The 2003 Melbourne Storm season was the 6th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2003 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 5th out of 15 teams, before reaching the semi-final where they were knocked out by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. It was Craig Bellamy's first season as head coach of the club.

Under new coach Craig Bellamy, the 2003 season for the Storm was one of regaining premiership credibility. Melbourne reached the finals for the first time since 2000 with evergreen Robbie Kearns and a confident Matt Orford showing the way.

An exit two weeks before the Grand Final was tempered by the rise of young Queenslanders Billy Slater and Cameron Smith. Unheard of at the start of 2003, the steady hooker and dummy-half Smith gave service to Orford and his forwards. He was rewarded with a place in the Maroons Origin side and was unlucky to miss the Kangaroos train-on squad.

The moves of Slater in the centres and at fullback drew attention from fans and keen judges of football talent alike. His debut season for the Storm realised a record 19 tries and talk of a big future in the game.

Season summary Pre season – Melbourne are one of four clubs fined for salary cap breaches during the 2002 NRL season. Melbourne's fine is $66,698 relating to previous contracts. World Sevens – Storm participate in the return of Rugby League World Sevens, losing all three of their pool matches at Aussie Stadium. Steven Bell captained the squad, which included a number of new recruits and players yet to make their NRL debut. 14 February – Stephen Kearney is appointed as Melbourne captain. 20 February – Reports emerge former trackwork jockey Billy Slater has secured a spot in Melbourne's squad ahead of the 2003 season. 27 February – Willie Leyshon announces his retirement from rugby league after a succession of serious knee injuries. Leyshon blaming strength and conditioning coach Alex Corvo and physiotherapist Matt Natusch for ignoring his pleas for an altered training program due to his persistent knee injuries. 5 March – A number of Sydney NRL clubs voice their opposition to the NRL's decision to grant salary cap concessions to Melbourne to help support relocated players. 12 March – NRL CEO David Gallop throws his support behind the proposal to allow Melbourne salary cap concessions to cover relocation expenses for players. Melbourne had put forward a proposal asking the NRL for a $265,000 concession on top of the $3.25m salary cap. Round 1 – Recovering from a 22–0 deficit, Melbourne stage an amazing comeback victory 36–32 over Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at Toyota Park. On his NRL debut, Billy Slater scores a stunning try to spark the comeback, with Steven Bell scoring a hat-trick. 18 March – Melbourne Executive Director John Ribot withdraws Melbourne's application for salary cap concessions for players living away from home, saying "Melbourne don't want to be the source of division among the other clubs." Parramatta Eels boss Denis Fitzgerald and Penrith Panthers boss Shane Richardson had been outspoken in the days since the proposal was first mooted, with Canberra Raiders also requesting salary cap concessions. Round 2 – forward Rodney Howe suffers a serious knee injury as an understrength Melbourne thrash Penrith 42–16. Head coach Craig Bellamy praises rookie Billy Slater who scored two tries in the win, saying "he's got something special about him. I wasn't quite sure when he was going to actually show it, but he's showed it pretty early. He's a special talent." Jake Webster becomes the first Melbourne-born player to debut with the club, but it would be his only appearance for the season after injurying his anterior cruciate ligament the following week playing for Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. 23 April – Aaron Moule announces his retirement from rugby league due to niggling injury problems. Round 7 – In his Storm debut, Andrew McFadden is injured again, succumbing to a groin injury in the first half. McFadden's injuries keep him out of the line-up for the rest of the season. Round 8 – Returning after a two-week injury break, Matt Orford scores 16 points in Melbourne's dominate 46–6 victory over a depleted Newcastle Knights. 9 May – Robbie Ross undergoes surgery on a bulging disc injury, after playing five of the opening eight games of the season. Round 9 – Melbourne inflict Canberra Raiders' first defeat of the season 30–10, despite an injury in the warm-up to Junior Langi. Round 10 – In the last game of rugby league at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium, an injury to Matt Orford cruels Melbourne's quest for a first win over the Broncos since 2001. 6 June – Matt Geyer signs a two-year contract extension, to keep him in Melbourne until the end of the 2005 NRL season. 7 June – Scott Hill re-signs with Melbourne, inking a new five-year contract. Round 13 – South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Melbourne for the first time, with the league cellar-dwellers stunning Melbourne 41–14. Round 14 – Ending a two-game winless streak, Melbourne defeat Penrith 32–12 to end the Panthers' eight-game winning streak. Round 15 – Scott Hill suffers a shoulder injury in Melbourne's loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Hill had feared his season was over, but subsequent scans cleared him of a serious injury. Round 17 – 0–4 at the venue, Melbourne upset Canberra 18–8 to win their first game ever at Bruce Stadium. 9 July – Melbourne sign promising Steve Turner to a three-year contract from 2004. 11 July – John Ribot is forced to deny rumours the club would merge with Collingwood saying, "I don't think you'll see us merging. I've got more chance of flying to the moon." 19 July – Robbie Kearns signs on with Melbourne for a further two seasons. Round 19 – Brisbane Broncos pip Melbourne 26–22 in the club's first ever golden point game, after scores were tied 22–all after 80 minutes. Broncos winger Scott Minto scores the winning try three minutes into extra time. 27 July – Fan-favourite Marcus Bai announces he will be leaving Melbourne at the end of the season, taking up a two-year contract with Leeds Rhinos. Round 21 – Melbourne reclaim the Michael Moore Trophy, winning 14–12 over New Zealand Warriors with a 41-metre penalty goal from Matt Orford the difference. Round 23 – After his first game back from injury since June, Scott Hill is ruled out for the rest of the season after re-injuring his troublesome shoulder. 4 September – In a dispute with the RLPA, the NRL cancel the annual Dally M Awards. Both Billy Slater and Cameron Smith were among the favourites for the Rookie of the Year Award. Round 26 – In a rousing farewell, Marcus Bai scores and converts a try in his farewell appearance at Olympic Park. Melbourne thrash Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 40–10 to finish the season in fifth place, securing the club's first finals appearance since the 2000 NRL season. Qualifying Final – In a controversial 30–18 upset win over Canberra, referee Tim Mander cracks down on Melbourne players employing so-called 'grapple tackles' to slow down the play-the-ball. Coach Craig Bellamy accuses Canberra of making complaints to the NRL about the tackling style, claims rejected by both the NRL and Canberra coach Matt Elliott. The controversy overshadows Melbourne's first finals win since the 1999 NRL Grand Final, causing much media talk in the days after the game between Melbourne officials, referee's boss Robert Finch and league pundits. Semi Final – Melbourne are eliminated from the finals in a whitewash by Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, held scoreless in a 30–0 defeat. It is the first time in 158 NRL games that Melbourne had failed to score.

Milestone games

Round Player Milestone Round 1 Billy Slater NRL debutRound 1 David Kidwell Storm debutRound 1 Dallas Johnson NRL debutRound 2 Jake Webster NRL debutRound 6 Ryan Hoffman NRL debutRound 7 Andrew McFadden Storm debutRound 8 Peter Robinson 50th gameRound 12 Robert Tanielu Storm debutRound 13 Nathan Sologinkin Storm debutRound 14 Dustin Cooper NRL debutRound 15 Marcus Bai 150th gameRound 15 Nathan Friend Storm debutRound 20 Steven Bell 50th gameRound 22 Antonio Kaufusi NRL debutRound 24 Matt King NRL debut

Jerseys Melbourne signed up a new apparel partner for the 2003 season, with Canterbury of New Zealand the new manufacturer of club jerseys. The home jersey design was unchanged from the 2001-02 jersey, but for a white collar replacing the gold. The club's clash colours was changed to a mostly white design with a purple chevron and gold thunderbolts, worn with navy shorts.

Fixtures

Pre Season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Mel. Opp. Source1 FebruaryRugby League World Sevens Brisbane BroncosAussie Stadium, Sydney18381 FebruaryRugby League World Sevens Canberra RaidersAussie Stadium, Sydney8242 FebruaryRugby League World Sevens LebanonAussie Stadium, Sydney1020

Date Opponent Venue Result Tries Goals Field goals 22 FebruaryTrial South Sydney RabbitohsNorth Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich4424B Slater (2), R Ross, R Kearns, D Johnson, S Bell, S Tadulala, M OrfordM Orford (5), M Geyer 1 MarchTrial Canberra RaidersMorwell Recreation Reserve, Morwell46R Ross

Regular season Result by round

Matches Source: – Golden Point extra time (pen) – Penalty try Date Opponent Venue Result Tries Goals Field goals 16 March1 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Toyota Park, Sydney3632S Bell (3), M Geyer (2), M Orford, B SlaterM Orford 4/722 March2 Penrith Panthers Olympic Park, Melbourne4216B Slater (2), S Tadulala (2), M Geyer, P Robinson, C Smith, D WilliamsM Geyer 5/929 March3Bye5 April4 Newcastle Knights EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle2844A Moule (2), M Bai, M Orford, R RossM Orford 4/512 April5 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Olympic Park, Melbourne1812B Slater (2), M BaiM Orford 2/2, C Smith 1/120 April6 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Brookvale Oval, Sydney1420R Ross, B Slater, S TadulalaC Smith 1/1, M Turner 0/226 April7 North Queensland Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville1232M Bai, M SargentC Smith 2/23 May8 Newcastle Knights Olympic Park, Melbourne466B Slater (2), S Bell, S Kearney, D Kidwell, M Orford, R Ross, C SmithM Orford 6/8, C Smith 1/110 May9 Canberra Raiders Olympic Park, Melbourne3010S Bell, M Geyer, K Reynoldson, P RobinsonM Orford 7/718 May10 Brisbane Broncos ANZ Stadium, Brisbane1636M Geyer, D Kidwell, B SlaterM Orford 1/2, C Smith 1/124 May11 Parramatta Eels Parramatta Stadium, Sydney1210S Kearney, S TadulalaM Orford 2/41 June12 Sydney Roosters Olympic Park, Melbourne2027S Bell (2), M OrfordM Orford 4/48 June13 South Sydney Rabbitohs Aussie Stadium, Sydney1441M Bai, M Geyer, K ReynoldsonM Orford 1/314 June14 Penrith Panthers Penrith Park, Sydney3212M Bai, M Geyer, R Kearns, D Kidwell, M OrfordM Orford 6/622 June15 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Olympic Park, Melbourne1226B SlaterM Orford 4/428 June16 Wests Tigers Olympic Park, Melbourne168B Slater (2), D CooperM Orford 2/36 July17 Canberra Raiders Bruce Stadium, Canberra188S Bell, M Geyer, F MoalaM Orford 2/2, C Smith 1/112 July18 North Queensland Cowboys Olympic Park, Melbourne2216M Geyer, R Hoffman, F Moala, M OrfordM Orford 3/620 July19 Brisbane Broncos Olympic Park, Melbourne2226M Bai, R Hoffman, F Moala, B SlaterM Orford 3/526 July20 South Sydney Rabbitohs Olympic Park, Melbourne246B Slater (2), M Geyer, R KearnsM Orford 4/52 August21 New Zealand Warriors Ericsson Stadium, Auckland1412M Bai, K ReynoldsonM Orford 3/410 August22 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sydney Showground, Sydney450M GeyerM Orford 0/117 August23 Parramatta Eels Olympic Park, Melbourne5012B Slater (3), M Bai, S Bell, F Moala, M Orford, C Smith, D WilliamsM Orford 6/8, C Smith 1/222 August24 St George Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium, Wollongong2214F Moala (2), M Sargent, B SlaterM Orford 3/530 August25Bye6 September26 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Olympic Park, Melbourne4010M Geyer (2), M Bai, S Bell, M King, F Moala, D WilliamsM Orford 4/5, M Bai 1/1, M Sargent 1/1

Finals

Ladder

2003 Coaching Staff