S29E06 Preview – Michael Moore Trophy 2026
Can Melbourne bounce back from their bad Friday night?
The Warriors come out to play at AAMI Park.
What happens next?
Well then. Melbourne finally conceded 50 points for the first time since 2003. It’s been a while since the Storm has been in this predicament of working themselves out of the dank pit of having their premiership campaign so utterly derailed by the ignominy of conceding 50 points. Even if it was against the $2.40 premiership favourites.
We have a small sample size for what happened to Melbourne immediately following such a debacle. It wasn’t until round 18 of the 2000 season, in Storm match #074 that the club conceded 50 points. That was against the Dragons at Wollongong on a fateful Sunday afternoon when the home team got revenge for the 70–10 beatdown the Storm inflicted months earlier at the MCG. The following week there wasn’t much joy again for Melbourne, this time the Roosters threw down 41 points, 33 of which came in the first half at the Old SFS. The 2000 season was a wild ride for Storm fans, returning to Olympic Park the following Sunday afternoon, Melbourne took out their frustrations on the hapless Auckland Warriors to run up a 56–10 victory. Such was the weirdness of the 2000 season, Melbourne ended up with a 10–3 record in Victoria that season, with a league best points differential of +250. The away record was not so good with four wins and a draw and a points differential of -107. Good enough for sixth on the ladder, not good enough to survive more than one finals defeat at Newcastle.
With Chris Anderson gone after seven matches of the 2001 season, the Muppet Era at Melbourne saw the club concede their record score of 54 points against Parramatta at Colonial Stadium on a Friday night in July 2001. In one of the Storm’s rare appearances on Nine that season, the high scoring Eels put the cleaners through Melbourne. Jason Taylor was set to break the points scoring record that night until he was rested during the second half so that he could break the record the following week at Parramatta. Melbourne though would face the Broncos at Docklands the following Sunday afternoon and with the $1m seats brought in closer to the action, the Storm were able to turn things around for a 32–28 win against the reigning premiers.
Only a couple of rounds later, the Roosters also put a score on Melbourne at the Old SFS, pantsing Melbourne in the second half 50–28 after scores were level 16–all at half time. Again though, back at Docklands the following Monday night, the Storm were able to turn things around in a hard-fought 28–24 win against the Panthers. That win could have seen Melbourne sneak into the 2001 finals series if they could beat the Warriors on another Monday night at Docklands. Instead a 24–all draw saw the visitors sew up their first ever finals appearance at Melbourne’s expense.
Prior to last Friday night, Melbourne last had the bat raised against them late in the 2003 season against the Bulldogs at the Showgrounds, the then premiership favourites in the middle of a hot streak putting on a show in a 50–4 win. In Craig Bellamy’s first year as coach, the Storm were a little bit like the weather in Melbourne — all over the place. The following Sunday afternoon back at Olympic Park, the Storm put 50 past the Eels, notching up a 50–12 win. It was the first of four big wins late in the 2003 season which saw Melbourne end up fifth on the ladder after spending the entirety of the campaign in the top eight.1
In summary for Melbourne — that’s three wins from four matches after conceding 50 points… maybe it’s not all immediate doom and gloom?
Interesting that apart from Melbourne, it’s the Roosters, Warriors, and Eels that have a winning record after conceding a big score.
Overall though that’s about a 40% winning record for teams coming off conceding 50 or more points. Reasonable odds considering there are some very bad teams that have conceded 50 points one week and then a number of times did that again the following week. Not to mention those teams that had the shame of having their season ended with a shellacking.
It did get me thinking about how often we’re seeing teams faded from premiership contention at the moment — there was certainly less of this happening from 2008 through 2019.2
Melbourne are responsible for 38 of those entries, but never more than thrice in any one season. This week’s opponents have been the victim of four +50 scores against the Storm.
Stat attack
This will be Melbourne’s fifth match on 11 April, with the club winning two of the previous four matches played on this date. The last time the Storm played on this date they lost to the Bulldogs at AAMI Park on Monday Night Football in 2016.
Melbourne have won 35 of the previous 53 matches against the Warriors, including the last 16 matches in a row. The Warriors last win was in Auckland in July 2015.
The Warriors won four of their 10 visits to Olympic Park, lost both of their visits to Docklands, and have won just three times at AAMI Park from 12 visits. Melbourne average 31 points per game against the Warriors at AAMI Park.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored five tries in five matches for the Warriors against Melbourne, having scored two tries in eight matches against Melbourne when with Penrith and Canterbury. He’s only tasted success against the Storm once, when he started at fullback for Penrith in 2018 at AAMI Park.3
Jahrome Hughes has played in 12 matches for Melbourne against the Warriors and has never been on the losing team. He’s scored seven tries in those matches.
Cameron Smith is the leading points scorer in matches between these teams, scoring 200 points in 33 appearances. Of the current players, Nick Meaney is second on the list with 68 points.
Melbourne haven’t lost a round six match since 2020.
This week in Storm history
Birthdays:
7 April: Tim Glasby ⚡️153
8 April: Brett White ⚡️076
9 April: Jamie Feeney ⚡️080
10 April: Ricky Leutele ⚡️206
Blast from the past:
Ando’s only regret (The Herald-Sun/Ben Vernon)
7 April 2001
Former Melbourne Storm coach Chris Anderson said he had just one regret when he resigned from the club on Monday.
“I’m just dirty I couldn't stay another week to have one more crack at the Broncos,” Anderson laughed.
There is no love lost between Anderson and Brisbane, and there would be no one happier than Anderson if the Storm continue their winning streak against the current premiers tomorrow.
It’s a source of personal pride for Anderson that the Broncos haven't beaten the Storm since the 1998 semi-finals, but skipper Robbie Kearns denied there would be a “do it for Opes” spirit in tomorrow's match.
“He didn’t like them at all and it was a personal thing with him to beat the Broncos,” Kearns said. “We’d love to do it and if we do beat them he could probably take most of the credit for it. But we're not going to put any extra pressure on ourselves.
“We’ve got to concentrate on playing smart and not bringing too much emotion into it.”
Storm halfback Matt Orford is relishing the Storm's underdog status and the upheaval at the club may be the catalyst Orford needs to turn the team’s fortunes around. Orford has struggled for confidence and consistency this season, but could flourish now there is less pressure on him to win games for the Storm on his own.
“Being the underdog is a great thing,” Orford said. “Some people are saying we’re going to get done by 20 points, so there is a lot less pressure on us. The Broncos are the benchmark and they are the best team in the comp, but we’ve got nothing to lose and if we get off to a decent start, we'll go pretty well.”
Orford has made a commitment to new coach Mark Murray to utilise his running game. Murray, a former Queensland and Australian halfback, has ordered the promising half to be more selfish with the ball in tomorrow's match at ANZ Stadium in Brisbane.
“He just said to me that I’ve got into a phase of passing the ball all the time, rather than taking the line on myself,” Orford said.4
Do you remember:
After captaining the Broncos to the 2000 NRL premiership, Kevvie Walters made the move to the Super League to play with the Warrington Wolves, reuniting with Allan Langer. Walters didn’t last long in England, returning to Australia before the end of March 2001. When Chris Anderson parted ways with the Storm in early April 2001 and was replaced by Mark Murray, Walters was offered the job of coaching the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. Wanting to stay inside the Broncos organisation, he instead took the reigns at then Broncos affiliate the Toowoomba Clydesdales. Walters would also return to the field during the 2001 season, turning out for the Broncos in five matches late in the season. The Broncos legend would eventually make his way to Melbourne in 2011 as an assistant coach under Craig Bellamy until the end of the 2013 season.
Team line-up
Sualauvi Fa’alogo
Will Warbrick
Jack Howarth
Nick Meaney
Moses Leo
Cameron Munster
Jahrome Hughes
Stefano Utoikamanu
Harry Grant ©
Josh King
Joe Chan
Cooper Clarke
Trent Loiero
Tyran Wishart
Alec MacDonald
Jack Hetherington
Davvy Moale
Lazarus Vaalepu
Manaia Waitere
Preston Conn
Hugo Peel (possible NRL debut)
Trent Toelau (possible Storm debut)
Referee: Grant Atkins (Bunker: Chris Butler)
Preview
Melbourne Storm vs Warriors
— AAMI Park, 7:35pm Saturday 11 April 2026
Melbourne published a nice piece about the legacy of the Michael Moore Trophy.
On team list Tuesday, there was no sign of STB in the NRL squad. Instead Moses Leo will wear the famous five jersey this week. No pressure. Nick Meaney and a returning (maybe) Jack Howarth are named in the centres. Happy to see Cooper Clarke named in the number 12 jersey after being one of a few not to lower their colours last week. He’s never going to have the creative output as Eli Katoa, but if he can keep running hard and tackling hard, the rewards will come his way.
But that’s really it for changes for the Storm. We could accuse Bellyache of just trying again with this group and formula, given who is still unavailable and a supposed lack of depth in certain areas. Perhaps another week of hard training might see the defensive frailties addressed.
Following their 36–22 loss against the Sharks, the Warriors lost Luke Metcalf to a hamstring injury, that means Chanel Harris-Tavita will be in the six jersey, while Alofiana Khan-Pereira is in their reserves for now — that will likely change given Adam Pompey failed to have his grade two dangerous contact charge downgraded at the NRL Judiciary. The visitors are still without Mitchell Barnett, Te Maire Martin and Kurt Capewell, but will have the services of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak fresh off a hat-trick against the Sharks, with the winger a regular try scorer against the Sto
Cribbing from the work of Rugby League Eye Test this week, because the numbers never lie:
This year Craig Bellamy’s side has conceded the most tries from eight or more play the balls in the NRL at 10, and only two of them came from Penrith. The probability of scoring a try against Melbourne this year once you pass eight consecutive play the balls is the highest in the NRL at over 23%. Historically they’ve been very good in this area, never being above 12.9% after five rounds and they conceded zero in 2019.
The club’s depth has never been shallower and their inability to defend longer stretches of possession has shown this. If anyone can reduce this, Craig Bellamy can.
In amongst the rest of the numbers being highlighted though reveals some other tasty nuggets:
Melbourne are allowing too many post contact metres, currently fourth worst in that category;
The Storm’s options through the middle of tackle counts, when you hope that your middle and edge forwards are gaining territory, or that your playmakers are directing plays to set up the final tackle options are woeful;
Melbourne aren’t conceding too many long-distance tries (from >40m from the line), but this week’s opponents are the worst in this metric;
As is often the case, Melbourne’s discipline isn’t the worst, but there’s always room for improvement, because if the referee awards a set restart against the Storm, as seen above, the opposition are going to score;
That’s especially so if the opposition are in Melbourne’s redzone. A try (17/23) have come from whenever they play is started close to the Storm line;
Melbourne are forcing errors in defence… or they’ve played against a couple of teams that make a lot of them;5
In net run metres, the Storm are firmly in mid-table mediocrity.
What it means that Melbourne have a losing record for the first time since 2018 and are on the outside looking into the top eight. It is only April though and they don’t award premierships until October. So there is time to fix some of the issues that have been present the past few weeks, and those that were papered over in wins against the Eels and Dragons. What requires attention as always is attitude and effort. Resilience is key. It’s not enough to complete sets if they don’t lead to anything. Missing 40+ tackles a week will never be a winning formula.
A Storm win this week, well it would be a nice tonic after a three game losing skid. A fourth straight defeat with a trip to Canberra looming… well that’s season defining. For the Warriors, ending their nightmare run against the Storm would get their confidence up after a couple of losses. Taking the Michael Moore Trophy back across the Tasman might just be the kick their season needs.
Or this from The Caddie:
I’m going the Wahs boys. Fucken fire up aye. Up the Wahs. I need to get something fucken out of yas. If it’s to prove me wrong, then go do it. Take that motivation into the week.
Given that it’s Gather Round in the AFL this weekend, there could be a good crowd in attendance on Saturday night, unless that weather forecast (16°C and a shower or two) deters a few from venturing out to Swan St. There should be plenty of whānau from both sides of the ditch though making for a loud night at AAMI Park.
Something for your ears
No one has any need for any form of podcast from or featuring your correspondent, but do listen to Ché’s new podcast The Spray and, as always Thunder Chat.
Spotify links above, but Thunder Chat has an RSS page with all the links should you need them.
What else is going on?
It’s finals time in the NSWRL Junior Representatives competitions.
First up on Saturday afternoon, the U17 girls will travel up to The Bad Place to take on the Sharks at the Lilyfield Rectangle (kickoff 1pm). This is a matchup between sixth and seventh on the ladder, with Melbourne getting the better of their opponents a month ago, winning 46–0 at Casey Fields. Since then, the Sharks had their bye, lost to the Panthers and beat the Raiders to finish with four wins and four losses for the season. It’s been an impressive inaugural season for the Storm girls in this competition and let’s hope they have another win in them to progress through to the semi finals.
Next up (kickoff 2:30pm) it’s a replay of last week’s U19 match between Melbourne and the Roosters. These teams played out a great match at Seabrook Reserve last Saturday and the winner here will progress through to the preliminary finals, while the loser will have an knockout semi final on their schedule.
Meanwhile it will be a big Saturday of rugby league on Swan Street. First up at Gosch’s Paddock is the U21s match between the Storm and the Warriors (kickoff 3pm). Melbourne are still chasing their first win as reigning premiers in the Jersey Flegg Cup, having gone the first month of the season without a win. The Warriors have won three of their five matches so far, struggling in defence the last couple of weeks conceding 36 points to both the Tigers and Sharks.
When the gates open at AAMI Park, the Storm’s NSW Cup team will be chasing their second win of the season against the Warriors (kickoff 4:45pm). Melbourne struggled last week against the Panthers, while the Wahs have won their last two matches in close finishes against the Magpies and Jets. The Storm lineup will give an early indication whether there will be any late changes to the NRL squad, with Hugo Peel named at fullback, and Shawn Blore continuing his search for match fitness.
In the Super Netball, the Lightning host the Mavericks on Sunday afternoon, while the Vixens look to keep their unbeaten start to the season against the Swifts on Saturday afternoon.
We don’t talk about how the 2003 ended though.
I wonder why that might be…
I probably should just rewatch that particular match given how often it keeps popping up.
There would be no first up win after sacking the coach for Melbourne. Brisbane won 18–16 after Orford missed a conversion attempt from the left sideline after Marcus Bai scored three minutes from fulltime.
Write your own preferred narrative on this one.