL Grand Final, winning 14–4 to claim the Premiership.
The 2014 Melbourne Storm season was the 17th in the club's history. They competed in the 2014 NRL season and were coached by Craig Bellamy and captained by Cameron Smith. In 2014 the Storm struggled to achieve consistent success, however won enough games late in the season to qualify for the NRL finals in 6th place. The club finished outside the top four for the first time since 2005. It was a roller coaster campaign that kicked off with consecutive one-point wins, courtesy of field goals from Smith and Cooper Cronk. Five of the club's wins during season came at a combined 17 points. Injuries to Cronk and Billy Slater (shoulder) during the Origin period saw the Storm lose four of six games during that stretch, as they were left clinging to eighth spot on the NRL ladder. The team managed to steady the ship by winning six of their last eight regular season games to finish sixth.
The 2015 Melbourne Storm season is the 18th in the club's history. They competed in the 2015 NRL season and were coached by Craig Bellamy, who was coach for the 13th consecutive season and captained by Cameron Smith, sole captain for the 8th consecutive season. He played his 300th NRL Game in Round 19 becoming only the 24th player in history to do so.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.
The 2016 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league match between the Melbourne Storm and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to determine the premiers of the National Rugby League for the 2016 season. The match was held at Sydney's ANZ Stadium on Sunday 2 October. Cronulla-Sutherland won the match 14–12 in a tight contest before 83,625 spectators, earning the club its first premiership title in their 49-year history. They also became the last of nine Sydney-based teams to win a premiership. Cronulla forward Luke Lewis was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player on ground.
Suliasi Bainiua Vunivalu is a professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby and the Australian national team. His regular playing position is wing.
The 2017 Melbourne Storm season was the 20th in the club's history. They competed in the 2017 NRL season and at the end of the Regular season had finished in 1st place earning them their third legitimate minor premiership. The team was coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 15th consecutive season. Melbourne Storm were also captained by Cameron Smith, who has been the sole captain for the team since 2008—making this his 10th consecutive season. Cameron Smith broke a number of league, club and personal records throughout the 2017 season including the NRL games record for the most games played, league record for the most wins as a captain, a personal best for the most points in a game and also scored his 2000th career point and 1000th career goal, the first time any player has achieved this.
The 2018 Melbourne Storm season was the 21st in the club's history. They competed in the 2018 NRL season and did so as the reigning Premiers and Minor Premiers. The team was coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 16th consecutive season. Melbourne Storm was also captained by Cameron Smith, who has been the sole captain for the team since 2008 — making it his 11th consecutive season. In 2018, the club celebrated its 20th anniversary, which was launched on 30 October 2017 with the announcement that a new logo would feature for the duration of the 20 year celebrations including on a newly designed jersey.
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.
The 2020 Melbourne Storm season was the 23rd in the club's history and they competed in the 2020 NRL season. The team was coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 18th consecutive season. Melbourne Storm were also captained by Cameron Smith, who had been the sole captain for the team since 2008—making this his 13th consecutive season. The season was suspended indefinitely on 23 March due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; however, on 28 April the NRL announced it would recommence on 28 May as a 20 Round competition with a revised fixture.
The 2021 Melbourne Storm season was the 24th in the club's history competing in the 2021 NRL season. The team is coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 19th consecutive season. On 19 February 2021, the Melbourne Storm announced that Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane succeeded Cameron Smith, as co-captains of the club.
The 2022 Melbourne Storm season was the 25th in the club's history, competing in the 2022 NRL season. The team was coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 20th consecutive season and for the second straight season, Melbourne had co-captains with Jesse Bromwich, and Christian Welch sharing the duties, following the departure of Dale Finucane.
The 2023 Melbourne Storm season was the 26th in the club's history, competing in the 2023 NRL season. The team was coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 21st consecutive season. Melbourne Storm were captained by Christian Welch who was captain for the second consecutive season.