When looking ahead to upcoming matches, my mind does wander back to previous encounters with that opponent. This week I tried without luck to find enough vision of two particular Storm versus Gold Coast games from days past that I really wanted to feature. Alas while my searching was in vain, I did find another game that I will feature in future because it was a fun one.
Here though are the two games that I wanted to watch, if anyone has the full match or condensed games of either, please let me know.
S01E12 – Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Chargers
This one is Melbourne’s only match against the doomed Gold Coast Chargers. The teal team rolled into Olympic Park on a Sunday afternoon1 having just won two games to be bottom of the 20-team NRL ladder.
Melbourne would absolutely pants the Chargers, recording the biggest win by a debut team in premiership history, handing the visitors their heaviest ever defeat to win 62–6. The Storm had led 18–0 at half time, with the floodgates opening in the second half. Marcus Bai would score two tries against his former club, with Scott Hill celebrating his 21st birthday in style also scoring two tries. Hill’s friends and family were in Melbourne and there are many stories told of that afternoon at the old Olympic Park greyhound track celebrating long into the early hours.
Melbourne – 62 (Hill (2), Bai (2), Bawden, Kimmorley, Marquet, Martin, Nikau, Williams tries; Martin 6/8, Kimmorley 2/3, Hill 1/1 goals)
Gold Coast Chargers – 6 (Pattern try; Mackay 1/1 goal)
S10E25 – Melbourne Storm vs Gold Coast Titans
I was able to watch the highlights of this one from the Sunday night of the final round of the 2007 season. In the NRL’s infinite wisdom, this was the only meeting between these sides in the Titans first season in the competition.
Melbourne were already guaranteed the J.J. Giltinan Shield as minor premiers, having lost just three times all season. The home team carving up the visitors to lead 28–0 at half time, going on with things in the second half to score 50 points or more for the second time that season.
This was Melbourne tuning up for the finals in the best way possible, finishing the season on a five-match winning streak.
With his try in the second half, Israel Folau scored his 21st for the season to take the club try-scoring record in his debut season. That mark stood until 2016 when Suliasi Vunivalu scored 23, with Suli and Josh Addo-Carr equalling that tally in 2017, and the Foxx again scoring 23 in 2021.
Melbourne – 50 (Hoffman 5', Turner 9', Cronk 14', Quinn 23', King 40', Inglis 49', Folau 64', Crocker 72', Slater 79' tries; C Smith 5/6, Folau 1/2, King 1/1 goals)
Gold Coast Titans – 6 (Minichiello try; Delaney 1/1 goal)
Stat pack
Melbourne have played five previous matches on 26 August for a 2–3 record. The mixed bag includes The Battle of Brookvale in 2011, Melbourne’s last loss to the Broncos in 2016, a 64–6 shellacking of Souths in 2017, and last year’s tight loss to the Roosters at AAMI Park.
Gold Coast have won just one NRL finals match in their history, back in 2010 when they defeated the Warriors. Since then, they’ve made the finals in only two seasons.
The Titans are up to their eighth coach in club history, having parted ways with Justin Holbrook since they played the Storm earlier this season. Only John Cartwright has coached more than 100 matches for the Titans.
Since being appointed as caretaker coach, Jim Lenihan has seen the Titans win just twice from nine matches in charge.
Gold Coast have won one match from eight visits to AAMI Park, upsetting Melbourne 28–26 on a warm Sunday afternoon back in April 2014. A controversial late penalty handing the visitors the two points. The Titans won on their final visit to Olympic Park back in 2009, using tactics that resulted in a rule change from the league.2
From my calculations, this will be just the fourth Saturday 3pm3 match to be played by Melbourne at AAMI Park, with the previous matches coming in 2012, 2016 and 2019.
Team line-up
Nick Meaney
Will Warbrick
Marion Seve
Young Tonumaipea
Xavier Coates
Cameron Munster
Jahrome Hughes
Tui Kamikamica
Harry Grant
Christian Welch ©
Trent Loiero
Eliesa Katoa
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Bronson Garlick
Tom Eisenhuth
Tepai Moeroa
Alec MacDonald
Remis Smith
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Chris Lewis
Tariq Sims
Tyran Wishart
Referee: Chris Butler (Bunker: Kasey Badger)
Preview
Team list Tuesday brought news that this might finally happen:
Ryan Papenhuyzen has been named to return to the Melbourne Storm line-up 13 months since his last match for the club. He’s in jersey number 19 in the reserves, so he could still miss the game, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t feature after playing two and a half games for the Sunshine Coast Falcons this month.
In other news for Melbourne, Josh King will end his streak of consecutive games at 47 since joining the club. In his place, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been named at lock, which hopefully means that Alec MacDonald returns to the interchange bench. It’s going to be intriguing how Melbourne fits their forward rotation around the return of Paps, combined with how the back five are constructed. I expect Nick Meaney will likely end up in the centres at some point soon, and one of the middle forwards will be in the stands instead. For this week that could be Bronson Garlick, but it could be any of the useful assets that Melbourne has in this area.
For the Titans Duds, captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will see Jayden Campbell and Phillip Sami out, but will welcome the return of Kieran Foran. As per usual, the Duds will not be playing finals football in 2023, with caretaker coach Jim Lenihan just holding the fort before the messiah Des Hasler arrives next season.4
Hopefully there won’t be any need for NRL Bunker Bingo this week, after a spate of odd decisions recently from this particular review official.
With this being the last home game of the regular season, Melbourne needs to maintain focus and their grip on a top four spot. A loss here would leave them vulnerable ahead of the trip to Brisbane in the final round. While fifth spot wouldn’t be too bad a result, that double chance is crucial if Melbourne are going to press on into September. With that in mind let’s play “who do we actually want to win this week” in the games that have some bearing on finals football:
Melbourne would prefer Parramatta to beat the Prefects. Likelihood: not very
For comedy value, the Fish to beat the Cowboys.
The Drag… nah… go the Wahs even if it means Melbourne won’t finish third.
The Tigers winning causing Uncle Nick to sack Trent Robinson in a fit of pique would be most amusing.
Brisbane beating Canberra, because at this point, Brisbane winning the minor premiership would be amusing when they then spectacularly fail in the finals.
Newcastle over Cronulla only because that likely locks in Melbourne’s top four spot.
If you are heading to AAMI Park on Saturday, get in early to catch the Storm Jersey Flegg Cup team play against the Raiders from 12:30pm. Melbourne need a win to guarantee finals football, entering this match in fifth position on the ladder. If you’re interested in the junior competitions, definitely check out the man behind the very good 18th Man website’s newsletter Rugby League Observer.
Up north in the Queensland Cup, both the Brisbane Easts Tigers (third) and Sunshine Coast Falcons (eighth) made finals. The Falcons leapfrogging the Seagulls (Tweed version) with their win in the final round.
The Tigers face Karmichael Hunt’s Souths Logan Magpies in a qualifying final on Saturday afternoon, after the Magpies faltered on the weekend to hand the minor premiership to the Burleigh Bears. Easts beat Souths in early August, holding on for a 26–24 after jumping out to a 20–6 half time lead.
The Falcons lost both of their games this season to their elimination final opponents Redcliffe Dolphins. The birds will be heading down to the aquarium on Sunday afternoon with Sua Fa’alogo back at fullback, with the youngster playing well in recent weeks. Justin Olam is still back with the Falcons too, with a very Melbourne Storm flavoured forward pack also playing.
For more QCup news, as always check in with Liam’s Maroon Observer:
While it would be nice to have both teams progressing this week, I suspect the Falcons might struggle against the Fish. With a double chance Easts do have a plausible chance of making a run towards what would be their first Queensland Cup premiership.
Tune into both QCup games via QPlus.tv.
With the unusual kick off time of 12:30pm
If you know, you know.
Or 3:30pm as this time slot was in 2012.
Tino’s going to need all of that enormous pay packet to cope with Hasler.