The Michael Moore Trophy is a rugby league trophy usually contested biannually during the National Rugby League season, in matches between the Melbourne Storm and the New Zealand Warriors. The Michael Moore Trophy was introduced in 2000 following the death of Melbourne Storm's inaugural football manager, Michael Moore, on 6 February 2000 in Auckland, New Zealand.
From 2009 to 2023, matches were regularly scheduled on 25 April, to coincide with ANZAC Day commemorations in Melbourne, with the game usually played in the evening at AAMI Park.
Melbourne held the trophy from 2016 through 2025, winning 17 matches in a row between the teams until the Warriors ended that streak in April 2026.
Michael Moore Michael Moore (1965–2000) was the inaugural football manager of the Melbourne Storm, controlling the day-to-day running of football operations. He joined Melbourne from the Brisbane Broncos, where he was part of that club's strength and conditioning program. Moore played rugby league in Queensland with Brisbane Brothers from 1984 to 1992, before finishing his playing career with Brisbane Souths in 1993. As well as his role with the Brisbane Broncos, he headed up the conditioning program for the Brisbane Bullets in 1996/97.
Outside of sport, Moore was a physical education teacher for two years in 1988–1989, and was a physical activities officer with the Queensland Police Service for nine years before moving to Victoria.
Moore had originally applied for the role of strength and conditioning coach at Melbourne, but was instead offered the role as football manager. Moore would be instrumental in setting up the club, making new players arriving at the club welcome, often acting as a father-figure for players and their families.
Moore's sudden death was devastating to the tight-knit Melbourne Storm club, with the Storm players jerseys carrying "Michael Moore 2000 Season" embroidery during 2000. Melbourne renamed the "Clubman of the Year" Medal in his honour, with the award combined with the Chairman's Award to become the Michael Moore Club Person of the Year trophy in 2005.
Michael Moore was survived by his wife Tracey, and children Harry, Meg, and Georgia.
Results 2000–2009 2000
2001
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2010–2019 2010
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2020–present 2020
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Head to Head 2000–2026 Played Won Lost Draws For Against Diff. Melbourne Storm48331321246723 +523 New Zealand Warriors48133327231246 -523 Overall 1998–2025 (including finals) Played Won Lost Draws For Against Diff. Melbourne Storm54351721360825 +535 New Zealand Warriors54173528251360 -535
Spirit of ANZAC Medal In games played on ANZAC Day in Melbourne, a Spirit of ANZAC Medal is awarded to the player in the match considered to best exemplify the ANZAC spirit – skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play.
Winners 2009 — Adam Blair (Melbourne Storm) 2010 — Cooper Cronk (Melbourne Storm) 2011 — Krisnan Inu (New Zealand Warriors) 2012 — Kevin Proctor (Melbourne Storm) 2013 — Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne Storm) 2014 — Sebastine Ikahihifo (New Zealand Warriors) 2015 — Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly Sea Eagles) 2016 — Tohu Harris (Melbourne Storm) 2017 — Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm) 2018 — Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm) 2019 — Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm) 2020 — Not awarded 2021 — Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm) 2022 — Ryan Papenhuyzen (Melbourne Storm) 2023 — Nick Meaney (Melbourne Storm) 2024 — Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm)
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See also
Rivalries in the National Rugby League
References
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