A trip to Penrith is possibly the toughest in the NRL at the moment, with the Panthers only losing three times at their home base since this time in 2019. It’s been a busy week here in Melbourne, so instead of a review of an old game let’s take a quick detour through the matches in which the Storm faced off against the reigning premiers.
Melbourne versus reigning NRL premiers
1998–99
Melbourne played a couple of matches against the 1997 champions1 Brisbane Broncos in 1998, losing both matches played as the Broncos went back-to-back. Come 1999 Melbourne would finally get over the hurdle and sweep big brother, winning both matches in some style.
2001
In Mark Murray’s first match as coach after Chris Anderson’s departure in early April, the Broncos would get their first win against Melbourne since 1998. Melbourne would get the better of the premiers in the return match under the roof in a 32–28 classic.
2002
Newcastle would get the better of Melbourne twice during the club’s six game losing streak through May-June, as the pressure mounted on Mark Murray.
2003
The Roosters would win their third straight match at Olympic Park in round 12 as Melbourne’s roller-coaster season hit a hurdle in a 27–20 defeat. Craig Bellamy saying that “we were really good for the first 35 minutes and I was very happy with the way we were going but then we seemed to lose the plot.”
2004
Down 24–6 early in the second half, Melbourne would set up a big finish at Penrith but still suffered a 30–26 defeat. In the return match in round 17 at Olympic Park, the home team shattered a bunch of records in a 66–14 thrashing of the Panthers.
2005
Melbourne would split the season series against the Bulldogs, losing at Olympic Park before winning 33–6 at the Showgrounds in round 17, for the club’s first win in Sydney against the Bulldogs since the 2000 season.
2006
Four late tries would see a sloppy Melbourne almost charge down the Wests Tigers in round 4 at the Lilyfield Rectangle, losing 30–28. In the return match as Melbourne charged towards the minor premiership, four tries to Jake Webster saw the Storm smoke the Tigers in a 46–4 victory.
2007
A fired up Melbourne would beat the Brisbane Broncos three times during the 2007 season. In April at Suncorp Stadium, Melbourne won 28–18 with Billy Slater scoring a double. At Olympic Park in August, the Storm won a fiery contest 14–6 with that match more remembered for Petero Civoniceva whinging about grapple tackles both on the field and afterwards. Melbourne would end the Broncos reign as premiers with a massive 40–0 win at Olympic Park in the first week of the finals with Steve Turner scoring a hat trick.
2009
Against their 2007 and 2008 grand final opponent, Melbourne would win at Brookvale Oval 22–8 in May, with Manly getting the better of the Storm 20–16 in August at Olympic Park. Melbourne would turn that result around a few weeks later, putting in their best performance of the season to thrash the Sea Eagles 40–12 in a qualifying final at Etihad Stadium.
2011
The Clayton’s Cup premiers St George Illawarra finally showed up to Melbourne late in the 2011 season, the gloss was already wearing off their 2010 premiership. In Billy Slater’s 200th match, Melbourne would outlast the Dragons 8–6 in the club’s 12th straight victory.
2012
In the first meeting between the teams since The Battle of Brookvale, a mid season trip back to Brookvale Oval saw Melbourne leave with a 26–22 victory. Melbourne had jumped to an early lead, but were down at half before moving back out to a winning lead. Manly got the scores close with a try on full time.
In one of the the best nights at AAMI Park, Melbourne progressed to the 2012 NRL Grand Final, thumping the Sea Eagles 40–12 in the preliminary final. Slater and Cooper Cronk both scoring doubles.
2014
The Roosters would do the double over the Storm, winning 32–12 at AAMI Park in June when the Storm were missing Slater and Cronk. They would again be triumphant in a 24–12 win at the SFS in August, coming from behind to power past the Storm in the rain.
2015
Souths would travel to Melbourne in May, only to leave Victoria without a win yet again. Melbourne earning a gritty 16–12 win after leading 16–2 at half time.
2016
Melbourne would face off against the Cowboys three times, with the reigning premiers losing all three matches. A wobbly Cameron Smith field goal was the difference in the first match played at Suncorp Stadium in May, with the skipper slotting home the score in the final ten minutes to seal a 15–14 win.
Missing Johnathan Thurston, Melbourne ended the Cowboys winning run at home in June, taking the two points in a 16–8 victory after a scoreless second half.
The two teams would meet again in the qualifying final at AAMI Park, and in a defensive struggle, Melbourne would progress to a preliminary final after a tough 16–10 win.
2017
An error-ridden Melbourne struggled in wet conditions, losing 11–2 to Cronulla in round 6, with the match looking like it might have finished 3–2 in favour of the visitors before a late try.
Melbourne would have some joy in the return match in round 14, leaving The Swamp with the two points in a 18–13 win. Melbourne had led 12–0, then trailed 13–12 until a late Felise Kaufusi try proved to be the difference.
2019–20
Melbourne and the Roosters would play five times across the 2019 and 2020 seasons, with Melbourne taking three victories, but the Roosters would win the 2019 preliminary final to end Melbourne’s season.
2022–23
This week will be the fourth meeting between Melbourne and Penrith since their win in the 2021 NRL Grand Final. The Panthers thrashed Melbourne at Magic Round last year, but Melbourne would take the points in a 16–0 win at Penrith late last season. Penrith of course won a few weeks ago at Marvel Stadium.
Stat pack
Melbourne have played five previous matches on 4 August, winning four times. Melbourne have averaged 36 points per game in those five matches, conceding an average of 8.8 points per game against. Melbourne last played on 4 August in 2017.
Melbourne have only played 15 matches at Penrith, winning nine times including a 16–0 win in round 22 last season. Melbourne did not visit Penrith from 2016 through 2020, with the teams playing just once in each of those seasons during the regular season.
Before their recent match at Marvel Stadium, Penrith hadn’t played in Victoria since 2018. This match up has been played at nine different venues in four states.
Penrith haven’t defeated Melbourne twice in a regular season since 2005.
Team line-up
Nick Meaney
Will Warbick
Marion Seve
Young Tonumaipea
Xavier CoatesCameron Munster
Jahrome HughesTui Kamikamica
Harry Grant
Christian Welch ©
Trent Loiero
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Josh King
Tom Eisenhuth
Alec MacDonald
Tepai Moeroa
Eliesa Katoa
Tyran Wishart
Bronson Garlick
Jonah Pezet
George Jennings
Grant Anderson
Referee: Adam Gee (Bunker: Ashley Klein)
Preview
After putting the sword through the Eels at Marvel Stadium last week, this week sees Melbourne take on the other 2022 NRL grand finalists, reigning back-to-back champs Penrith.
A couple of surprises from Melbourne on team list Tuesday with Young Tonumaipea named despite hobbling off last week, meaning Justin Olam will spend another week in Queensland Cup with the Sunshine Coast Falcons. Joining him will be Ryan Papenhuyzen returning to the play 384 since his kneecap was shattered against the Raiders. Papenhuyzen is expected to play about 40 minutes for the Falcons and everyone wishes him all the best.2
Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns from his finger injury to bolster a forward pack that played really well against the Eels. It will be interesting to see how Bellamy uses big NAS this week with the bench forwards looking to play more minutes as we get closer to the finals.
Editor’s note: In late mail on Thursday, apparently Jahrome Hughes is in doubt out due to an ankle injury, and Xavier Coates is in doubt out with a hip complaint. With Hughes out, then Melbourne are likely cooked, unless Jonah Pezet has an all-time game with Munster in the halves. George Jennings is in for Coates.
For the home team, Tyrone Peachey is out through suspension, with Ivan Cleary naming Zac Hosking to replace him in the centres. However there could be changes to the Panthers line-up with Izack Tago named in the reserves. Tago had been in hot form scoring consecutive doubles against Melbourne and the Fish before suffering a leg injury to keep him out of the Panthers last two matches.
Penrith are currently level on top of the NRL ladder with the Broncos, having won their last five matches since their hiccup against the Cowboys back in June. Their defence (averaging only 12.42 points per game against) has been their strong point again in 2023, and while it’s felt like they’ve come back to the pack a little this season compared to the Vlandysball inspired last few seasons, they still are the team to beat this season.
Of course Tuesday brought the worst possible referee news when Adam Gee was given the whistle for this one, and we all know what happened last time (and the last five times for that matter). Melbourne will be battling both against the Panthers Prefects3 who often do no wrong in the eyes of susceptible referees, and the narrative Gee has in his head.
There aren’t many weeks where I can say that I don’t think Melbourne will win. This is one of them. That’s not negativity or being defeatist, more pragmatism. What I would like to see are those attitude and effort areas continue from last week, rather than what Melbourne have been serving up too often this season. There are ways to beat Penrith and there were moments and opportunities squandered in the match at Marvel Stadium a month ago, but I do wonder whether it might be prudent to not show all of Melbourne’s cards to win this one. Especially if Melbourne might have to face the Panthers again come finals time.
While a win would be a very nice surprise this week, especially as it would build confidence on the cusp of the finals, the two points could also possibly cement a crucial top four spot. It’s all to play for at the moment and hopefully this is a good one.
Bonus content
In case you missed it last week, a final plug for this post.
The ARL/reserve grade 1997 premiers Newcastle can get stuffed.
If anyone has done the full analysis of “how they keep getting away with it” please send it my way.