The 2004 Melbourne Storm season was the 7th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2004 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 6th out of 15 teams.
Inconsistency plagued Storm in Craig Bellamy’s second season in charge, but the team won four games in a row during the middle part of the year to move into the top four. They could not maintain their run though, eventually finishing sixth. Once again Storm won its first final, a 31-14 triumph over the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium before bowing out to the Bulldogs for the second straight season the following week. John Ribot departed the club early in the 2004 season with Frank Stanton stepping in as acting CEO for the next 12 months.
Season summary World Sevens – Storm avenge their 2003 loss to Lebanon in the Rugby League World Sevens, but fail to progress out of Pool C. 4 March – In the wake of the Coffs Harbour scandal overshadowing the start of the 2004 NRL season, reports emerge two Melbourne players are being accused of sexual assault, claims which are later ruled unfounded. 7 March – With a forthcoming bye in Round 1, Melbourne play foundation NSWRL club Newtown Jets in an extra trial match at Henson Park. 12 March – Club founder John Ribot resigns as executive director of the club. Ribot later sells his remaining shares in the club to News Limited. Ribot and News are forced to deny the decision was connected to Ribot's handling of allegations against two Melbourne players. Frank Stanton is appointed interim CEO of the club. 17 March – Coach Craig Bellamy agrees to a new contract to coach Melbourne until the end of 2007. Round 2 – Despite leading 14–10 at half time, Melbourne lose their first game for the season at home to Newcastle Knights. 28 April – Melbourne is found by the NRL to have exceeded the competition's salary cap in 2003 and are fined $130,956. Round 6 – Celebrating his 200th NRL game, Danny Williams scores two tries and adds a late conversion to bring up a 50–4 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs. Round 8 – Referee Tony Archer awards New Zealand Warriors goalkicker Sione Faumuina a second shot at goal after Melbourne captain Stephen Kearney deliberately threw a water bottle in his line of vision. The Warriors regain the Michael Moore Trophy with a 20–14 win in Auckland. 13 May – Outspoken Parramatta Eels CEO Denis Fitzgerald declares that Melbourne Storm be disbanded and forced to relocate to the Gold Coast, saying "promoting rugby league in Melbourne is akin to promoting beach volleyball in Iceland." Round 12 – Melbourne win their first ever game at EnergyAustralia Stadium, beating the Newcastle Knights 28–16. The club had previously lost six straight games at the venue. Round 14 – Despite reaching a 16–0 lead, Melbourne lose 28–26 to South Sydney Rabbitohs in Souths' caretaker coach Arthur Kitinas first game in charge. Round 16 – In a night of milestones with the club celebrating Robbie Kearns (250 games), Matt Geyer (150 games, 144 games for Melbourne to equal Marcus Bai's record); Storm thrash Warriors 42–6 to take back the Michael Moore Trophy. Round 17 – Melbourne blitz Penrith Panthers 66–14, setting new club records for the highest score and record winning margin at Olympic Park. Matt Orford scored a new club record 11 goals from 12 attempts. 14 July – Club captain Stephen Kearney announces he will be leaving Melbourne at the end of the season to finish his career with Super League club Hull F.C. Round 19 – Danny Williams is sent off for king-hitting Wests Tigers forward Mark O'Neill. O'Neill is cited and later found guilty of a careless high tackle on Williams, but receives no suspension. After the NRL judiciary hearing is adjourned for two weeks after evidence is introduced claiming Williams was suffering "post-traumatic amnesia", he receives a 18-match suspension, the longest suspension handed down in over a decade. Round 20 – Scoring 18 points (3 tries, 3 goals) himself, a controversial last second Matt Orford try hands Melbourne a 22–16 win against Parramatta. Eels coach Brian Smith furious with video referee Chris Ward to award the Orford try, calling the decision "disgusting". Round 23 – Jeremy Smith makes his NRL debut, scoring a try with his first touch of the ball. Smith is the first former Melbourne Storm junior to play with the club. Round 24 – In their last game at Olympic Park, Rodney Howe and Stephen Kearney lead Melbourne to a 22–12 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, the club's first win against that club since 2000. September 13 – News Limited appoint former St Kilda CEO Brian Waldron as the club's new CEO. Round 26 – Secure in sixth position on the NRL ladder, Craig Bellamy rests a number of players from the club's final regular season game against Manly. Melbourne lose 30–28 with Bellamy expressing his anger at match referee Steve Lyons and video referee Paul Simpkins over a number of contentious decisions. September 7 – With 23 points, Matt Orford finishes in a tied for third in the 2004 Dally M Medal count, four points behind winner Danny Buderus. Qualifying Final – Down 8–0 at half time, Melbourne stun the Brisbane Broncos in a pulsating second half, winning 31–14 at Suncorp Stadium. Matt Orford also kicks the first field goal for Melbourne in over five years. Semi Final – For the second straight season, Melbourne are eliminated from the NRL finals by the Bulldogs, this time going down 43–18 at Aussie Stadium. Down 16–0 early, Melbourne were never really in the match, in what was former captain Rodney Howe's last game of rugby league.
Milestone games
Round Player Milestone Round 2 Ben MacDougall Storm debut Alex Chan Storm debutRound 3 Steve Turner Storm debutRound 6 Danny Williams 200th gameRound 7 David Kidwell 100th gameRound 8 Kirk Reynoldson 50th gameRound 9 Cooper Cronk NRL debutRound 12 Stephen Kearney 200th gameRound 16 Matt Geyer 150th gameRound 19 Scott Hill 150th gameRound 21 Robbie Kearns 250th gameRound 22 Matt Orford 100th game Rodney Howe 150th gameRound 23 Jeremy Smith NRL debutRound 26 Andrew McFadden 100th game
Jerseys Melbourne's jerseys were unchanged from the designs implemented by Canterbury of New Zealand in 2003. The club's clash colours were again a mostly white design with a purple chevron and gold thunderbolts, worn with navy shorts. Honda finished up as sponsor at the end of 2003, and there was no sleeve sponsor for 2004.
Fixtures
Pre Season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Source24 JanuaryRugby League World Sevens LebanonAussie Stadium, Sydney272224 JanuaryRugby League World Sevens St George Illawarra DragonsAussie Stadium, Sydney102925 JanuaryRugby League World Sevens Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsAussie Stadium, Sydney1722 Date Opponent Venue Result Tries Goals Field goals 14 FebruaryTrial Tweed Heads SeagullsNoosa District Sports Complex, Tewantin2814 21 FebruaryTrial Brisbane BroncosClive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba1014M Geyer, S HillM Geyer (1) 28 FebruaryTrial Canberra RaidersEric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga2030G Turner, F Moala, M King, B SlaterC Smith (2) 6 MarchTrial Newtown JetsHenson Park, Sydney540S Turner (3), F Moala (2), M King (2), B Slater, P Robinson, K ReynoldsonC Smith (5), M Geyer
Regular season Result by round
Matches Source: – Golden Point extra time (pen) – Penalty try Date Opponent Venue Result Tries Goals Field goals 13 March1Bye21 March2 Newcastle Knights Olympic Park, Melbourne2636S Hill, F Moala, B Slater, G TurnerC Smith 5/528 March3 St George Illawarra Dragons Olympic Park, Melbourne346S Turner (2), D Cooper, M King, B MacDougall, M OrfordC Smith 4/7, D Cooper 1/14 April4 Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane2634M King (2), S Hill, R Hoffman, B SlaterC Smith 3/5, M Orford 0/111 April5 Penrith Panthers Penrith Park, Sydney2630M King (2), D Cooper, M Orford, P RobinsonC Smith 3/517 April6 South Sydney Rabbitohs Olympic Park, Melbourne504J Webster (3), D Williams (2), D Cooper, D Kidwell, M Orford, C SmithC Smith 5/6, M Orford 1/1, D Williams 1/1, D Cooper 1/124 April7 North Queensland Cowboys Olympic Park, Melbourne286S Bell, M Geyer, D Johnson, K Reynoldson, B SlaterC Smith 3/5, M Orford 1/12 May8 New Zealand Warriors Ericsson Stadium, Auckland1420S Bell (2), S HillC Smith 1/38 May9 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Olympic Park, Melbourne2636S Bell (2), D Cooper (2), B SlaterC Smith 3/516 May10 Parramatta Eels Parramatta Stadium, Sydney3616D Cooper (2), S Bell, D Johnson, R Kearns, C SmithC Smith 6/822 May11 Canberra Raiders Olympic Park, Melbourne2218C Cronk, S Hill, S Kearney, B MacDougallM Orford 3/429 May12 Newcastle Knights EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle2818M Geyer (3), S Hill, B SlaterC Smith 4/55 June13 Wests Tigers Olympic Park, Melbourne3024S Bell, D Johnson, R Kearns, D Kidwell, B SlaterM Orford 3/4, C Smith 2/312 June14 South Sydney Rabbitohs Aussie Stadium, Sydney2628A Chan (2), S Bell, D Cooper, D KidwellM Orford 3/519 June15Bye26 June16 New Zealand Warriors Olympic Park, Melbourne426M King (3), B MacDougall (2), S Bell, D Kidwell, B SlaterM Orford 4/7, D Cooper 1/12 July17 Penrith Panthers Olympic Park, Melbourne6614S Turner (3), C Cronk (2), M King (2), S Hill, R Hoffman, D Kidwell, B MacDougallM Orford 11/1211 July18 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sydney Showground, Sydney1825D Kidwell, B Slater, C SmithM Orford 3/317 July19 Wests Tigers Leichhardt Oval, Sydney1832B Slater (2), M OrfordM Orford 3/324 July20 Parramatta Eels Olympic Park, Melbourne2216M Orford (3), M KingM Orford 3/51 August21 Sydney Roosters Olympic Park, Melbourne1026M King, C SmithM Orford 1/26 August22 St George Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium, Wollongong1434S Bell, M King, M OrfordM Orford 1/315 August23 Canberra Raiders Canberra Stadium, Canberra3618S Bell, M Geyer, M King, B MacDougall, M Orford, B Slater, J SmithM Orford 4/722 August24 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Olympic Park, Melbourne2212S Bell, S Hill, D JohnsonM Orford 5/628 August25 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Toyota Park, Sydney3628M Geyer (2), S Bell, D Johnson, D Kidwell, B MacDougall, B SlaterM Orford 4/7, S Kearney 0/15 September26 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Brookvale Oval, Sydney2830S Bell (2), S Hill (2), C CronkC Smith 4/5
Finals
Ladder
2004 Coaching Staff Head coach: Craig Bellamy Assistant coaches: Dean Lance & Peter Sharp
Football Manager: Greg Brentnall Physical Preparation Coach: Alex Corvo Physiotherapist: Matt Natusch Head Trainer: Troy Thompson
2004 squad List current as of 20 September 2021
CapNat.Player namePositionFirst Storm GamePrevious First Grade RL club1Robbie RossFB1998 Hunter Mariners6Scott HillFE1998 Hunter Mariners8Rodney HowePR1998 Perth Reds9Danny WilliamsLK, SR, HK1998 North Sydney Bears10Robbie KearnsPR1998 Perth Reds18Matt GeyerWG1998 Perth Reds28Stephen KearneySR1999 New Zealand Warriors34Fifita MoalaWG2000 Melbourne Storm37Glen TurnerSR2000 Melbourne Storm38Peter RobinsonSR2000 Melbourne Storm43Matt OrfordHB2001 Northern Eagles44Steven BellCE2001 Melbourne Storm55Cameron SmithHK2002 Melbourne Storm56Kirk ReynoldsonSR2002 Melbourne Storm58Billy SlaterFB2003 Melbourne Storm59David KidwellSR2003 Sydney Roosters60Dallas JohnsonLK2003 Melbourne Storm61Jake WebsterWG2003 Melbourne Storm62Ryan HoffmanSR2003 Melbourne Storm63Andrew McFaddenHB2003 Parramatta Eels64Robert TanieluPR2003 Brisbane Broncos66Dustin CooperWG2003 Melbourne Storm67Nathan FriendHK2003 Brisbane Broncos68Antonio KaufusiPR2003 Melbourne Storm69Matt KingCE2003 Melbourne Storm70Ben MacDougallCE2004 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles71Alex ChanPR2004 Parramatta Eels72Steve TurnerWG2004 Penrith Panthers75Cooper CronkHB2004 Melbourne Storm76Jeremy SmithSR2004 Melbourne Storm–Luke DyerCEYet to debut Penrith Panthers–Sione FinefeuiakiPRYet to debut Melbourne Storm
Player movements
Losses Marcus Bai to Leeds Rhinos Junior Langi to Parramatta Eels Aaron Moule to Widnes Vikings Mitchell Sargent to North Queensland Cowboys Nathan Sologinkin to Released Semi Tadulala to Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Gains