Travelling to Brisbane to play against something new with someone old in charge. Visiting old friends with new colours. No old game to watch this week, instead it’s something a little different.
Melbourne Storm versus new opponents
The Dolphins will become Melbourne’s 24th opponent in the club’s 666th NRL fixture.1 The red fish have the opportunity to be just the sixth team to hold a 100% record against the Storm, with the Titans the last team to attempt this back in 2007. Here is Melbourne’s record in their first game against every team:
Wins
1998
Adelaide Rams 24–14 (Round 14)
Balmain Tigers 25–16 (Round 13)
Canberra Raiders 16–12 (Round 24)
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26–18 (Round 3)
Gold Coast Chargers 62–6 (Round 12)
Illawarra Steelers 14–12 (Round 1)
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22–12 (Round 18)
Newcastle Knights 32–16 (Round 20)
North Queensland Cowboys 10–8 (Round 15)
North Sydney Bears 24–16 (Round 4)
Parramatta Eels 32–22 (Round 6)
Penrith Panthers 22–14 (Round 7)
South Sydney Rabbitohs 14–6 (Round 10)
Sydney City Roosters 32–20 (Round 21)
Western Suburbs Magpies 26–16 (Round 2)
2000
Northern Eagles 44–18 (Round 11)
Wests Tigers 40–10 (Round 15)
2007
Gold Coast Titans 50–6 (Round 25)
Losses
1998
Auckland Warriors 12–16 (Round 5)
Brisbane Broncos 16–34 (Round 17)
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4–8 (Round 23)
St George Dragons 14–18 (Round 9)
1999
St George Illawarra Dragons 16–28 (Round 13)
Auckland, Brisbane and St George Illawarra all won their second matches against Melbourne too, but all three would lose their third and fourth meetings against Melbourne. Eventually the team with the best record against Melbourne after ten matches would be the Newcastle Knights who would win eight of the first ten contests.2
Stat pack
Melbourne have played two previous matches on 20 May both against Manly – a 12–34 loss at Brookvale in 2006, and playing a 90 minute 10–all draw in 2013 at AAMI Park.
Melbourne have not lost a game against a Queensland opponent at Suncorp Stadium since 2017, a streak of seven straight victories. Melbourne have won just one of their last five visits to the stadium. Melbourne’s overall record at Suncorp Stadium is 26 wins from 34 matches.
After ten matches, the Dolphins six wins falls just short of Melbourne’s eight wins from their first ten matches, with the 1998 Storm and 2023 Dolphins both sitting in fourth place on the NRL ladder after round 10. Melbourne would reach the top of the NRL ladder four times during the 1998 season, the first time after round 14.
Wayne Bennett has coached teams against Craig Bellamy in 39 NRL games, with Melbourne winning 29 times. Bennett has only won twice against teams featuring Cameron Munster.
Team line-up
Nick Meaney
Will Warbick
Remis Smith
Justin Olam
Xavier Coates
Cameron Munster
Jahrome Hughes
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Harry Grant
Christian Welch ©
Trent Loiero
Elisa Katoa
Josh King
Bronson Garlick
Aaron Pene
Tom EisenhuthTui Kamikamica
Grant Anderson
Tariq Sims
Tepai MoeroaTyran Wishart
Jayden Nikorima
Preview
With five former Storm players in the Dolphins squad, there is a distinct purple flavour to the Dolphins success so far in 2023. Not only did the Red Fish sign anyone over 30 in the 2022 Melbourne forward pack, 2020 Storm premiership player Brenko Lee is in the outside backs, with Mark Nicholls a possible returnee this week from a thumb injury. Lee’s inclusion coming at the expense of Magic Round debutant Valynce Te Whare.
Despite hobbling off during the first half of the win against Brisbane, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been named to play. The big man however must be in a little bit of doubt due to the rib injury he picked up against Brisbane. Surprisingly Jordan Grant hasn’t been named on the extended interchange bench this week. The Brisbane Tigers have a bye this week in the Hostplus Cup, and his form has been excellent over the past few weeks. With Alec MacDonald still missing through injury, the time might have been right for the mobile forward to come into calculations for a run off the bench.
Melbourne will need to be wary of the Dolphins, who started with a points explosion in the first half of their Magic Round win in the Battle of Sea World against Cronulla. With the Fish coming off the bye and Melbourne also having an extended break from last week’s win over the Broncos, this game promises to be played at a fast pace.3
Struggling to get a good hold on the prospects for this game. Melbourne should have enough to beat the Dolphins, but this reads like the ultimate trap game.
As I’m travelling up to the game, the review post might be a little late ahead of the bye week (again!).
If you don’t remember, the five World Club Challenge games are included in Melbourne’s game record, hence why there is a slight difference when I do my weekly review posts.
Including six in a row between 2000-03.
Hopefully finishing within two hours.