S29E14 Preview – Early Knight
It's time for Melbourne's annual 6pm Friday home match
But what about a second straight home game?
In Melbourne’s history only a couple of teams have had the wood on the Storm and been able to put together an extended winning streak. One of those is the Knights who won six straight matches against Melbourne from the 2000 qualifying final through to the 2003 season.
S06E08 – Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights
Melbourne had won their opening two matches in the 2003 season under new coach Craig Bellamy, but that run came to an end in round 4 with the Knights taking a 44–28 win in Newcastle. The two teams would meet again just a month later in this match at Olympic Park. The Storm were in seventh place coming into round 8, while the Knights were sitting in third position.
Reports at the time of this match put that the visitors were fielding a spare parts team — Andrew Johns and Josh Perry were missing through suspension,1 and a further four representative players were missing through injury.2
On a cold and windy night at Olympic Park, the Fox Sports team of Mark Braybrook, Gary Freeman and Russell Fairfax had the call of this one.3 Only 9,541 fans were inside The Graveyard, the Nikau Stand looking especially sparse.
After missing the previous two matches through injury, this match turned into the Matt Orford Show very quickly. The diminutive halfback ran a set play in the Knights redzone after the visitors had handed over possession inside their own half. The set play du jour was the inside ball for Stephen Kearney to cut deep into the defensive line, look for an offload to a supporting player to create a line break. It came off perfectly in just the third minute. Kearney’s offload to Robbie Ross put the fullback clear into space to score untouched.
Without Johns, the Knights last tackle options were extremely limited — playing out of position, most of their playmaking fell to Danny Buderus. This allowed the Storm to blanket the visitors on final tackles, leading the home team to better field position, even while playing into the wind coming through from the Yarra River end of the ground.
In just his second NRL season, Cameron Smith was already putting his mark on this year, his kicking game was prominent early in this one. Melbourne were missing Scott Hill through injury, so with Matt Geyer taking the six jersey, much of the attacking flair was left to Smith and Orford.
The first penalty to the Knights in the seventh minute finally gave the visitors some field position — Marcus Bai aiming up in defence was able to hold up Craig Hall out wide, but the Knights maintained possession. The Storm were scrambling well though and able to come up with the ball and get out of danger with a Bai offload to Steve Bell. With the ball, Melbourne were able to find good metres — but again, penalties gave the visitors passage into Melbourne’s half, the Storm players at times getting caught slowing down the ruck.
With the ball though, only Buderus looked dangerous, and when he was tackled on fifth tackle it was left to Sean Rudder to put in a kick… but his stab kick went straight to Orford. The Ox caught the ball cleanly and broke through the line with a little push from Billy Slater — knowing that he didn’t have the speed to make the line, he handed it off to the former jockey at midfield to run again to score his seventh career try. Orford slotting the conversion into the wind to hand Melbourne a 12–0 lead.
It was 14–0 soon after when Orford was hit late when kicking to earn a penalty in front of the posts, taking the penalty goal from 20 metres out in the 15th minute.
With referee Matt Cecchin blowing a few penalties from the ruck against both teams, it was Melbourne with the better attacking opportunities, especially when using the speed on the left edge through Slater and Junior Langi. What surprised me looking back at this match though was the number of kicks being put in from Cameron Smith. It lead to some expansive footy from the Storm, but the platform was built in the middle by the forwards. Following an extended set deep in the Newcastle half of the field, Peter Robinson in his 50th Storm match came close to scoring, but it would be Orford again setting up the scoring play, this time putting the skipper Kearney through a massive hole to get a try under the posts for a 20–0 lead.
In the shadows of half time, Melbourne extended their lead through Steve Bell. He ran straight into a gap left by Timana Tahu who had gone for an intercept on a bullet pass from Orford, the conversion missing for a 24–0 lead at the break.
Back from half time, the Knights struggled to get any real go forward, as their errors continued. Storm attack though looked sharp, even if some of their options were a little questionable.
Then came the moment of this match when Billy Slater lit up Olympic Park with an almost length of the field try. Collecting a kick at the back, Robbie Ross, passed to Slater, who brought in Langi, with the winger offloading back to Slater in support to run 70m to score a “slashing” try, blasting straight past Mark Hughes at the back to extend Melbourne’s lead to 30–0.
Melbourne weren’t done in the final 20 minutes — Stephen Kearney cut through the middle slicing through defenders like they weren’t there and with Robbie Ross always in support, it was Orford’s turn to score a try under the posts. Slater went looking for a hat trick as Melbourne brought the razzle dazzle, slicing through the Knights at will as Melbourne went back-to-back — Orford this time passing to David Kidwell for another try assist as Melbourne hit 40 points for the second time for the season. It was Melbourne’s eighth line break, with the Knights only have one to their name. The ninth line break would have seen Slater getting his hat trick as he was clear down the sideline, but the pass from Matt Geyer was called forward.
Some missed tackles from the Storm finally saw the Knights score — Rudder combining with Hughes, with Rudder getting the ball back to Matt Jobson to crash over.
It was a messy final ten minutes with the result in the bag. Dallas Johnson was lucky to stay not to have been binned for dissent, instead he was only marched for ten. Smith scored the final try of the night, running off an offload from Glen Turner — shrugging out of arms tackles to score next to the posts, converting his own try with Orford off the field. Even with the players they were missing, it was a disappointing night for the Knights, while the Storm bounced back from some public criticism from Craig Bellamy to play with confidence.
Coincidentally enough, this match is featured on the NRL Throwback YouTube channel this week.
Melbourne – 46 (Slater 13', 55', Ross 3’, Kearney 29', Bell 38', Orford 58', Kidwell 61', Smith 78' tries; Orford 6/8, Smith 1/1 goals)
Newcastle – 6 (Jobson 68' try; Abraham 1/1 goal)
Dally M votes: Matt Orford (3), Billy Slater (2), Robbie Ross (1)4
Stat attack
Melbourne are undefeated in six previous matches on 5 June, previously winning matches against the Wests Tigers, Broncos, Rabbitohs and Titans. It will be their first match on this date since 2021.
In June, Melbourne have played 108 matches, winning 71 with one draw against the Dragons in 2002. Melbourne went undefeated in June in both 2024 and 2025.
This is the 50th NRL match between these teams — Melbourne have won 32, while Newcastle have won 17. At AAMI Park, the Knights have won twice from 13 previous matches — the 2013 semi final and a Monday night match in 2015.
Melbourne won 11 straight matches against Newcastle from 2015 through 2022. Dale Finucane, Brandon Smith and Suliasi Vunivalu were all undefeated in eight appearances for Melbourne against Newcastle.
Andrew Johns (3) and Cooper Cronk (1) are the only players to have kicked field goal in matches between these teams.
After having a great Friday night record down the years, Melbourne have lost all five Friday night games this season.
This week in Storm history
Birthdays:
1 June: Nathan Sologinkin ⚡️065
2 June: Jack Afamasaga ⚡️138; Ryley Jacks ⚡️177
6 June: Rory Kostjasyn ⚡️120
7 June: Daniel Frame ⚡️025
Blast from the past:
Storm cleared, but headlock applied on illegal tactic (Herald Sun/Karl de Kroo)
1 June 2004
Melbourne Storm last night welcomed a NRL crackdown on grapple tackles, despite being the club accused of inventing the contentious tactic.
Storm’s tackling style was again called into question following Saturday night’s win over Newcastle.
An on-field complaint from Knights skipper Danny Buderus led to referees’ boss Robert Finch referring three of Storm’s tackles to the NRL’s match review committee.
No Storm players were charged, but the NRL later issued a circular to all clubs, warning that the practice of placing tackled players in headlocks would not be tolerated.
“There has been a growing concern about tackles where players are being grabbed around the head or neck,” NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said.
“The circular allows clubs time to advise their players of the things both the referees and the judiciary will be looking for.”
The clubs were advised that:While minor incidental and accidental contact with the head or neck will still occur from time to time and may not breach the rules of the game — any unnecessary contact with the head or neck of an opponent would risk penalty by the referee on the field, and in more serious cases could result in a misconduct charge under the judiciary code of procedure.
The indicators to be used in determining an illegal action in a tackle will include:
DEFENDERS grasping the head or neck of an opponent in a tackle where more than one tackler is involved.
DEFENDERS making a legitimate upper body tackle, but then sliding or moving up to grasp the head or neck in completing the tackle.ANY pulling or jerking of the head or neck in an attempt to roll the ball carrier over in completing the tackle.
RESTRAINING the ball carrier on the ground by his head or neck to slow down the play-the-ball.
ANY other unnecessary contact with the head or neck in effecting a tackle.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said while he would inform his players of the crackdown, his team would not need to make any major adjustments to its defensive technique.
He was pleased that it was directed to all clubs, not just Storm.
“I think it backs up what we have been saying, we have been unfairly targeted,” Bellamy said.
“I have no problem with our tackles being scrutinised and we might have been a bit over zealous in a couple on the weekend. My problem was that we were the only ones being looked at.
“I looked at the game from the weekend and the club (Newcastle) that has made these complaints provided a couple of pretty good examples of grapple tackles themselves.”
Bellamy highlighted tackles made by Knights players on Storm lock David Kidwell in the 13th minute and one on centre Jake Webster early in the second half.
Bellamy also defended the grapple tackle.
“I don't think anyone goes in with the intention of grappling,” Bellamy said.
“It is more a result of gang tackles. If there is three in a tackle they can’t all hold on around the legs.”
Do you remember:
The first field goal in club history was kicked by Brett Kimmorley in a 25–16 win over Balmain at the Lilyfield Rectangle on 7 June 1998. Melbourne went into that match missing NSW Origin representatives Rodney Howe and Glenn Lazarus, with Anthony Bonus making his one and only Storm appearance in that match. Bonus had last played first grade for Parramatta during the 1996 season and was playing for Norths Devils in Brisbane when he got the call up into the Storm squad. He only met the majority of the Storm squad the day before the game. Bonus would score a try in the 1998 Queensland Cup Grand Final win for the Devils, winning Norths best forward award for the 1998 season.
Chronologically, Bonus is the first of the Storm “one game wonders” group of players whose numbers currently rank at 22 with the 2026 additions of Angus Hinchey, Preston Conn and Gabriel Satrick all awaiting further chances to impress at NRL level.
Team line-up
Sualauvi Fa’alogo
Will Warbrick
Jack Howarth
Manaia Waitere
Moses Leo
Cameron Munster
Jahrome Hughes
Stefano Utoikamanu
Harry Grant ©
Josh King
Cooper Clarke
Ativalu Lisati
Trent Loiero
Trent Toelau
Alec MacDonald
Jack Hetherington
Josiah Pahulu (possible Storm debut)
Joe Chan
Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown
Shawn Blore
Keagan Russell-Smith
Angus Hinchey
Referee: Ashley Klein (Bunker: Chris Butler)
Forecast: Showers easing, max 14°C
Preview
Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights
— AAMI Park, 6:00pm Friday 5 June 2026
Team list Tuesday changes? That’s different.
Nick Meaney’s injury sees Manaia Waitere move to the starting centre position. Shawn Blore has been named in the reserves following his stint in the concussion protocols. Maybe he will slot back into the starting edge forward role to shift Cooper Clarke back to his role in the middle where he is more suited. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown is on the bench following his try against the Roosters in the NSW Cup playing on the right wing. With the NSW Cup team playing on Saturday, at least those that didn’t take to the field will get a run around out at Broadmeadows. Elsewhere it’s normal service for the Storm — there’s still no sight of Xavier Coates, maybe we’ll see him in a few weeks, or likely not.
The Knights are doubling up their weapons manufacturing this week with Fletcher Sharpe and Fletcher Hunt in their back seven. In the absence of the injured Sandon Smith, Sharpe will join Dylan Brown in a halves combination that has an array of speedy types out wide at their disposal, with Dominic Young scoring 14 tries from his 12 appearances this season. He’s part of the reason why the Novocastians are averaging over 28 points per game this season, although their defence is leaking 25.5 points per match — by far the highest of the teams currently sitting in the top four.
Which is where the Knights are at the moment on the back of eight wins from their 12 matches. Recovering from a three-match skid in April, Newcastle have won their past four matches, albeit against some teams down in the same area of the ladder at Melbourne find themselves in 2026. After this trip to Victoria, the Knights also have a bye before three straight home matches, so both teams will want to take what could be a crucial two competition points.
To win this week, Melbourne will need to build on what they were able to do against the Roosters by defending their own errors and capitalising on the opposition’s mistakes. But this isn’t Adam O’Brien’s Newcastle. They might have finally turned the corner under Justin Holbrook and would think themselves a great chance of winning their first game at AAMI Park since 2015, especially as Melbourne historically can be vulnerable the week before a bye.
Last week I was expecting a high scoring slopfest — this week might deliver that, especially if the forecast moisture has cleared by kickoff. Melbourne will need to score points this week, hopefully the middle forwards can push through to build space and time for Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster to cook up a bunch of tries.
The timeslot though will affect the attendance figure this week at AAMI Park. Melbourne’s lowest home attendance since 2022 is just over 10,000 — there hasn’t been a sub 10k attendance (excluding the pandemic seasons) since 2015, so hopefully that record is another one broken in 2026.
What else is going on?
Might be an early Saturday morning for any Storm rugby league fans wanting to catch either the Jersey Flegg Cup or NSW Cup teams in action at Broadmeadows this weekend.
The U21s will be facing off against the Knights at 10am at Seabrook Reserve, looking to build on their win last week. These teams played a few weeks ago in Newcastle with the Knights winning 44–22.
At 11:30am, fresh off their thumping win over the Roosters, the Storm NSW Cup team also have the Knights at Seabrook Reserve. The fourth-placed Knights were far too good just over a month ago winning 46–20.
In the Super Netball it’s the second last weekend of the regular season and the Melbourne Derby on Sunday afternoon (first pass 2pm) at a sold out John Cain Arena. The Vixens couldn’t get past the Thunderbirds last week, while the Mavericks shocked the netball world with their win over the Green Team. Another win will sew up a finals berth. That will come at the expense of the Lightning, who despite their win over the Giants sit two games outside the top four and will need to rely on other results now to make the finals. This week the Sunshine Coast girls make their way down the Bruce Highway for their second derby against the Firebirds, looking to extend their winning streak in this matchup.
The Eighth copped a two-match suspension for a head slam tackle the previous weekend against the Wests Tigers for which “he should have been sent off” according to Tim Sheens. Perry was found guilty of eye-gouging Terry Hill.
Robbie O’Davis, Adam Woolnough, Anthony Quinn, Ben Kennedy, Kurt Gidley were some of the better known Knights joining Johns and Perry to miss this match.
Oddly the NRL.com version of the replay is the venue scoreboard version of the match without any graphics additions.
Remember that the 2003 Dally M Awards were cancelled by the NRL in response to threatened industrial action by the RLPA. The full suite of winners and points were never revealed. It’s assumed Craig Gower won the Dally M Medal and Billy Slater probably won the Dally M Rookie of the Year… but who knows.