2010 Melbourne Storm season

The 2010 Melbourne Storm season was the 13th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2010 Telstra Premiership, however following the much-publicised outing of the administration's salary cap rorting early in the season, were unable to accumulate any competition points and ended the season as wooden spooners. The Storm started the season as reigning NRL premiers, having defeated the Parramatta Eels in the 2009 NRL Grand Final. However this title was later stripped, along with their 2007 premiership title and the 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premiership titles.

Season summary

The Storm began 2010 by travelling to England to play in the 2010 World Club Challenge. This involved a warm up game against Harlequins RL followed by the World Club Challenge a week later against Leeds Rhinos. The Storm won both games.

The regular season commenced with the Storm defeating Cronulla away in what was the first of three consecutive away games to begin the season. The Storm played their first home game at Etihad Stadium against St George Illawarra in front of a crowd of 25,480 which is a record home crowd, excluding finals games. They won the game which made them the only undefeated side in the League after Round 4.

Salary cap scandal

On 22 April 2010, the Melbourne Storm were stripped of their titles of 2007 and 2009 premierships and their 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships following an alleged insider tip-off to the NRL auditing body that the club had been rorting the NRL salary cap. The club had a long-term system of keeping two sets of books, one set displaying players incomes' complying with the NRL salary cap and another hidden set in a separate room disclosing the true player payments. Following evidence of salary cap breaches, Melbourne were also fined a record $1,689,000, deducted all eight premiership points received in the season and barred from receiving any further premiership points for the rest of the season, guaranteeing them zero points and the wooden spoon for 2010.^[1]

On 24 April coach Craig Bellamy publicly announced that he vowed to rebuild the shattered club, and welcomed the NRL's investigation into the salary cap rorting before a training session with the team which was watched by thousands of cheering supporters.^[2]

Players were still allowed to play Test and/or State of Origin matches and for some of those players it did not affect Queensland's bid for a fifth straight Origin series victory. Later in the season the Storm were also stripped of the 2010 World Club Challenge title. The team's under-20s team was not affected.

The Storm defeated the New Zealand Warriors 40-6 in the first match since the scandal was revealed. This was followed up with a 34-6 win over the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville the week after.

Melbourne Storm 2010 season crowd averages

Fixtures

Pre-season

21 February 2010 14:00 GMT

Harlequins RL	10–34	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Ben Jones-Bishop, Will Sharp Goals: Danny Orr	(Report)	Tries: Anthony Quinn, Kevin Proctor, Dane Nielsen (2), Hep Cahill, Rory Kostjaysn Goals: Gareth Widdop (5)

The Stoop Attendance: 3,612

• World Club Challenge 2010

28 February 2010 18:30 GMT

Leeds Rhinos	10–18	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Danny Maguire Goals: Kevin Sinfield, Rob Burrow (2)	(Report)	Tries: Luke MacDougall, Anthony Quinn Goals: Cameron Smith (5)

Elland Road Attendance: 27,697 Referee/s: Richard Silverwood (England) Man of the Match: Cameron Smith

Regular season - Rounds 1 to 12

During the regular season, the Storm will play their first three home games at Etihad Stadium before moving to their new purpose built and permanent home AAMI Park.

Round 1 13 March 2010 7:30pm Local

Cronulla Sharks	10 - 14	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Douglas Goals: Covell 2/2 Porter 1/1 Field Goal		Tries: Inglis, MacDougall Goals: Smith 3/3 Field Goal

Toyota Stadium, Cronulla Attendance: 11,820 Referee/s: Ben Cummins, Brett Suttor (Report)

Round 2 20 March 2010 7:30pm Local

Newcastle Knights	14 - 20	Melbourne Storm
Tries: MacDougall, Uate Goals:Naiqama 3/3 Field Goal		Tries: MacDougall, Quinn, Nielson Goals: Smith 4/5 Field Goal

Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle Attendance: 16,242 Referee/s: Steve Lyons, Alan Shortall (Report)

Round 3 27 March 2010 5:30pm Local

Penrith Panthers	10 - 16	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Coote, McKendry Goals: Gordon 1/2 Field Goal		Tries: Finch, Slater, MacDougall Goals: Smith 2/3 Field Goal

CUA Stadium, Penrith Attendance: 11,024 Referee/s: Gavin Badger, Phil Haines (Report)

Round 4 2 April 2010 2:10pm Local

Melbourne Storm	17 - 4	St George Illawarra Dragons
Tries: Nielson, Quinn, Slater Goals: Smith 2/5 Field Goal: Cronk		Tries: Nightingale Goals:Soward 0/1 Field Goal:

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 25,480 Referee/s: Jared Maxwell, Gerard Sutton (Report)

Round 5 9 April 2010 7:35pm Local

Gold Coast Titans	20 - 16	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Tomane, Harrison, Bird Goals: Rogers 4/5 Field Goal		Tries: Quinn (3) Goals: Smith 2/3 Field Goal

Skilled Park, Robina Attendance: 20,083 Referee/s: Ben Cummins, Jared Maxwell (Report)

Round 6 19 April 2010 7:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	16 - 18	Manly Sea Eagles
Tries: Cronk (2), Norrie Goals: Smith 2/3 Field Goal		Tries: Robertson (2), Stewart Goals: Lyon 3/4 Field Goal

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 14,171 Referee/s: Tony Archer, Alan Shortall (Report)

Round 7 25 April 2010 6:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	40 - 6	New Zealand Warriors
Tries: Duffie (2), Smith, Blair, Tandy, Isa, Slater Goals: Smith 6/7 Field Goal		Tries: Ta'ai Goals: Maloney 1/1 Field Goal

Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 23,906 Referee/s: Gavin Badger, Brett Suttor (Report)

Round 8 1 May 2010 7:30pm Local

North Queensland Cowboys	6 - 34	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Bolton Goals: Graham 1/1 Field Goal		Tries: Norrie, Duffie, Inglis, Finch, Nielson, Quinn, Lima Goals: Smith 3/6 Inglis 0/1 Field Goal

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 19,853 Referee/s: Gavin Badger, Gerard Sutton (Report)

Round 9 9 May 2010 3:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	14 - 36	Brisbane Broncos
Tries: Duffe (2), Quinn Goals:Inglis 1/2 Cronk 0/1 Field Goal		Tries:Folau (2), Beale, Yoh Yeh, Norman, Te'o Goals: Parker 6/6 Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 20,042 Referee/s: Tony Archer, Steve Lyons (Report)

Round 10 15 May 2010 7:30pm Local

Canberra Raiders	6 - 17	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Vidot Goals: Campese 1/1 Field Goal:		Tries: Inglis (3) Goals: Inglis 2/2 Cronk 0/1 Field Goal: Finch 1/1

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 12,165 Referee/s: Ben Cummins, Chris James (Report)

Round 12 30 May 2010 2:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	23 - 12	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Tries: Nielsen, Stanley, MacDougall, Widdop Goals: Widdop 3/4 Field Goal Finch 1/1		Tries: Ryan, Kimmorley Goals: Goodwin 2/2 Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 12,420 Referee/s: Shane Hayne, Ashley Klein (Report)

Regular season - Rounds 13 - 26

Round 13 4 June 2010 7:35pm Local

Parramatta Eels	24 - 10	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Reddy (2), Keating, Inu Goals: Burt 4/5 Field Goal		Tries: Slater, Inglis Goals: Smith 1/2 Field Goal

Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Attendance: 7,572 Referee/s: Tony Archer, Gerard Sutton (Report)

Round 14 14 June 2010 7:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	6 - 38	Sydney Roosters
Tries: Kostjasyn Goals: Stanley 1/1 Field Goal		Tries: Graham (2), Masoe, Linnett, Minichiello, Nuuausala, Perrett Goals: Carney 5/7 Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 10,449 Referee/s: Ashley Klein, Bernard Sutton (Report)

Round 15 19 June 2010 5:30pm Local

Melbourne Storm	58 - 12	North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: O'Neill (3), Duffie (2), Slater (2), Inglis, Lima, Cronk Goals: Smith 5/6, Inglis 3/3, Finch 1/1 Field Goal		Tries: Tamou, Gallant Goals: Thurston 2/2 Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 10,661 Referee/s: Ben Cummins, Bernard Sutton (report)

Round 16 26 June 2010 7:30pm Local

South Sydney Rabbitohs	16 - 14	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Talanoa (2), Sandow Goals: Luke 2/3 Field Goal		Tries: O'Neill (2), Inglis Goals: Smith 1/3 Field Goal

Members Equity Stadium, Perth Attendance: 13,164 Referee/s: Ashley Klein, Matt Cecchin (Report)

Round 18 10 July 2010 7:00pm Local

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	20 - 18	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Goodwin, Idris, Neumann Goals: Goodwin 4/4 Field Goal		Tries: Finch, Slater, Manu Goals: Smith 2/2, Inglis 1/1 Field Goal

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Attendance: 10,350 Referee/s: Matt Cecchin, Tony De Las Heras (Report)

Round 19 17 July 2010 7:30pm Local

New Zealand Warriors	13 - 6	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Vatuvei, Ropati Goals: Maloney 2/3 Field Goal: Maloney 1		Tries: Slater Goals: Smith 1/1 Field Goal

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 13,118 Referee/s: Steve Lyon, Gerrard Sutton (Report)

Round 20 24 July 2010 7:30pm Local

Melbourne Storm	18 - 10	Penrith Panthers
Tries: Nielson, O'Neill, Duffie Goals: Smith 3/3 Field Goal:		Tries: Purtell, Jennings Goals: Gordon 1/2 Field Goal:

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 11,212 Referee/s: Jason Robinson, Brett Suttor (Report)

Round 21 1 August 2010 2:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	36 - 12	Canberra Raiders
Tries: Neilson (2), O'Neill (2), Inglis, Slater, Lowrie Goals: Smith 4/6, Inglis 0/1 Field Goal		Tries: Low, Croker Goals: Croker 2/3 Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 9,112 Referee/s: Ben Cummins, Phil Haines (Report)

Round 22 7 August 2010 5:30pm Local

Manly Sea Eagles	26 - 6	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Lyon (2), Williams, Matai Goals: Lyon 5/5 Field Goal		Tries: Hoffman Goals: Smith 1/1 Field Goal

Brookvale Oval, Manly Attendance: 12,550 Referee/s: Matt Cecchin, Brett Suttor (Report)

Round 23 15 August 2010 2:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	18 - 16	South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tries: Hinchcliffe (2), Slater Goals: Smith 3/3 Field Goal		Tries: Merritt (2), Capewell Goals: Sandow 2/3 Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 9,172 Referee/s: Steve Lyons, Chris James (Report)

Round 24 21 August 2010 7:30pm Local

Melbourne Storm	24 - 4	Cronulla Sharks
Tries: Smith, Nielsen, Manu, Hinchcliffe Goals: Smith 4/4 Field Goal		Tries: Covell Goals: Covell 0/1 Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 8,902 Referee/s: Ashley Klein, Luke Phillips (Report)

Round 25 29 August 2010 2:00pm Local

Wests Tigers	26 - 14	Melbourne Storm
Tries: Marshall (3), Fifita, Farrah Goals: Marshall 3/5 Field Goal		Tries: O'Neill, Isa, Hoffman Goals: Smith 1/3 Field Goal

Leichhardt Oval, Balmain Attendance: 20,168 Referee/s: Gavin Badger, Alan Shortall (Report)

Round 26 5 September 2010 2:00pm Local

Melbourne Storm	34 - 4	Newcastle Knights
Tries: Inglis (2), Hinchcliffe, Hoffman, White, Tolman Goals: Smith 4/4, Lima 1/1, Hoffman 0/1 Field Goal		Tries: Taia Goals: Field Goal

AAMI Park, Melbourne Attendance: 20,514 Referee/s: Ashley klein, Gavin Morris (report)

Ladder

2010 NRL season
	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	St. George Illawarra Dragons (P)	24	17	0	7	2	518	299	+219	38
2	Penrith Panthers	24	15	0	9	2	645	489	+156	34
3	Wests Tigers	24	15	0	9	2	537	503	+34	34
4	Gold Coast Titans	24	15	0	9	2	520	498	+22	34
5	New Zealand Warriors	24	14	0	10	2	539	486	+53	32
6	Sydney Roosters	24	14	0	10	2	559	510	+49	32
7	Canberra Raiders	24	13	0	11	2	499	493	+6	30
8	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	24	12	0	12	2	545	510	+35	28
9	South Sydney Rabbitohs	24	11	0	13	2	584	567	+17	26
10	Brisbane Broncos	24	11	0	13	2	508	535	−27	26
11	Newcastle Knights	24	10	0	14	2	499	569	−70	24
12	Parramatta Eels	24	10	0	14	2	413	491	−78	24
13	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	24	9	0	15	2	494	539	−45	22
14	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	24	7	0	17	2	354	609	−255	18
15	North Queensland Cowboys	24	5	0	19	2	425	667	−242	14
16	Melbourne Storm	24	14	0	10	2	489	363	+126	01

¹ Melbourne were deducted eight premiership points and barred from receiving premiership points for the rest of the season due to gross long-term salary cap breaches.^[3]

2010 squad

Although other players may play for the Melbourne Storm during the year, all NRL clubs are required to select a top 25 First Grade squad at the beginning of the season. Also the players are listed below in alphabetical order as jersey numbers can change throughout the season these have not been shown.

No. Position Player SR Adam Blair PR Jesse Bromwich FE Andrew Brown LK Hep Cahill HB Cooper Cronk WG Matt Duffie FE Brett Finch HK Ryan Hinchcliffe SR Ryan Hoffman CE Greg Inglis CE William Isa PR Sinbad Kali HB Luke Kelly PR John Kite

No. Position Player PR Jeff Lima LK Todd Lowrie WG Luke MacDougall SR Sika Manu WG Dane Nielsen CE Justin O'Neill SR Kevin Proctor WG Anthony Quinn FB Billy Slater HK Cameron Smith (C) PR Ryan Tandy PR Aiden Tolman SR Atelea Vea PR Brett White FB Gareth Widdop

Awards and honours

• Player of the year: Ryan Hinchcliffe^[4]
• Rookie of the year: Matt Duffie

References