The 2007 Melbourne Storm season was the 10th in the club's history. They competed for NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, finishing the season in 1st place to claim the minor premiership before going on to reach the 2007 NRL grand final, their third. In the grand final the Storm defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles to claim their second premiership. However two years after the event Melbourne were stripped of their 2007 titles after being found guilty of long-term salary cap breaches.
The most successful season in the club's history as the team managed 21 wins on their way to winning the NRL Grand Final. Storm's success was built on the back of incredibly strong defence. Craig Bellamy's men conceded just 11.5 points per game, the best defensive season in the club's history. The year began with seven straight wins and by Round 12 Melbourne had moved into first place, where they remained for the rest of the season. Storm earned redemption from the 2006 Grand Final loss by beating the Broncos 40–0 in the Qualifying final. They faced Manly in the decider, running away with a 34–8 victory as Greg Inglis scored a double on the night to be awarded the Clive Churchill Medal. Cameron Smith increased his standing as the best player in the game by being awarded the Golden Boot after being named the International Player of the Year while Israel Folau set an NRL rookie record, scoring 21 tries for the season.[1]
Season Summary
15 January – The drawn-out battle over the services of Melbourne wingerSteve Turner is finally resolved when new NRL team the Gold Coast Titans agree to release him from his contract. "It would have been devastating [to leave]," Turner said. "I feel like I’ve come all this way with the Storm and leaving now would have been really hard to handle." Storm rookies Smith Samau and Daniel Isaac are 'traded' to the Titans as compensation for the loss of Turner.[2]
3 March – In the club's first trial match played in metropolitan Melbourne, Storm thrash 2006 premiers Brisbane Broncos 46–0 in a well-attended game at the club's training base Princes Park.[2]
Round 1 – Israel Folau becomes the youngest player to play for the club, making his debut at just 17 years and 347 days. Folau scores a try in a tight 18–16 win against Wests Tigers, with the goalkicking of Cameron Smith proving the difference on the scoreboard.[2]
Round 5 – Melbourne get off to their best start to a season, winning their fifth straight game.
Round 6 – Playing his second game in 24 hours, Cameron Smith scores a double and five goals in a commanding performance against Penrith Panthers.[2]
Round 8 – Melbourne suffer their first loss of the season, going down 30–12 against Wests Tigers at Gosford.
Round 10 – Despite the loss of five players to State of Origin duty, Melbourne trounce bottom-placed Sydney Roosters 26–2, holding the Roosters tryless.[2]
Round 11 – In a top of the table clash at Brookvale Oval, former Storm halfbackMatt Orford kicked the decisive field goal to give Manly Warringah Sea Eagles a dramatic 13–12 win over Melbourne. Coach Craig Bellamy could not fault the team's effort, but was critical of some options taken when the match was in the balance, saying "we were very brave, but very dumb".[2]
Round 13 – In the lowest scoring game for 14 years, Melbourne score a late try to win 4–2 against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland. Missing nine regular players, including six on State of Origin duty, Melbourne trailed 2–0 for much of the game played in cold and wet conditions. Midseason signing Clint Newton made his debut for the club, becoming the 100th player to play for the club; while Matt Rua played his first NRL game since 2002.[2]
Round 14 – Melbourne march to a 40–4 halftime lead against North Queensland Cowboys, going on to win 58–12, eclipsing the highest score posted by the club against the Cowboys. Matt Geyer scores his 100th NRL try, becoming the first Melbourne player to reach that milestone.
22 June – As part of the club's 10-year celebrations, a 17-man team of the decade is announced at a gala presentation held at The Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria.[4]
Round 15 – Celebrating the club's 10th birthday with fireworks and cake postgame, Melbourne dominate St George Illawarra Dragons 28–6.
10 July – Crowd favourite Matt King announces he will be leaving Melbourne at the end of the season to join Super League club Warrington Wolves on a lucrative four-year deal.[2]
Round 18 – Midseason signing Clint Newton scores a try against former club Newcastle Knights as Melbourne thrash Newcastle 44–0. Billy Slater, Steve Turner, and Anthony Quinn all score double in the big win, with Newton saying the victory was "sweet (to beat) someone that wasn't playing tonight" referring to Knights coach Brian Smith.[2]
Round 20 – A poor attitude was blamed as Melbourne suffered a 26–16 defeat against the previously hapless Sydney Roosters, under caretaker coach Brad Fittler. Melbourne had rested Matt Geyer and Ryan Hoffman from the match.
Round 21 – Behind 14–0 after 30 minutes, Cooper Cronk lands a late field goal to secure a 17–16 win over Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, with Sharks coach Ricky Stuart upset over various decisions by referee Paul Simpkins.[2]
3 August – Coach Craig Bellamy confirms that the club's rotational captaincy group is over, with Cameron Smith appointed as permanent captain. Bellamy quoted as saying "Obviously, we've had the leadership group for nearly two years, but we just thought going back to the traditional captain was the way to go. We probably would have done it at the start of the year, but I just didn't think Cameron was quite ready for it. There were a couple of areas he needed to get better at...and he's worked on those areas and he's right to go now."[5][6][7]
8 August – Long-time Melbourne recruitment officer Peter O'Sullivan is poached by Sydney Roosters in a two-year deal worth $150,000 a season.[2]
Round 24 – Melbourne secure their second successive minor premiership with a dominant second half performance against Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. The 38–6 win came with a hat-trick of tries to Israel Folau, who in doing so equaled the club record for tries for a season.
Round 25 – Israel Folau scores his 21st try of the season as Melbourne thrash new club Gold Coast Titans 50–6 in the first meeting between the teams. The victory saw Melbourne finish the season with a perfect 12–0 record in games played at Olympic Park.
Preliminary Final – Returning to Telstra Dome for the first time since 2001, Melbourne progress to their second successive NRL Grand Final with a 26–10 win over Parramatta Eels.
30 November – Cameron Smith is awarded the Golden Boot as the best player in the world.[8]
As part of their 10-year celebrations in 2007, Melbourne Storm released a team of the decade. The 17-man team was selected by former assistant coach Greg Brentnall, foundation CEO John Ribot, and then board member Frank Stanton (all 3 were members of the 1982 Kangaroo tour "Invincibles", Brentnall and Ribot as players with Stanton the coach). The trio were joined by The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) journalist Steve Mascord.[4]
Round 6 – Cameron Smith (2 tries, 5 goals) vs Penrith Panthers
Round 14 – Cameron Smith (9 goals) vs North Queensland Cowboys
Most tries in a game: 3
Round 24 – Israel Folau vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Qualifying Final – Steve Turner vs Brisbane Broncos
Winning games
Highest score in a winning game: 58 points
Round 14 vs North Queensland Cowboys
Lowest score in a winning game: 4 points
Round 13 vs New Zealand Warriors
Greatest winning margin: 46 points
Round 14 vs North Queensland Cowboys
Greatest number of games won consecutively: 8
Round 21 – Grand Final
Losing games
Highest score in a losing game: 16 points
Round 20 vs Sydney Roosters
Lowest score in a losing game: 12 points
Round 8 vs Wests Tigers
Round 11 vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Greatest losing margin: 18 points
Round 8 vs Wests Tigers
Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 1
Feeder Team
For a tenth and ultimately final season, Melbourne continued their affiliation with Norths Devils, with reserve players travelling to Brisbane each week to play with the Devils in the Queensland Cup.
Coached by former Storm player Kevin Carmichael, the Devils missed the Queensland Cup finals for the second year in a row.
^Players are listed with the cap number as they appear on the Melbourne Storm honour board. Additional squad members do not have a cap number.
^This column denotes the previous RL club the player was signed to and played first grade RL for. If they are yet to debut then this is stipulated. If they were merely signed to the club but did not play then it is not counted.
^Bartlett was released on 1 June 2007 to join the Cowboys.
^Donnelly was released on 6 June 2007 to join the Titans.
^de Kroo, Karl (19 February 2007). "Punt pays off for Cartwright - Titans take up Storm's challenge". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Queensland: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 68.
^Masters, Roy (19 February 2007). "Titans the brighter despite defeat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, New South Wales. p. 8.
^"NRL trials latest". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Queensland: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. 25 February 2007. p. 99.
^Donaghy, Dave (25 February 2007). "Early lead blown by Storm". Herald-Sun. Melbourne, Victoria: Nationwide News Pty Ltd. p. 63.
^Paxinos, Stathi (4 March 2007). "Storm crushes Brisbane". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria: Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited. p. 15.
