2021 Melbourne Storm season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
NRL Rank | 1st (Minor Premier) | |||
Play-off result | Preliminary Final Loss | |||
2021 record | Wins: 21; draws: 0; losses: 3 | |||
Points scored | For: 815; against: 316 | |||
Team information | ||||
CEO | Ashley Tucker (interim) Justin Rodski | |||
Coach | Craig Bellamy | |||
Captain |
| |||
Stadium | AAMI Park - 30,050 (5 games) Cbus Super Stadium - 27,400 (1 game) Suncorp Stadium - 52,500 (3 games) Sunshine Coast Stadium - 12,000 (3 games) | |||
Avg. attendance | 14,285[a] | |||
High attendance | 20,320 (Round 7)[a] | |||
Top scorers | ||||
Tries | Josh Addo-Carr (23) | |||
Goals | Nicho Hynes (58) | |||
Points | Ryan Papenhuyzen (157) | |||
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The 2021 Melbourne Storm season was the 24th in the club's history competing in the 2021 NRL season. The team is coached by Craig Bellamy, coaching the club for his 19th consecutive season. On 19 February 2021, the Melbourne Storm announced that Jesse Bromwich and Dale Finucane succeeded Cameron Smith, as co-captains of the club.[1]
The season was again affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, with the club forced to relocate to Queensland for much of the season.
Melbourne claimed the J. J. Giltinan Shield for the fifth time as minor premiers, setting a number of club records (21 wins; 815 points). Melbourne tied the league record for most consecutive wins with 19 victories between rounds 4-23.
In a rematch of the 2020 NRL Grand Final, second placed Penrith Panthers knocked Melbourne out of the 2021 NRL finals in the preliminary final, ending hopes of back-to-back premierships.
Round | Player | Milestone |
---|---|---|
Round 1 | Reimis Smith | Storm debut |
Round 1 | George Jennings | Storm debut |
Round 1 | Tyson Smoothy | NRL debut |
Round 2 | Jesse Bromwich | 250th Game |
Round 4 | Christian Welch | 100th Game |
Round 4 | Trent Loiero | NRL debut |
Round 8 | Dean Ieremia | NRL debut |
Round 12 | Justin Olam | 50th Game |
Round 18 | George Jennings | 50th Game |
Round 18 | Tui Kamikamica | 50th Game |
Round 18 | Jordan Grant | NRL debut |
Round 19 | Josh Addo-Carr | 100th NRL try |
Round 20 | Ryan Papenhuyzen | 50th Game |
Round 21 | Tepai Moeroa | Storm debut |
Round 24 | Felise Kaufusi | 150th Game |
Round 25 | Daniel Atkinson | NRL debut |
Qualifying Final | Cameron Munster | 150th Game |
Source:[46]
Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 February | Trial | New Zealand Warriors | Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe | Match cancelled | [47] | ||
27 February | Trial | Newcastle Knights | Albury Sports Ground, Albury | Win | 30 | 10 | [48] |
Source:[49]
Date | Round | Opponent | Home/Away | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 March | 1 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Home | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 26 | 18 | R Papenhuyzen (2), C Munster, J Olam | R Papenhuyzen 5/6 | [50] | |
18 March | 2 | Parramatta Eels | Away | Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta | Lost | 12 | 16 | R Smith, J Olam | R Papenhuyzen 2/2 | [51] | |
25 March | 3 | Penrith Panthers | Away | BlueBet Stadium, Penrith | Lost | 10 | 12 | B Smith, J Addo-Carr | C Munster 1/2 | [52] | |
2 April | 4 | Brisbane Broncos | Home | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 40 | 6 | R Papenhuyzen (4), G Jennings (2), C Munster | R Papenhuyzen 5/7, J Addo-Carr 1/1 | [53] | |
10 April | 5 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Away | Stadium Australia, Sydney | Won | 52 | 18 | F Kaufusi, J Hughes, C Welch, T Kamikamica, G Jennings, R Papenhuyzen, J Olam, J Addo-Carr, N Hynes | R Papenhuyzen 8/9 | [54] | |
16 April | 6 | Sydney Roosters | Home | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 20 | 4 | J Hughes, R Papenhuyzen, H Grant | C Munster 0/1, R Papenhuyzen 4/5 | [55] | |
25 April | 7 | New Zealand Warriors | Home | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 42 | 20 | R Smith (2), J Addo-Carr (2), G Jennings, F Kaufusi, N Hynes, J Olam | C Munster 5/8 | [56] | |
30 April | 8 | Cronulla Sutherland Sharks | Home | AAMI Park, Melbourne | Won | 40 | 14 | R Smith (3), J Addo-Carr, T Eisenhuth, T Kamikamica, J Hughes, B Smith | C Munster 4/8, N Hynes 0/1 | [57] | |
6 May | 9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Away | Stadium Australia, Sydney | Won | 50 | 0 | J Addo-Carr (6), G Jennings (2), J Hughes, B Smith | C Munster 5/10 | [58] | |
16 May | 10 | St George-Illawarra Dragons | Home | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Won | 44 | 18 | J Addo-Carr (3), K Bromwich, D Ieremia, N Asofa-Solomona, J Hughes, J Olam, G Jennings | T Smoothy 3/5, N Hynes 1/4 | [59] | |
22 May | 11 | Canberra Raiders | Away | GIO Stadium, Canberra | Won | 34 | 10 | N Asofa-Solomona (2), C Lewis, R Smith, T Eisenhuth, T Loiero | N Hynes 5/6 | [60] | |
27 May | 12 | Brisbane Broncos | Away | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Won | 40 | 12 | B Smith (2), T Kamikamica, J Addo-Carr, G Jennings, C Johns, N Hynes | N Hynes 6/7 | [61] | |
5 June | 13 | Gold Coast Titans | Home | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast[b] | Won | 20 | 14 | R Smith, B Smith, T Loiero, G Jennings | N Hynes 2/4 | [62] | |
13 June | 14 | New Zealand Warriors | Away | Central Coast Stadium, Gosford | Won | 42 | 16 | D Ieremia, B Smith, J Addo-Carr, J Hughes, J Olam, H Grant, T Eisenhuth | N Hynes 7/8 | [63] | |
19 June | 15 | Wests Tigers | Home | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast[b] | Won | 66 | 16 | R Smith (2), J Hughes (2), B Smith, N Hynes, C Munster, D Finucane, N Asofa-Solomona, F Kaufusi, T Eisenhuth, H Grant | N Hynes 9/12 | [64] | |
1 July | 16 | Sydney Roosters | Away | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle[c] | Won | 46 | 0 | J Addo-Carr (3), N Hynes, D Finucane, K Bromwich, C Munster, B Smith | N Hynes 7/9 | [65] | |
10 July | 17 | Bye | |||||||||
17 July | 18 | Newcastle Knights | Home | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast[b] | Won | 48 | 4 | J Olam (2), G Jennings (2), C Munster, N Hynes, J Hughes, R Smith | N Hynes 8/8 | [66] | |
23 July | 19 | North Queensland Cowboys | Away | Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville | Won | 20 | 16 | J Addo-Carr (2), J Olam, R Smith | N Hynes 2/4 | [67] | |
1 August[d] | 20 | Penrith Panthers | Home | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[b] | Won | 37 | 10 | D Ieremia (3), R Smith, J Bromwich, H Grant, | C Munster 1/1, N Hynes 1/2, R Papenhuyzen 4/4 |
R Papenhuyzen 1/1 | [68] |
7 August | 21 | Manly Sea Eagles | Away | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[e] | Won | 28 | 18 | J Olam (2), K Bromwich, C Munster | R Papenhuyzen 4/4, N Hynes 2/3 | [69] | |
12 August | 22 | Canberra Raiders | Home | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast[b] | Won | 26 | 16 | B Smith, D Ieremia, C Lewis | N Hynes 4/4, R Papenhuyzen 3/3 | [70] | |
19 August | 23 | Gold Coast Titans | Away | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast | Won | 34 | 20 | J Addo-Carr (2), M Seve, H Grant, C Munster, N Hynes | R Papenhuyzen 5/6 | [71] | |
28 August | 24 | Parramatta Eels | Home | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane[b] | Lost | 10 | 22 | R Smith, I Lumelume | R Papenhuyzen 1/2 | [72] | |
3 September | 25 | Cronulla Sutherland Sharks | Away | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast[f] | Won | 28 | 16 | R Papenhuyzen (3), B Smith, M Seve | N Hynes 4/6 | [73] |
Source:[74]
Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Mel. | Opp. | Tries | Goals | Field Goals | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 September | Week 1 - Qualifying Final | Manly Sea Eagles | Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast | Won | 40 | 12 | R Papenhuyzen (2), I Lumelume, K Bromwich, C Welch, J Olam | R Papenhuyzen 7/8 | R Papenhuyzen 1/1 (2pt) | [75] |
25 September | Week 3 - Preliminary Final | Penrith Panthers | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Lost | 6 | 10 | R Papenhuyzen | R Papenhuzen 1/1 | [76] |
Main article: 2021 NRL season |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 815 | 316 | +499 | 44 |
2 | Penrith Panthers (P) | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 676 | 286 | +390 | 44 |
3 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 775 | 453 | +322 | 42 |
4 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 744 | 492 | +252 | 34 |
5 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 630 | 489 | +141 | 34 |
6 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 566 | 457 | +109 | 32 |
7 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 428 | 571 | −143 | 26 |
8 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 580 | 583 | −3 | 22 |
9 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 520 | 556 | −36 | 22 |
10 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 481 | 578 | −97 | 22 |
11 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 474 | 616 | −142 | 18 |
12 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 453 | 624 | −171 | 18 |
13 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 500 | 714 | −214 | 18 |
14 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 446 | 695 | −249 | 16 |
15 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 460 | 748 | −288 | 16 |
16 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 340 | 710 | −370 | 8 |
List current as of 14 June 2021
Further information: List of Melbourne Storm players |
Losses
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Gains
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This table lists all players who have played a representative match in 2021.
Further information: List of Melbourne Storm representatives |
Player | State of Origin 1[82][83] | State of Origin 2[84][85] | State of Origin 3[86][87][88] |
---|---|---|---|
Josh Addo-Carr | New South Wales | New South Wales | New South Wales |
Dale Finucane | – | – | New South Wales |
Harry Grant | Queensland | – | – |
Felise Kaufusi | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland |
Cameron Munster | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland |
Christian Welch | Queensland | Queensland | Queensland |
This table contains playing statistics for all Melbourne Storm players to have played in the 2021 NRL season.
Further information: List of Melbourne Storm records |
Name | Appearances | Tries | Goals | Field goals | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Josh Addo-Carr | 22 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 94 |
Nelson Asofa-Solomona | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Daniel Atkinson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Aaron Booth | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jesse Bromwich | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Kenneath Bromwich | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Tom Eisenhuth | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Dale Finucane | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Harry Grant | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
Jordan Grant | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jahrome Hughes | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
Nicho Hynes | 24 | 7 | 58 | 0 | 144 |
Dean Ieremia | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Ryley Jacks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
George Jennings | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
Cooper Johns | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Tui Kamikamica | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Felise Kaufusi | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Chris Lewis | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Trent Loiero | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Isaac Lumelume | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Tepai Moeroa | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cameron Munster | 20 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 60 |
Justin Olam | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
Ryan Papenhuyzen | 15 | 14 | 49 | 1/1 | 157 |
Aaron Pene | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Darryn Schonig | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Marion Seve | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Brandon Smith | 24 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
Reimis Smith | 25 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
Tyson Smoothy | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Christian Welch | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
32 players used | — | 151 | 127 | 1/1 | 861 |
Most points in a game: 26 points
Most tries in a game: 6 [l]
Highest score in a winning game: 66 points
Lowest score in a winning game: 20 points
Greatest winning margin: 50 points
Greatest number of games won consecutively: 19 [m]
Highest score in a losing game: 12 points
Lowest score in a losing game: 6 points
Greatest losing margin: 12 points
Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 2
In December 2020, Melbourne Storm announced a new 5 year sponsorship and apparel partnership agreement with British sportswear company, Castore[91] replacing the partnership with ISC. Castore will produce new supporter wear and a new jersey for season 2021, the design was announced on 14 January 2021.[92]
Home
The home jersey features a classic V shape on the chest and the return of yellow to the jersey for the first time since 2018. Among the special features Castore has incorporated in the new jersey is a lightning bolt design on the sleeve and the inclusion of a Big V logo on the inner collar as a continuation of the Our Home, Victoria acknowledgment which began during the 2020 season to honor Storm’s home state. The Victoria acknowledgment logo returned to the front of the jersey from Round 20 onwards.
Away
The away jersey, worn when the home jersey creates a clash with the opposition, is a similar design to the home jersey but in majority white; worn with navy blue shorts and either navy blue (Round 2) or white socks with navy blue cuffs (Rounds 3, 9, 14, 16, 19).
Special
Round 7 - Melbourne wore a unique jersey with sublimated Anzac Day details including a large red Remembrance poppy, silhouettes of soldiers, and the Anzac Appeal logo.[93]
Round 12 & 18 - An Indigenous Round jersey for the first time based on a white jersey template, designed by Melbourne AFLW player Krstel Petrevski. The jersey features the names of the 16 past and present Indigenous Storm players.[94]
Round 21 – A white heritage jersey based upon the clash design worn in the club's first ever trial game, and worn once during the 1998 NRL season.
Trophy Cabinet[edit]Melbourne Storm Awards Night[edit]Held at The Glasshouse, Melbourne, Friday 10 December 2021. [95]
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Dally M Awards Night[edit]Held at Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane on Monday 27 September 2021.[40]
Rugby League Players’ Association Awards[edit]
Additional awards[edit]
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