2021 Melbourne Storm season

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2021 Melbourne Storm season
NRL Rank1st (Minor Premier)
Play-off resultPreliminary Final Loss
2021 recordWins: 21; draws: 0; losses: 3
Points scoredFor: 815; against: 316
Team information
CEOAshley Tucker (interim)
Justin Rodski
CoachCraig Bellamy
Captain
StadiumAAMI Park - 30,050 (5 games)
Cbus Super Stadium - 27,400 (1 game)
Suncorp Stadium - 52,500 (3 games)
Sunshine Coast Stadium - 12,000 (3 games)
Avg. attendance14,285[a]
High attendance20,320 (Round 7)[a]
Top scorers
TriesJosh Addo-Carr (23)
GoalsNicho Hynes (58)
PointsRyan Papenhuyzen (157)
← 2020 List of seasons 2022 →

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.[1]

The season was again affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, with the club forced to relocate to Queensland for much of the season.

Melbourne claimed the J. J. Giltinan Shield for the fifth time as minor premiers, setting a number of club records (21 wins; 815 points). Melbourne tied the league record for most consecutive wins with 19 victories between rounds 4-23.

In a rematch of the 2020 NRL Grand Final, second placed Penrith Panthers knocked Melbourne out of the 2021 NRL finals in the preliminary final, ending hopes of back-to-back premierships.

Season summary[edit]

  • World Club Challenge – On 20 November 2020, it was announced that the World Club challenge (which the Storm would be competing in) would be postponed until later in 2021, owing to the push back of seasons due to COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic itself preventing overseas travel. Articles later in 2021 confirmed that it has been cancelled and the 2022 challenge is also under a cloud.[2][3]
  • 12 February – Seven Melbourne players (Josh Addo-Carr, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jesse Bromwich, Kenneath Bromwich, Jahrome Hughes, Brandon Smith and Reimis Smith) are forced to withdraw from the 2021 All Stars match due to a Victoria COVID-19 border closure.[4]
  • 18 February – Due to the possibility of travel restrictions, Newcastle Knights refuse to travel to Melbourne for their scheduled pre-season trial game at Casey Fields, with the match relocated to Albury.[5]
  • 19 February – The club announces that Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane have succeeded Cameron Smith, as co-captains of the club.[1]
  • 10 March – Cameron Smith officially announces his retirement from the game. This was done at a ceremony unveiling statues of himself and also Billy Slater at AAMI Park.[6]
  • Round 1 – The Storm open the 2021 NRL season with a win against South Sydney Rabbitohs at AAMI Park. This continued the streak of not having lost a Round 1 game since the 2001 NRL season. Tyson Smoothy also made his NRL debut.[7]
  • Round 4 – After two straight losses, the Storm demolish the Broncos 40–6. Ryan Papenhuyzen scored four tries in 11 minutes to equal the club record for the most scored in a single game, he also scored 5 goals and with a combined points total of 26, put him in second place for club record for the most points scored in a game. Christian Welch played his 100th NRL game and Trent Loiero made his debut.
  • Round 7 – Melbourne retain the Michael Moore Trophy winning 42–20 against the Warriors. George Jennings is substituted after 12 minutes due to concussion resulting from foul play, with Chris Lewis activated as a reserve player under the new NRL 18th man rule.[8]
  • Round 9 – Josh Addo-Carr scores a club record six tries in a game, becoming the first player in 71 years to score 6 tries in a first grade game in Australia.[9]
  • Round 10 – Melbourne host St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium during day three of the 2021 NRL Magic Round. Dragons centre Tyrell Fuimaono is sent off for a high tackle on Ryan Papenhuyzen who is left heavily concussed, with Dean Ieremia coming on as 18th man.[10]
  • 28 May – Storm announce that their Round 13 match had been moved to Sunshine Coast Stadium due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne. The club had been staying for a mid-season camp at their 2020 home away from home since just before Round 10.[11]
  • Round 13 – Reimis Smith is the first player sent to the sin bin from the Storm for the season, after a high tackle on Titans' Jaimin Jolliffe.[12]
  • 8 June – Storm announce that their Round 15 match has also been moved to Sunshine Coast Stadium.[13]
  • 10 June – Storm sign former Parramatta forward Tepai Moeroa from the NSW Waratahs, where he had been playing rugby union since 2020.[14]
  • 25 June – Sydney Roosters move their Round 16 home game against Melbourne to McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney.[15]
  • 29 June – After 46 days away, Storm return home to Melbourne after checking out of their extended Sunshine Coast stay.[16][17]
  • Round 16 – Melbourne score 40+ points for the 10th time for the season, the first team to achieve that feat in Australian first grade rugby league.[18]
  • 14 July – Melbourne announce that they have broken the membership record, signing up over 27,000 members.[19]
  • 15 July – A COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, saw the club forced to again relocate to Queensland, with the venue for the Round 18 game against Newcastle changed to CBus Super Stadium.[20][21][22]
  • Round 18 – Melbourne Storm score their 14th consecutive win with a 48 - 4 thrashing of the Newcastle Knights. The win was notable because they broke an 86 year old Rugby League record in the process, surpassing the Sydney Roosters’ 1935 record for the most points scored after 17 games in one year. At the end of the game the Storm points for was 632 the 1935 Roosters was 614.[23]
  • 23 July – The NRL confirm that Melbourne's Round 20 (home) and 21 (away) games will be played at Suncorp Stadium with the entire competition based in Queensland.[24]
  • Round 19 – The Storm defeat the Cowboys in a close game by four points to win their 15th consecutive game and equal the club record for the most consecutive wins. Josh Addo-Carr also scored his 100th NRL try.
  • 25 July – Club co-captain Dale Finucane announces that he will leave the Melbourne Storm at seasons end and join Cronulla Sharks in 2022 on a 4-year contract.[25]
  • 26 July – Nicho Hynes is nominated as the club representative for the NRL's Ken Stephen Medal for his work with young Indigenous children and as an ambassador for the Starlight Foundation.[26]
  • 27 July – Head coach Craig Bellamy agrees to a new long-term deal with the club to stay as coach in 2022, with a flexible role contract in place until the end of the 2026 NRL season.[27][28]
  • 30 July – Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen signs a new contract to stay with Melbourne until the end of the 2025 NRL season.[29]
  • Round 20 – Melbourne defeat the Penrith Panthers to score their 16th straight win and set a new club record for the most consecutive wins. Ryan Papenhuyzen also played his 50th Game. The other notable aspect of the win was that at the end of the game the Storm points differential was 465 points, the largest in Australian rugby league history.[30]
  • 3 August – Reports surface that Melbourne Storm Chairman Matt Tripp put forward a proposal to the NRL to shift the 2021 NRL Grand Final to the MCG for a $10m fee.[31][32]
  • 6 August – Second-row forward Felise Kaufusi extends his contract with the club until the end of the 2022 season.[33]
  • Round 21 – Melbourne speed past 700 points scored in the regular season for only the second time in club history, passing the previous best of 704 from 2001. Tepai Moeroa makes his Storm debut, his first NRL game since playing against Melbourne in the 2019 NRL finals.
  • Round 22 – Melbourne Storm score their 18th consecutive win, 26–16 over Canberra and in doing so set a new club record for the most points scored in a season (surpassing 2004's 733 points in 26 games including finals).[34]
  • 17 August – Jordan Grant signs a contract to join the top-30 squad from 2022, while Isaac Lumelume signs on to extend his contract with the club. Melbourne also announce the signing of Bronson Garlick on a development contact.[35]
  • Round 23 – With their 19th straight victory, Melbourne equal the record of the 1975 Easts team for the longest winning streak Australian rugby league history.[36] Captain Jesse Bromwich wins his 200th first grade game in his 269th appearance, to become the fastest person to win 200 games. In his first Storm game since 2019, Marion Seve scores a try as Melbourne score 30+ points for the 14th time for the 2021 season. In addition, Josh Addo-Carr's two tries increased his season total to 23, equaling the club record for most tries scored in a season.
  • Round 24 – Parramatta Eels inflict Melbourne's first loss since March, ending the 19-game winning streak. The loss is Melbourne's first in Queensland since 2017, a stretch of 29 matches.
  • 30 August – Christian Welch, Jahrome Hughes, Brandon Smith and Nicho Hynes are nominated for the RLPA's Players' Champion Award for the 2021 season.[37][38]
  • Round 25 – Melbourne secure their fifth J. J. Giltinan Shield, defeating Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to take the minor premiership on points difference ahead of Penrith. It is the eighth time the club has finished atop the NRL ladder. Daniel Atkinson makes his NRL debut, after only two Queensland Cup games; while captain Dale Finucane plays his 150th game for the club.[39]
  • Finals Week 1 – Melbourne Storm defeat the Manly Sea Eagles to earn a bye and progress directly to the Week 3 - Preliminary finals. Ryan Papenhuyzen scores 24 points including the clubs first 2-point field goal.
  • Finals Week 3 – In a rematch of the 2020 NRL Grand Final, Penrith defeat Melbourne 10–6 at Suncorp Stadium, the club's first loss in a finals game at the venue. Early injuries to Christian Welch and Brandon Smith proving costly in what was Dale Finucane, Josh Addo-Carr and Nicho Hynes' last game for the club. The defeat ending hopes of a back-to-back premiership.
  • 27 September – Craig Bellamy wins his sixth Coach of the Year award at the 2021 Dally M Awards. Justin Olam (centre) and Brandon Smith (hooker) both make the Dally M Team of the Year for the first time.[40]
  • 28 September – It is confirmed by CEO Justin Rodski that the NRL Integrity Unit is investigating Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis after video emerged on social media of the trio partying following the club's elimination from the NRL finals.[41]
  • 5 October – The NRL issues breach notices to Cameron Munster, Brandon Smith and Chris Lewis following the NRL Integrity Unit investigation. All three players are alleged to have brought the game into disrepute and are sanctioned with one-match suspensions and varying fines. The club also enforces additional penalties including suspended fines, removal from leadership groups, and additional behavioral measures.[42][43][44]
  • 20 December – The NRL formally stands down Tui Kamikamica under the league's no-fault stand-down policy, due to pending assault occasioning bodily harm charges against the Fijian. Kamikamica was earlier stood down by the club when news of the charges emerged in November, but was allowed to return to training.[45]

Milestone games[edit]

Round Player Milestone
Round 1 Reimis Smith Storm debut
Round 1 George Jennings Storm debut
Round 1 Tyson Smoothy NRL debut
Round 2 Jesse Bromwich 250th Game
Round 4 Christian Welch 100th Game
Round 4 Trent Loiero NRL debut
Round 8 Dean Ieremia NRL debut
Round 12 Justin Olam 50th Game
Round 18 George Jennings 50th Game
Round 18 Tui Kamikamica 50th Game
Round 18 Jordan Grant NRL debut
Round 19 Josh Addo-Carr 100th NRL try
Round 20 Ryan Papenhuyzen 50th Game
Round 21 Tepai Moeroa Storm debut
Round 24 Felise Kaufusi 150th Game
Round 25 Daniel Atkinson NRL debut
Qualifying Final Cameron Munster 150th Game

Fixtures[edit]

Pre-season[edit]

Source:[46]

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Source
20 February Trial New Zealand Warriors Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe Match cancelled [47]
27 February Trial Newcastle Knights Albury Sports Ground, Albury Win 30 10 [48]

Regular season[edit]

Source:[49]

Date Round Opponent Home/Away Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field goals Report
11 March 1 South Sydney Rabbitohs Home AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 26 18 R Papenhuyzen (2), C Munster, J Olam R Papenhuyzen 5/6 [50]
18 March 2 Parramatta Eels Away Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta Lost 12 16 R Smith, J Olam R Papenhuyzen 2/2 [51]
25 March 3 Penrith Panthers Away BlueBet Stadium, Penrith Lost 10 12 B Smith, J Addo-Carr C Munster 1/2 [52]
2 April 4 Brisbane Broncos Home AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 40 6 R Papenhuyzen (4), G Jennings (2), C Munster R Papenhuyzen 5/7, J Addo-Carr 1/1 [53]
10 April 5 Canterbury Bulldogs Away Stadium Australia, Sydney Won 52 18 F Kaufusi, J Hughes, C Welch, T Kamikamica, G Jennings, R Papenhuyzen, J Olam, J Addo-Carr, N Hynes R Papenhuyzen 8/9 [54]
16 April 6 Sydney Roosters Home AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 20 4 J Hughes, R Papenhuyzen, H Grant C Munster 0/1, R Papenhuyzen 4/5 [55]
25 April 7 New Zealand Warriors Home AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 42 20 R Smith (2), J Addo-Carr (2), G Jennings, F Kaufusi, N Hynes, J Olam C Munster 5/8 [56]
30 April 8 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Home AAMI Park, Melbourne Won 40 14 R Smith (3), J Addo-Carr, T Eisenhuth, T Kamikamica, J Hughes, B Smith C Munster 4/8, N Hynes 0/1 [57]
6 May 9 South Sydney Rabbitohs Away Stadium Australia, Sydney Won 50 0 J Addo-Carr (6), G Jennings (2), J Hughes, B Smith C Munster 5/10 [58]
16 May 10 St George-Illawarra Dragons Home Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Won 44 18 J Addo-Carr (3), K Bromwich, D Ieremia, N Asofa-Solomona, J Hughes, J Olam, G Jennings T Smoothy 3/5, N Hynes 1/4 [59]
22 May 11 Canberra Raiders Away GIO Stadium, Canberra Won 34 10 N Asofa-Solomona (2), C Lewis, R Smith, T Eisenhuth, T Loiero N Hynes 5/6 [60]
27 May 12 Brisbane Broncos Away Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Won 40 12 B Smith (2), T Kamikamica, J Addo-Carr, G Jennings, C Johns, N Hynes N Hynes 6/7 [61]
5 June 13 Gold Coast Titans Home Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast[b] Won 20 14 R Smith, B Smith, T Loiero, G Jennings N Hynes 2/4 [62]
13 June 14 New Zealand Warriors Away Central Coast Stadium, Gosford Won 42 16 D Ieremia, B Smith, J Addo-Carr, J Hughes, J Olam, H Grant, T Eisenhuth N Hynes 7/8 [63]
19 June 15 Wests Tigers Home Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast[b] Won 66 16 R Smith (2), J Hughes (2), B Smith, N Hynes, C Munster, D Finucane, N Asofa-Solomona, F Kaufusi, T Eisenhuth, H Grant N Hynes 9/12 [64]
1 July 16 Sydney Roosters Away McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle[c] Won 46 0 J Addo-Carr (3), N Hynes, D Finucane, K Bromwich, C Munster, B Smith N Hynes 7/9 [65]
10 July 17 Bye
17 July 18 Newcastle Knights Home Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast[b] Won 48 4 J Olam (2), G Jennings (2), C Munster, N Hynes, J Hughes, R Smith N Hynes 8/8 [66]
23 July 19 North Queensland Cowboys Away Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville Won 20 16 J Addo-Carr (2), J Olam, R Smith N Hynes 2/4 [67]
1 August[d] 20 Penrith Panthers Home Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[b] Won 37 10 D Ieremia (3), R Smith, J Bromwich, H Grant, C Munster 1/1, N Hynes 1/2,
R Papenhuyzen 4/4		 R Papenhuyzen 1/1 [68]
7 August 21 Manly Sea Eagles Away Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[e] Won 28 18 J Olam (2), K Bromwich, C Munster R Papenhuyzen 4/4, N Hynes 2/3 [69]
12 August 22 Canberra Raiders Home Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast[b] Won 26 16 B Smith, D Ieremia, C Lewis N Hynes 4/4, R Papenhuyzen 3/3 [70]
19 August 23 Gold Coast Titans Away Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast Won 34 20 J Addo-Carr (2), M Seve, H Grant, C Munster, N Hynes R Papenhuyzen 5/6 [71]
28 August 24 Parramatta Eels Home Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[b] Lost 10 22 R Smith, I Lumelume R Papenhuyzen 1/2 [72]
3 September 25 Cronulla Sutherland Sharks Away Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast[f] Won 28 16 R Papenhuyzen (3), B Smith, M Seve N Hynes 4/6 [73]

Finals[edit]

Source:[74]

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Tries Goals Field Goals Report
10 September Week 1 - Qualifying Final Manly Sea Eagles Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast Won 40 12 R Papenhuyzen (2), I Lumelume, K Bromwich, C Welch, J Olam R Papenhuyzen 7/8 R Papenhuyzen 1/1 (2pt) [75]
25 September Week 3 - Preliminary Final Penrith Panthers Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Lost 6 10 R Papenhuyzen R Papenhuzen 1/1 [76]

Ladder[edit]

Main article: 2021 NRL season
2021 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne Storm 24 21 0 3 1 815 316 +499 44
2 Penrith Panthers (P) 24 21 0 3 1 676 286 +390 44
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 20 0 4 1 775 453 +322 42
4 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 16 0 8 1 744 492 +252 34
5 Sydney Roosters 24 16 0 8 1 630 489 +141 34
6 Parramatta Eels 24 15 0 9 1 566 457 +109 32
7 Newcastle Knights 24 12 0 12 1 428 571 −143 26
8 Gold Coast Titans 24 10 0 14 1 580 583 −3 22
9 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 10 0 14 1 520 556 −36 22
10 Canberra Raiders 24 10 0 14 1 481 578 −97 22
11 St. George Illawarra Dragons 24 8 0 16 1 474 616 −142 18
12 New Zealand Warriors 24 8 0 16 1 453 624 −171 18
13 Wests Tigers 24 8 0 16 1 500 714 −214 18
14 Brisbane Broncos 24 7 0 17 1 446 695 −249 16
15 North Queensland Cowboys 24 7 0 17 1 460 748 −288 16
16 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 3 0 21 1 340 710 −370 8

Coaching staff[edit]

  • Craig Bellamy – Head Coach[77]
  • Stephen Kearney – Assistant Coach
  • Marc Brentnall – Assistant Coach
  • Aaron Bellamy – Development Coach
  • Ryan Hinchcliffe – Development Coach
  • Frank Ponissi – Football Director
  • Ryan Hoffman – Football Administration Coordinator
  • Craig McRae – Kicking & Catching Coach
  • Billy Slater – Specialist Coach (Part-time)
  • Cooper Cronk - Halves Coach (Part-time)[78]
  • Tim Glasby - Recruitment Officer and Pathways Manager
  • Ben Jack – Victoria Thunderbolts (Under-21s) Head Coach
  • Jon Buchanan – Easts Tigers Feeder Club Coach
  • Sam Mahwinney – Sunshine Coast Falcons Feeder Club Coach

2021 squad[edit]

List current as of 14 June 2021

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm players
Cap Nat. Player name Position First Storm game Previous First Grade RL club [g]
119 New Zealand Jesse Bromwich PR 2010 Australia Melbourne Storm
149 New Zealand Kenneath Bromwich PR,SR,LK 2013 Australia Melbourne Storm
160 Australia Cameron Munster FE,FB 2014 Australia Melbourne Storm
163 Australia Dale Finucane PR,SR,LK 2015 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
164 Tonga Felise Kaufusi PR 2015 Australia Melbourne Storm
166 New Zealand Nelson Asofa-Solomona SR, PR 2015 Australia Melbourne Storm
167 Australia Christian Welch SR, PR 2015 Australia Melbourne Storm
176 Australia Josh Addo-Carr WG 2017 Australia Wests Tigers
177 Canada Ryley Jacks FE 2017 Australia Gold Coast Titans
181 Fiji Tui Kamikamica SR, PR 2017 Australia Melbourne Storm
182 New Zealand Brandon Smith HK 2017 Australia Melbourne Storm
184 New Zealand Jahrome Hughes FE, FB 2017 Australia North Queensland Cowboys
187 Papua New Guinea Justin Olam WG, CE 2018 Australia Melbourne Storm
188 Australia Harry Grant HK 2018 Australia Melbourne Storm
192 Australia Tom Eisenhuth SR 2019 Australia Penrith Panthers
193 Samoa Marion Seve WG 2019 Australia Melbourne Storm
194 Australia Ryan Papenhuyzen FB 2019 Australia Melbourne Storm
198 Australia Nicho Hynes FB, FE 2019 Australia Melbourne Storm
199 Australia Max King PR 2019 Australia Gold Coast Titans
200 Tonga Brenko Lee CE 2020 Australia Gold Coast Titans
201 Australia Chris Lewis SR 2020 Australia Melbourne Storm
203 Australia Darryn Schonig PR 2020 Australia Melbourne Storm
204 Australia Cooper Johns FE 2020 Australia Melbourne Storm
205 Fiji Isaac Lumelume WG 2020 Australia Melbourne Storm
207 New Zealand Aaron Pene PR 2020 Australia Melbourne Storm
208 Australia Aaron Booth HK 2020 Australia Melbourne Storm
209 Tonga George Jennings WG 2021 Australia Parramatta Eels
210 New Zealand Reimis Smith WG 2021 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
211 Australia Tyson Smoothy HK 2021 Australia Melbourne Storm
212 Australia Trent Loiero SR 2021 Australia Melbourne Storm
213 Samoa Dean Ieremia WG 2021 Australia Melbourne Storm
214 Australia Jordan Grant PR 2021 Australia Melbourne Storm
215 Cook Islands Tepai Moeroa SR,LK 2021 Australia Parramatta Eels
216 Australia Daniel Atkinson HB 2021 Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Jack Howarth SR Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
New Zealand Judda Turahui LK Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Jonah Pezet HB Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Australia Tyran Wishart FE, HK Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Samoa Tagiolupe Tivalu PR Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm
Samoa Sualauvi Fa'alogo FB Yet to debut Australia Melbourne Storm

Player movements[edit]

Source:[79][80]

Representative honours[edit]

This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2021.

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm representatives
Player State of Origin 1[82][83] State of Origin 2[84][85] State of Origin 3[86][87][88]
Josh Addo-Carr New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales
Dale Finucane – – New South Wales
Harry Grant Queensland – –
Felise Kaufusi Queensland Queensland Queensland
Cameron Munster Queensland Queensland Queensland
Christian Welch Queensland Queensland Queensland

Statistics[edit]

This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2021 NRL season.

Further information: List of Melbourne Storm records
Name Appearances Tries Goals Field goals Points
Josh Addo-Carr 22 23 1 0 94
Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17 4 0 0 16
Daniel Atkinson 1 0 0 0 0
Aaron Booth 5 0 0 0 0
Jesse Bromwich 24 1 0 0 4
Kenneath Bromwich 21 3 0 0 12
Tom Eisenhuth 17 4 0 0 16
Dale Finucane 17 2 0 0 8
Harry Grant 15 5 0 0 20
Jordan Grant 3 0 0 0 0
Jahrome Hughes 24 9 0 0 36
Nicho Hynes 24 7 58 0 144
Dean Ieremia 10 6 0 0 24
Ryley Jacks 1 0 0 0 0
George Jennings 18 11 0 0 44
Cooper Johns 5 1 0 0 4
Tui Kamikamica 22 3 0 0 12
Felise Kaufusi 20 3 0 0 12
Chris Lewis 20 2 0 0 8
Trent Loiero 6 2 0 0 8
Isaac Lumelume 3 2 0 0 8
Tepai Moeroa 4 0 0 0 0
Cameron Munster 20 7 16 0 60
Justin Olam 25 12 0 0 48
Ryan Papenhuyzen 15 14 49 1/1 157
Aaron Pene 9 0 0 0 0
Darryn Schonig 1 0 0 0 0
Marion Seve 2 2 0 0 8
Brandon Smith 24 11 0 0 44
Reimis Smith 25 14 0 0 56
Tyson Smoothy 4 0 3 0 6
Christian Welch 21 2 0 0 8
32 players used — 151 127 1/1 861

Scorers[edit]

Most points in a game: 26 points

  • Round 4 - Ryan Papenhuyzen (4 Tries, 5 Goals) vs Brisbane Broncos

Most tries in a game: 6 [l]

  • Round 9 - Josh Addo-Carr vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

Winning games[edit]

Highest score in a winning game: 66 points

  • Round 15 vs Wests Tigers

Lowest score in a winning game: 20 points

  • Round 6 vs Sydney Roosters
  • Round 13 vs Gold Coast Titans
  • Round 19 vs North Queensland Cowboys

Greatest winning margin: 50 points

  • Round 9 vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
  • Round 15 vs Wests Tigers

Greatest number of games won consecutively: 19 [m]

  • Round 4 - Round 23

Losing games[edit]

Highest score in a losing game: 12 points

  • Round 2 vs Parramatta Eels

Lowest score in a losing game: 6 points

  • Preliminary Final vs Penrith Panthers

Greatest losing margin: 12 points

  • Round 24 vs Parramatta Eels

Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 2

  • Round 2 - Round 3

Jerseys[edit]

In December 2020, Melbourne Storm announced a new 5 year sponsorship and apparel partnership agreement with British sportswear company, Castore[91] replacing the partnership with ISC. Castore will produce new supporter wear and a new jersey for season 2021, the design was announced on 14 January 2021.[92]

2021 Home colours
2021 Away colours

Home

The home jersey features a classic V shape on the chest and the return of yellow to the jersey for the first time since 2018. Among the special features Castore has incorporated in the new jersey is a lightning bolt design on the sleeve and the inclusion of a Big V logo on the inner collar as a continuation of the Our Home, Victoria acknowledgment which began during the 2020 season to honor Storm’s home state. The Victoria acknowledgment logo returned to the front of the jersey from Round 20 onwards.

Away

The away jersey, worn when the home jersey creates a clash with the opposition, is a similar design to the home jersey but in majority white; worn with navy blue shorts and either navy blue (Round 2) or white socks with navy blue cuffs (Rounds 3, 9, 14, 16, 19).

Special

Round 7 - Melbourne wore a unique jersey with sublimated Anzac Day details including a large red Remembrance poppy, silhouettes of soldiers, and the Anzac Appeal logo.[93]

Round 12 & 18 - An Indigenous Round jersey for the first time based on a white jersey template, designed by Melbourne AFLW player Krstel Petrevski. The jersey features the names of the 16 past and present Indigenous Storm players.[94]

Round 21 – A white heritage jersey based upon the clash design worn in the club's first ever trial game, and worn once during the 1998 NRL season.

Awards[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Home games played at AAMI Park only
  2. ^ a b c d e f Match originally scheduled for AAMI Park, Melbourne
  3. ^ Match originally scheduled for SCG, Sydney
  4. ^ Match originally scheduled for 31 July, but postponed due to a lockdown in South East Queensland
  5. ^ Match originally scheduled for 4 Pines Park, Sydney
  6. ^ Match originally scheduled for Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ a b 2020 season player loan deal: players returned to their original clubs at the end of 2020.[81]
  9. ^ After being released back to the West Tigers following the completion of the loan period, Paul Momirovski was traded to the Penrith Panthers prior to the start of the 2021 season.
  10. ^ Midseason signing on June 10
  11. ^ Midseason signing announced on July 5
  12. ^ New club record
  13. ^ New club and equal league record

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Bromwich, Finucane to lead Storm in post-Big Three era". 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  2. ^ "2021 World Club Challenge postponed". Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  3. ^ "St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus provides update on 2022 World Club Challenge". 25 October 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Seven Storm players out of All Stars as COVID chaos hits multiple codes". smh.com.au. Nine Media. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Storm move trial to Albury". melbournestorm.com.au. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Smith retires: Cameron announces record-breaking career over". 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Papenhuyzen stars as Storm start post-Smith era in style". 11 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  8. ^ "NRL Confirms 18th player rule for foul play". 6 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Fabulous Mr Foxx's six tries sink injury-ravaged Bunnies". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Storm smash Dragons". melbournestorm.com.au. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Storm moves round 13 NRL match". melbournestorm.com.au. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Round 13 charges: NAS, Reimis on report". melbournestorm.com.au. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Storm moves round 15 NRL match". melbournestorm.com.au. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Moeroa to join Melbourne Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Roosters relocate Storm clash to Newcastle; Panthers refund tickets". NRL.com. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  16. ^ "We're coming home". melbournestorm.com.au. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  17. ^ "LIVE: NRL on alert as QLD enters snap lockdown, Storm forced to flee to Melbourne". foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Alarm bells ring for Robbo as ruthless Storm expose more than the Roosters' diabolical defence". foxsports.com.au. July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Storm break all-time membership record". melbournestorm.com.au. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  20. ^ Walsh, Dan (15 July 2021). "Storm set to relocate for third time in 12 months". NRL.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  21. ^ Walsh, Dan (15 July 2021). "Storm to host Knights on Gold Coast". melbournestorm.com.au. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
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