In Melbourne’s first season back in 1998 the new NRL franchise wasn’t expected to do much. Before the season started, bookmakers had the Storm at prohibitive favourite for the wooden spoon, while the pundits in Sydney had Melbourne floundering in the bottom half of the ladder:
The general consensus is that a lack of depth, talent and cohesion will leave the new outfit in the lower reaches of the table.
Melbourne’s inaugural squad featured a number of players from the defunct Super League aligned Perth Reds and Hunter Mariners, and one of the last players signed by the club from the Gold Coast Chargers, Papua New Guinea winger Marcus Bai.
A cult hero
Marcus Bai’s rugby league story is fascinating. From the PNG village of Ulamona on the island of New Britain, he was playing in Port Moresby in 1994 and 1995, going on to represent PNG with the Kumuls at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup in England, scoring this try against the Kiwis at St Helens:
He would earn a professional contract with Hull FC in 1996,1 returning to play for PNG national team at the Super League World Nines tournament at Townsville held in early 1997. That appearance saw him offered a contract at the ARL-aligned Gold Coast Chargers.
Bai showed small sparks of brilliance for the Gold Coast Chargers in 1997, scoring five tries in 18 appearances as the financially-strapped club snuck into the ARL finals series.
Increasing uncertainty over the future of the Chargers saw Bai look elsewhere for the 1998 season, and he would sign with the Storm after also attracting interest from the Broncos with Wayne Bennett’s brother Bob then coaching the Kumuls.
A February 1998 profile in The Age had the following quotes from Melbourne coach Chris Anderson:
He hasn't played a lot of years but he's very whole-hearted, tough, a very strong runner and very good under the high ball.
He's just a good kid. He's an easy going fellow. He's a really good trainer, but he struggled when he first got here. The first day we ran the Tan track two or three times and he said, 'Marcus do no more. Marcus buggered'. He's a good, honest kid. He's never trained this hard before in his life, but he's appreciating it.
That preseason held him in good stead, with Bai scoring the game winning try in the club’s first trial match against the Adelaide Rams played at the North Hobart Oval.
1998: A special season
Melbourne started the 1998 season with three straight away games. A win over the Illawarra Steelers was followed by another against the Western Suburbs Magpies at Cambelltown, with Bai scoring his first try of the year. He would beat six Wests defenders, weaving through to score next to the posts. The following week at Cronulla, Bai scored the opening try of Melbourne’s 26–18 win, getting on the end of a pass from fullback Robbie Ross to score out wide on the right wing.
In the historic first home game against the North Sydney Bears at Olympic Park, Bai cemented his place as a Melbourne Storm favourite, scoring a try in the first half, sparking a massive roar from the sold out crowd.
Bai would score in Melbourne’s next two matches, again scoring the opening try against the Auckland Warriors in round 5, and a barge over effort against Parramatta in round 5 that put the Storm ahead late in the second half.
After five straight matches scoring a try, it would be a few weeks before Bai would get across the line again, but Chris Anderson was still full of praise:
When things are a little bit flat for us, Marcus really produces something that lifts the team, and he’s a real plus for us. I didn’t expect him to be this good.
Bai scored his sixth try of the season against his former club the Chargers as Melbourne routed the Gold Coast 62–6 in the only meeting between the two clubs. Bai’s try coming off the back of a 70m run in similar fashion to his try for the Kumuls in 1995. He would score two more tries in the middle of the 1998 season — another long run from inside his own half against the Adelaide Rams, and finishing off a passing move against the Broncos to again score the first try of the match.
In a massive round 20 match against reigning ARL premiers Newcastle, Bai had a night to remember scoring a hat trick. His first try came midway through the first half showing strength to crash over in the corner, a second coming in the second half to put Melbourne clear in front. Bai completing the hat trick a few minutes later, streaming down the eastern sideline of Olympic Park, stepping back inside to score under the posts to cap off a 32–16 win. That win putting the Storm back within touching distance of an unlikely minor premiership.
Bai would score just one more try during the regular season, again scoring the first of the match in the round 22 match against the Sharks on a Friday night at Olympic Park. Melbourne’s cult hero finishing up with 12 tries, one behind five-eighth Scott Hill with 13.
In recognition of his impact, Marcus Bai was crowned the Dally M Winger of the Year in late August ahead of the 1998 finals series. During that finals series, Bai would score just before half time against the Roosters in the qualifying final, with the roar from the crowd almost as loud as when he scored in the first home game a few months before. While Melbourne were unsuccessful that afternoon, Bai would score again the following Saturday afternoon to help end the Raiders season.
A lasting legacy
While Melbourne were eliminated by eventual premiers Brisbane in the 1998 NRL finals, the foundations for future success had been laid by those foundation players, coaches and officials. Bai and the Melbourne Storm famously stunning the rugby league world with victory in the 1999 NRL Grand Final at Stadium Australia.
Bai scored another dozen tries in the 1999 season, including the opening try in the knockout semi final against Canterbury at the SFS; a try in Melbourne’s win in the 2000 World Club Challenge against St Helens; and 13 tries in the 2000 NRL season despite missing seven matches during that season due to a gruesome arm injury. Bai suffering the injury attempting to stop a try against the Eels at Olympic Park, he would return famously wearing jersey 55 in a match against the Wests Tigers.
In total Marcus Bai would make 145 appearances for Melbourne scoring 71 tries,2 leaving the club at the end of the 2003 season. His farewell home game against Manly in round 26 saw number 5 score a try and slot a conversion for the only goal of his NRL career.
I will always remember my last game here. I have loved my time in Melbourne and the fans here have been fantastic, not just to me but to my family as well.
I have so many great memories from my time here and I will never forget it.
It was a rousing farewell for the cult hero, with fans presenting Bai the famous The Bai Stand banner after the match. An updated version still lives on at AAMI Park to this day.
Bai would play another three seasons in Super League, firstly with the Leeds Rhinos where he would win the Super League Grand Final in 2004, and the 2005 World Club Challenge, before moving to Bradford Bulls in 2006. His first game for the Bulls saw Bai score a double in the 2006 World Club Challenge, to take his third win in that fixture. He would hang up the boots at the end of the 2006 season.
Marcus Bai is a Melbourne Storm club legend, part of the fabric of the club who paved the way for those that have come after. If you are lucky enough to chat with Marcus when he comes down to Melbourne from his home on the Gold Coast, he remains a humble, fantastic bloke.
Last year NRL.com put together this compilation of Bai’s career
Struggling with homesickness and the cold, he would return home before the end of the season.
Including the 2000 World Club Challenge.