The 2002 Melbourne Storm season was the 5th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2002 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season in 10th place making it their lowest finishing position until 2010, when it was sentenced to finish that season last due to gross salary cap breaches.Stuart Honeysett and Brent Read (23 April 2010) Shocking end to the Melbourne Storm era The Australian , it is also the most recent time that the Storm missed the finals due to not winning enough games. It was Mark Murray's final season as coach of the club.
In 2002 the Storm returned to Olympic Park. The club secured no big name player signings for the season as it kept under the NRL imposed salary cap.
In an effort to reignite its floundering success the return to its smaller home ground was seen by players and supporters as a positive move. The club though continued to deliver hot and cold performances as the season progressed, leaving them on the fringe of the Top 8 (from only 15 competitors).
The club suffered internal turmoil during the season, particularly when the captaincy was removed from Robbie Kearns and given to Rodney Howe. The Storm was also troubled over the renegotiation of club stalwart Richard Swain's contract - he reluctantly signed for Brisbane for 2003 when the Storm (citing salary cap issues) failed to make him an offer.
The Storm's season again came down to needing to win its final round game to reach the semi-finals. In a repeat of 2001, Melbourne appeared to lack enthusiasm when it mattered and again lost a crucial match.
Season summary Pre season – Melbourne officials request to play most of their games at 3pm on Saturday afternoons, with matches broadcast by Nine Melbourne. 16 February – Melbourne win a scrappy preseason trial match against Wests Tigers 30–18 at Gladstone, with triallist Alf Duncan scoring two tries. 13 March – Melbourne is fined $90,000 for a breach of the 2001 NRL salary cap, with club officials vowing to fight the penalty. Round 1 – Storm defeat Canberra Raiders 16-12 in their return to Olympic Park, a disallowed try for obstruction causing consternation for Raiders' coach Matt Elliott. Round 3 – Without regular Matt Orford, Melbourne thrash North Queensland Cowboys 38-10 with Scott Hill dangerous in attack to ease the pressure on debutant Marty Turner. Round 4 – Melbourne stage a dramatic comeback to end Parramatta Eels 14-game undefeated run at Parramatta Stadium. Storm fight back from a 30-10 half time deficit to win 32-30. The winning try was scored almost on full time as Danny Williams offloaded to Marcus Bai for the er to score in the corner. 9 April – Michael Russo and Marty Turner are involved in a serious car accident near Geelong, returning from a surfing trip. Turner suffers fractured ribs, a ruptured spleen, severe concussion, and cuts and bruises. Russo escapes with an injured elbow and is able to return to play in Round 6. Round 6 – Michael Russo scores a late try to seal a 12-4 win over St George Illawarra Dragons only days after the car accident involving him and Marty Turner. Melbourne were forced to overcome more injuries with third-string Cameron Smith injured during the game. Round 7 – New Zealand Warriors claim the Michael Moore Trophy for the first time, beating Melbourne 20-10. 9 May – The NRL board confirms Melbourne's salary cap fine of $90,000 will stand. Round 10 – Trailing 20-22 with seconds remaining, referee Paul Simpkins awards a penalty against Parramatta Eels for stripping the ball from Willie Leyshon, but Matt Orford missed a late penalty goal, costing Melbourne a point. 24 May – Storm CEO Chris Johns admits spreading rumours that the club will relocate to Brisbane in order to extract further funding from the Victorian Government. Round 11 – Melbourne slump to a fifth straight defeat, the worst consecutive streak in club history. 31 May – Head coach Mark Murray makes the decision to dump captain Robbie Kearns, replacing him with Rodney Howe. Senior Melbourne players condemn the decision with Scott Hill suggesting that "senior players should have been consulted." Kearns later calls out the club for disloyalty at the decision to strip him of the captaincy. Round 13 – With new captain Rodney Howe carried off with severe concussion in the first 10 minutes, Melbourne fall to their sixth straight defeat. Coach Mark Murray at odds with referee Mark Oaten's 15-6 penalty count and a number of crucial decisions during the game. Round 14 – forward Shane Walker is sent off for a high swinging arm tackle that knocks out St George Illawarra prop forward Jason Ryles. Melbourne gain their first competition point since April, holding out for a 30-all draw. 16 June – Reports emerge that Melbourne are having difficulty in retaining Richard Swain. Round 15 – Melbourne win their first game in two months, thrashing South Sydney Rabbitohs 44-6 in the first match between the teams since 1999. 30 June – Negotiations break down between Melbourne and Richard Swain, with the now free to entertain offers from rival clubs. 23 July – Melbourne announce that Richard Swain will not be at the club in 2003 after withdrawing any contract offer. Storm announce the signing of Brisbane Broncos rookie Robert Tanielu for 2003, and re-signings of Junior Langi, Kirk Reynoldson, and Cameron Smith. 24 July – St Gregory's College schoolboys football star Ryan Hoffman signs with the Storm for two years. 25 July – Canberra Raiders confirm they have signed Storm forward Matt Rua for 2003. Round 20 – Due to a jersey clash, Melbourne wear their 1999-2000 gold clash jersey against Penrith Panthers, but are issued with a $3,000 breach notice as the jerseys were missing the Telstra Premiership logos. 1 August – Brisbane Broncos sign Richard Swain to a one-year contract for 2003. Round 26 – Needing a win to sneak into the NRL finals, Melbourne fall short against Canberra Raiders for the second consecutive year in the final round of the season. 11 September – Mark Murray is sacked as Melbourne coach after missing the finals for the second consecutive season. 12 September – Scott Hill claims former coach Mark Murray treated players like school children. 18 September – Brisbane Broncos performance director Craig Bellamy is appointed new head coach of Melbourne, signing a two-year contract. 4 October – Chris Johns resigns as Melbourne Storm CEO to return to Queensland, leaving the club after more than five years in Melbourne.
Milestone games
Round Player Milestone Round 1 Ian Sibbit Storm debutRound 1 Shane Walker Storm debutRound 1 Mitchell Sargent NRL debutRound 1 William Leyshon Storm debutRound 2 Robbie Kearns 200th gameRound 2 Michael Russo NRL debutRound 3 Danny Williams 150th gameRound 3 Marty Turner NRL debutRound 4 Matt Geyer 100th gameRound 5 Cameron Smith NRL debutRound 7 Kirk Reynoldson NRL debutRound 8 Stephen Kearney 200th gameRound 11 Keith Mason Storm debutRound 13 Aaron Moule 100th gameRound 25 Matt Rua 100th game
Jerseys
Melbourne's jerseys were again manufactured by Fila and unchanged from the designs worn in 2001. The player names on the backs of jerseys were dropped in favour of front of jersey advertiser Adecco. The quirk of the season came in both round 7 against the New Zealand Warriors and round 20 against Penrith Panthers as due to a jersey clashes, Melbourne wore the 1999-2000 gold jersey. However, the club was subsequently issued with a $3,000 breach notice after the match against Penrith, as the jerseys were missing the Telstra Premiership logos.
Fixtures
Preseason
Date Opponent Venue Result Tries Goals Field goals 16 FebruaryTrial Wests TigersMarley Brown Oval, Gladstone3018A Duncan (2), K Mason, P Whatuira, S Bell, S WalkerM Turner (1), M Geyer (2) 2 MarchTrial St George Illawarra DragonsEric Weissel Oval, Wagga Wagga1440S Bell (2), P RobinsonM Turner (1)
Regular season Result by round
Matches Date Opponent Venue Result Tries Goals Field goals 16 March1 Canberra Raiders Olympic Park, Melbourne1612M Bai, M SargentM Orford 4/423 March2 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Toyota Park, Sydney2430S Bell (2), R Kearns, M OrfordM Orford 4/430 March3 North Queensland Cowboys Olympic Park, Melbourne3810S Bell (2), M Bai, M Geyer, A Moule, H Perenara, M Rua, D WilliamsM Turner 3/86 April4 Parramatta Eels Parramatta Stadium, Sydney3230S Kearney (2), M Bai, S Hill, A Moule, R SwainM Turner 4/613 April5 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Olympic Park, Melbourne622I SibbitR Swain 1/120 April6 St George Illawarra Dragons Olympic Park, Melbourne124J Langi, M RussoR Swain 2/2, C Smith 0/127 April7 New Zealand Warriors Ericsson Stadium, Auckland1020S Hill, A MouleR Swain 1/24 May8 Newcastle Knights Olympic Park, Melbourne2836M Orford (2), S Kearney, A Moule, K ReynoldsonR Swain 4/511 May9 Sydney Roosters Aussie Stadium, Sydney634J LangiR Swain 1/118 May10 Parramatta Eels Olympic Park, Melbourne2022W Leyshon (2), A Moule, K ReynoldsonR Swain 2/4, M Orford 0/225 May11 New Zealand Warriors Olympic Park, Melbourne1228M Orford, R RossM Orford 2/21 June12Bye8 June13 Newcastle Knights EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle1637A Moule, R RossM Orford 4/415 June14 St George Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium, Wollongong3030M Orford (2), W Leyshon, R Swain, D WilliamsM Orford 5/622 June15 South Sydney Rabbitohs Olympic Park, Melbourne446A Moule (2), R Kearns, J Langi, H Perenara, R Ross, M RussoM Orford 8/929 June16 Northern Eagles Brookvale Oval, Sydney2236J Langi, P Robinson, R Ross, R SwainM Orford 3/46 July17 Wests Tigers Olympic Park, Melbourne2620W Leyshon (2), S Bell, M Geyer, R KearnsM Orford 3/513 July18 Sydney Roosters Olympic Park, Melbourne4810M Bai (2), A Moule (2), S Kearney, W Leyshon, M Orford, P Robinson, S TadulalaM Orford 5/8, W Leyshon 1/120 July19Bye27 July20 Penrith Panthers Penrith Park, Sydney1636A Moule, R Ross, S TadulalaM Orford 2/33 August21 Brisbane Broncos Olympic Park, Melbourne2048M Bai, A Moule, R Ross, R SwainM Orford 2/410 August22 North Queensland Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville4030S Bell (2), S Kearney, A Moule, M Orford, I Sibbit, R SwainM Orford 6/817 August23 Penrith Panthers Olympic Park, Melbourne4210A Moule (3), S Bell (2), S Hill, F MoalaM Orford 6/6, R Swain 1/124 August24 Wests Tigers Leichhardt Oval, Sydney1626M Bai, S Bell, S HillM Orford 2/330 August25 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sydney Showground, Sydney1624M Geyer, I SibbitM Orford 4/47 September26 Canberra Raiders Bruce Stadium, Canberra1625M Bai (2), A MouleM Orford 2/3 Source:
Ladder
2002 Coaching Staff Head coach: Mark Murray Assistant coach: Anthony Griffin Football Manager: Greg Brentnall Physical Preparation Coach: Dave Darbyshire Physiotherapist: Greg Gibson Sports Trainer: Troy Thompson Recruitment manager: Peter O'Sullivan
2002 squad List current as of 11 August 2021