The 1998 Melbourne Storm season was the first in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's inaugural Premiership with the new team reaching the top of the ladder in round 15 and finishing the regular season in third place, only one win behind minor premiers Brisbane.
Their first season was a major surprise to many, with critics such as The Sydney Morning Herald's rugby league writer Paul Kent saying in March of their prospects: "with their purple chests, the slash of gold, the Storm form one of the more strikingly visible outfits in the competition. Kind of like a Violet Crumble. Their performances won't be nearly as tasty."
Adopting coach Chris Anderson's new "flat-line" attack, the big Storm forwards laid a platform for their young halves Scott Hill and Brett Kimmorley to wreak havoc on opposing teams. Melbourne's front-rowers Glenn Lazarus, Robbie Kearns and Rodney Howe were all selected to play for New South Wales in the 1998 State of Origin series. A late season injury to captain Lazarus combined with a lack of finals experience saw the Storm knocked out in the play-offs. The club though had proven they were to be taken seriously, and they had easily produced the best debut season of any new team in the game's history.
Season summary 11 January – Melbourne sign former Hunter Mariners players Brett Kimmorley, Scott Hill, John Carlaw, and Paul Marquet to mostly complete their roster ahead of the season. Melbourne had previously signed two former Mariners players Robbie Ross and Richard Swain. The signature of Kimmorley was particularly crucial for the new club, with the Illawarra Steelers keen to sign the former Super League Australia test halfback. 21 January – Captain Glenn Lazarus was officially ruled out of playing in the pre-season fixtures. Lazarus had broken his ankle in July 1997 and was not able to return for his former club during the 1997 season. 25 January – Bookmakers install Melbourne as the $2.50 favourite to win the inaugural NRL wooden spoon. 7 February – Wearing white jerseys, Melbourne win their first preseason trial match against Adelaide Rams in Hobart in front of 2,500 fans at the North Hobart Oval. Brett Kimmorley scored the first try in club colours. In the absence of Glenn Lazarus, New Zealand international Tawera Nikau captained the Storm squad. Ahead of the match, the team visited the site of the Port Arthur massacre to pay their respects to the victims.
12 February – At the club's season launch, John Ribot reveals the official uniform of navy blue jerseys with a stylised white and purple chevron design, worn with navy blue shorts and socks. It was reported that Ribot was looking to sell up to 51% of his ownership in the club back to News Limited in order to "share around the bills." Ribot later said that his intention was always to form a consortium to run the club. At the launch, former News Limited chairman Ken Cowley was appointed the Storm's foundation chairman. 28 February – In their final preseason match in front of 6,000 spectators at Albury, Melbourne were level at 12-all against the Canberra Raiders at half time, before the experienced Raiders team scored a 34–16 victory. Five-eighth Scott Hill suffered an arm injury in the match, but was later cleared of serious injury. Round 1 – Melbourne upset Illawarra Steelers to record their inaugural premiership victory, with Scott Hill scoring the club's first tries. Hill's second try, converted by winger Craig Smith with two minutes remaining in the match, gave Melbourne their first lead of the match. The Storm were only the fourth non-foundation team to win on debut, and only the second to win away from home. Brett Kimmorley would later receive a warning letter from the NRL Judiciary following a high tackle on Illawarra's Craig Wilson, while Aaron Moule suffered a dislocated shoulder which kept him out for two months. Round 3 – Melbourne extend their undefeated start to the season, earning a 26–18 win against the 1997 Super League runners-up Cronulla Sharks. Interchange forward Russell Bawden scored two tries in the match, while hooker Danny Williams was reported for a reckless tackle on Dean Treister. Williams was later suspended for three matches. Round 4 – A record crowd of 20,522 watch unbeaten Melbourne play their first home game at Olympic Park. With chaotic scenes outside the ground, fans are allowed to sit on the running track after half time due to overcrowding. Paul Marquet scored the first try for the club at their redeveloped home venue. Round 5 – On Good Friday, the Auckland Warriors inflict the Storm's first defeat of the season in a 16–12 victory in New Zealand. Melbourne had led early after referee Bill Harrigan missed a forward pass from Tawara Nikau to Marcus Bai for the Storm's first try. The Storm had a chance late in the match to steal the win after the Warriors were penalised, only for Melbourne to lose possession. Round 6 – Late tries to Marcus Bai and Rodney Howe saw Melbourne break a 22–all tie after 65 minutes, to defeat Parramatta 32–22. Following the match, prop forwards Glenn Lazarus and Rodney Howe were selected in the Australia squad for the match against New Zealand. Round 7 – Returning to Olympic Park, Melbourne hold out against a depleted Penrith team, scoring a 22–14 victory. John Carlaw scored two tries in the first half, while both Rodney Howe and Glenn Lazarus backed up from their appearances for Australia against New Zealand the previous evening's test match in Auckland. Howe had been rushed to hospital following the test match with suspected broken ribs, but played through the pain. Round 8 – Melbourne thrash the lowly Western Suburbs Magpies 54–16 at Olympic Park, with Robbie Ross scoring two tries and Craig Smith converting all nine tries to score 18 points. The Storm led 30–4 at half time after the visitors scored the opening try of the match. Round 9 – In the last of three straight home matches, two length of the field intercept tries to Dragons winger Nathan Blacklock helped St George to an upset 18–14 win over Melbourne to end the club's unbeaten run at Olympic Park. Melbourne led 14–12 at half time after tries to Russell Bawden and Danny Williams, but were shut out in the second half. Disappointed club executives later meeting with broadcaster Nine Network after the match was not shown live or replayed on either free-to-air or pay television. Round 10 – Aaron Moule returned from injury, scoring a try in the club's 14–6 win over South Sydney. Round 11 – Melbourne and Illawarra Steelers play out a 14–all draw, with Melbourne denied four second half tries after leading 14–4 at half time. Illawarra goalkicker Rod Wishart had a chance to win the match in the dying minutes, but his conversion attempt was waved away. Glenn Lazarus scored his first try of the season, meaning every member of the club's inaugural team had scored at least one try during the season. Steelers player Shaun Timmins was sent off for a high tackle on Melbourne fullback Robbie Ross during the second half. Referee Paul Simpkins was later dropped from the next weekend of matches after a number of errors, including denying Melbourne a late try to Danny Williams, instead ruling that Williams was held up over the line without consulting his in-goal touch judge. Round 12 – Melbourne record the biggest win by a debut team in premiership history, thrashing Gold Coast Chargers 62–6 in that club's heaviest defeat in their history. Melbourne running in 11 tries to one in the match, with Robbie Ross and Scott Hill both scoring two tries. In a bid for more television coverage, Melbourne moved the start time of the match forward to 12:30pm after the club's previous four matches were not broadcast. Round 13 – Missing key forwards Rodney Howe and Glenn Lazarus after their efforts for NSW in State of Origin, Brett Kimmorley kicks the club's first field goal, in a 25–16 win over Balmain Tigers at Leichhardt Oval. Anthony Bonus became the twenty-second player used by the club, the former Parramatta Eels player last played first grade in 1996. Bonus had been living in Brisbane and playing for Norths Devils and only met the bulk of the Storm squad the day before the match. Forward Robbie Kearns had spent a day in hospital in the lead-up to the match after suffering a bout of tonsillitis. Round 14 – Melbourne take home the "Southern States Cup," defeating the Adelaide Rams 24–4. Playing into a strong breeze in the first half, Scott Hill scored two tries, with Marcus Bai adding another for an 18–0 lead at the break. Papua New Guinea rookie John Wilshere made his debut for the club after impressing for Norths Devils where he was the leading points scorer in the Queensland Cup competition. Round 15 – After defeating North Queensland Cowboys 10–8 in Townsville, Melbourne finish the weekend on top of the NRL ladder for the first time. Melbourne led 8–6 at halftime, with both teams only adding penalty goals in the second half. Craig Smith slotting a pressure penalty goal to break an 8–8 score with 10 minutes to go. 26 June – Rodney Howe is revealed as the third NRL player in 1998 to test positive to a banned substance. Round 16 – A controversial try after the final siren to Tony Tatupu hands the Auckland Warriors a 24–21 victory at Olympic Park. Video referee Peter Filmer watched the replay more than eight times, taking five minutes to make the decision, missing two offside Warriors players and a forward pass in the movement. The Warriors had led 14–4 at half time, after referee Moghseen Jadwat denied Melbourne a try to Robbie Ross due to a supposed forward pass. Round 17 – Brisbane Broncos defeat Melbourne 34–16 in front of a crowd of 35,119 — the highest attendance to watch Melbourne, and the second highest crowd in the 1998 regular season. Brisbane scored three tries in the final 10 minutes to put away the Storm after the match had been evenly poised for much of the contest. 7 July – It's confirmed that Aaron Moule will miss the remainder of the season after he was forced to have surgery on his injured shoulder. Moule had missed two months of matches earlier in the season with the injury, returning to play seven matches through the middle of the season. 9 July – Rodney Howe is suspended for 22 matches by the ARL drugs tribunal for taking two performance-enhancing drugs. Howe received the maximum penalty available under the ARL policy. Howe was accused of taking the anabolic steroid stanozolol to aid the recovery of a knee injury. Round 18 – After back-to-back losses, Melbourne bounce back with a 22–12 win against Manly. In the face of a lopsided amount of possession and penalties, the Storm were able to walk off with the two competition points, though Robbie Kearns (arm) and Glenn Lazarus (groin) both picked up injuries in the match. Kearns was also put on report by referee Brian Grant for a high tackle on Manly's Russell Gartner. Kearns was later cleared by the match reviewers. Earlier, the match had started over 20 minutes later than advertised due to heavy traffic delaying fans access to Olympic Park. Following the match, club CEO Chris Johns was assaulted by a Manly supporter while celebrating the result at Crown Casino while talking with Manly players. Round 19 – Missing six players through injury or suspension, Melbourne suffered their worst defeat of the season so far, losing 34–10 to the North Sydney Bears. The match had been tied 10–all at half time, before the Bears ran away with it in the second half, scoring six tries to none. July 23 – Melbourne were forced to deny that a second player had tested positive to performance-enhancing drugs in the lead up to their match against the Newcastle Knights. The club had come under fire for allowing Rodney Howe to continue training with the playing group and paying him while suspended.