2009 Melbourne Storm season

The 2009 Melbourne Storm season was the 12th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 4th (out of 16). They then progressed to their fourth consecutive grand final, this time to be played against the Parramatta Eels and won, claiming their second premiership in three seasons. Melbourne were later stripped of this title after being found guilty of salary cap breaches at the time.

Season summary

Early in the season, Matthew Johns, who was working as one of the Melbourne Storm's assistant coaches was stood down following the revelation of his involvement in a sex scandal.^[1] The Storm after are coming off a great season in 2008 where they won their 3rd straight minor premiership but they could not win the grand final going down to Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40–0. But in 2009 picked themselves back up and won the 3rd premiership in the 11 year history, beating the Parramatta Eels 23–16 in the final at ANZ Stadium in front of crown of about 82,500. Approximately 1,000 fans turned out at Visy Park to greet the Storm players when they returned from Sydney with the NRL trophy,^[2] although it should be considered that unlike New South Wales, Victoria does not have a public holiday on this day.

Fixtures

During the regular season, the Storm will play all home games at Olympic Park Stadium and it will be their final season playing at Olympic Park before moving to the new Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in 2010,also the storm will have a away against south sydney in round 14 at Members Equity Stadium in Western Australia.

Round 1 14 March 2009 7:30pm Local	Melbourne Storm	17–16	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 14,780 Referee/s: Shayne Hayne, Gavin Badger
	Tries: Cronk, Inglis, Slater Goals: Smith 2/3 Field Goals: Inglis		Tries: Cooper, Hornby Goals: Soward 2/2

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Round 2 21 March 2009 7:30pm Local	Brisbane Broncos	16–14	Melbourne Storm	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 36,647 Referee/s: Ben Cummins, Tony De Las Heras
	Tries: Folau, Michaels, Wallace Goals: Parker 3/3		Tries: Slater, Proctor Goals: Smith 2/2 Penalties: Smith 1/1

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Round 3 27 March 2009 7:35pm Local	North Queensland Cowboys	12–26	Melbourne Storm	Skilled Park, Townsville Attendance: 21,489 Referee/s: Shayne Hayne, Gerard Sutton
	Tries: Bolton, Williams Goals: Thurston 2/2		Tries: Cronk, Inglis, Quinn, Turner Goals: Smith 4/4 Penalties Smith 1/1

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Round 4 4 April 2009 2:00pm Local	Melbourne Storm	6–18	Gold Coast Titans	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 11,698 Referee/s: Ashley Klein, Brett Suttor
	Tries: Tomane Goals: Smith 1/1		Tries: Bailey, Walker Goals: Rogers 2/2 Penalties Rogers 3/3

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Round 5 13 April 2009 7:00pm Local	Melbourne Storm	16–14	Penrith Panthers	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 10,110 Referee/s: Chris James, Tony Archer
	Tries: Slater, Quinn Goals: Smith 2/2, Penalties Smith 2/2		Tries: Tighe, Lewis Goals: Gordon 2/2 Penalties Gordon 1/1

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Round 6 20 April 2009 7:00pm Local	Wests Tigers	16–6	Melbourne Storm	Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt Attendance: 12,646 Referee/s: Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne
	Tries: Lawrence 2, Moltzen Goals: Marshall 2/2		Tries: Hoffman Goals: Smith 1/1

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Round 7 25 April 2009 5:30pm Local	Melbourne Storm	14–14	New Zealand Warriors	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 15,200 Referee/s: Tony Archer, Matt Cecchin
	Tries: Chambers, Slater, Turner Goals: Smith 1/3		Tries: Vatuvei 2, Ah Van, Penalties: Kemp 1/1

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Round 8 1 May 2009 7:00pm Local	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	8–22	Melbourne Storm	Brookvale Oval, Manly Attendance: 10,752 Referee/s: Shayne Hayne, Tony De Las Heras
	Tries: Williams, Robertson		Tries: Cross, Turner, Slater, Inglis Goals: Smith 3/4 Penalties: Smith 1/1

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Round 9 11 May 2009 7:00pm Local	Sydney Roosters	12–28	Melbourne Storm	Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford Attendance: 8,412 Referee/s: De Las Heras, Jason
	Tries: Perrett, Sa Goals: Fitzgibbon 2/2		Tries: White, Turner, Lima, Finch, Hoffman Goals: Tomane 4/5

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Round 10 18 May 2009 7:00pm Local	Melbourne Storm	46–6	Canberra Raiders	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 10,112 Referee/s: Archer, Suttom
	Tries: Slater 2, Turner, Hoffman, Lima, Cross, Inglis, Blair Goals: Smith 5/6 Tomane 1/1		Tries: Monaghan Goals: Campese 1/1

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Round 11 11 May 2009 7:00pm Local	Canterbury Bulldogs	26–12	Melbourne Storm	Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford Attendance: 10,923 Referee/s: Sutton, Hayne
	Tries: Ryan, Goodwin, Millard, Warburton Goals: El Masri 4/4 Penalties: El Masri 1/1		Tries: Chambers 2 Goals: Smith 1/2

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Round 12 5 June 2009	.	Bye	.

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Round 13 5 June 2009 7:00pm Local	Melbourne Storm	48–4	Brisbane Broncos	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 15,318 Referee/s: Cummins, Badger
	Tries: Tomane 3, Cronk 2, Slater , Inglis, Tolman Goals: Tomane 6/9		Tries: Folau

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Round 14 13 June 2009 7:30pm Local	South Sydney Rabbitohs	22–28	Melbourne Storm	Members Equity Stadium, Perth Attendance: 15,197 Referee/s: James, Klien
	Tries: Simpson 2, Fa'alogo, Merritt Goals: Sandow 1/1, Luke 2/3		Tries: Inglis, Turner, Hoffman, Tomane, Cronk, Koopu Goals: Smith 2/6

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Round 15 21 June 2009 7:30pm Local	Melbourne Storm	14–12	Wests Tigers	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 10,417 Referee/s: Lyons, Klien
	Tries: Cronk,Cross Goals: Tomane 2/2 Penalties: Tomane 1/1		Tries: Ayshford,Moltzen Goals: Marshall 2/2

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Round 16 17 August 2009 19:00pm Local	Canberra Raiders	26–16	Melbourne Storm	Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 9,551 Referee/s: Bagder, Suttor
	Tries: Carney 2,Monaghan 2,Harrison Goals: Campese 3/5		Tries: Smith,Inglis,Chambers Goals: Smith 2/3

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Round 17 4 July 2009 19:30pm Local	Melbourne Storm	18–14	Newcastle Knights	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 9,551 Referee/s: Lyons, Klien
	Tries: Inglis,Slater,Chambers Goals: Smith 3/3		Tries: Naiqama,Uate Goals: Gidley 2/2 Penalties: Gidley 1/1

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Round 18 10 July 2009	.	Bye	.

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Round 19 20 July 2009 19:00pm Local	Parramatta Eels	18–16	Melbourne Storm	Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Attendance: 10,804 Referee/s: Sutton, Klien
	Tries: Lowrie,Moimoi,Robson Goals: Burt 2/3 Penalties: Burt 1/1		Tries: Tomane,Hoffman,Nielsen Goals: Tomane 2/3

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Round 20 25 July 2009 19:30pm Local	Melbourne Storm	30–10	Cronulla Sharks	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 10,553 Referee/s: Suttor, Cummins
	Tries: Anderson 2,Tomane,Hinchcliffe,Chambers,Smith Goals: Smith 1/3,Tomane 1/3 Penalties: Smith 1/1		Tries: Covell,Ferguson Goals: Covell 1/2

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Round 21 31 July 2009 19:35pm Local	St. George Illawarra Dragons	26–12	Melbourne Storm	Jubilee Oval, Kogarah Attendance: 16,474 Referee/s: Cecchin, Maxwell
	Tries: Sailor 2,Morris,Green,Scott Goals: Soward 3/5		Tries: Inglis,Finch Goals: Smith 1/2 Penalties: Smith 1/1

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Round 22 7 August 2009 19:35pm Local	Melbourne Storm	20–8	North Queensland Cowboys	{{{stadium}}} Attendance: 10,510 Referee/s: Sutton, Archer
	Tries: Turner,Finch,Cronk,Tomane Goals: Smith 2/4		Tries:' Tonga 2 ' stadium = Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne

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Round 23 17 August 2009 19:00pm Local	Newcastle Knights	26–14	Melbourne Storm	EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle Attendance: 13,580 Referee/s: Robinson, Haines
	Tries: Mullen,Taufua,Hilder,Vuna Goals: Gidley 4/4 Penalties: Gidley 1/1		Tries: Cronk,Turner,Anderson Goals: Smith 1/3

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Round 24 23 August 2009 15:00pm Local	Melbourne Storm	16–20	Manly Sea Eagles	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 12,601 Referee/s: Archer, Hayne
	Tries: Tomane 2,Chambers Goals: Smith 2/3		Tries: Williams,Foran,Lyon Goals: Orford 3/3 Penalties: Orford 1/1

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Round 25 23 August 2009 15:00pm Local	Melbourne Storm	38–4	Sydney Roosters	Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 13,332 Referee/s: Maxwell, Suttor
	Tries: Inglis 2,Turner 2,Chambers,Slater,Tolman Goals: Smith 5/7		Tries: Shaun Kenny-Dowall Goals: NO Goals

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Round 26 5 September 2009 19:30pm Local	New Zealand Warriors	0–30	Melbourne Storm	Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 14,734 Referee/s: Klein, Shortall
	Tries: Goals:		Tries: Chambers 2,Hinchcliffe,Inglis,Nielsen,Slater Goals: Smith 3/6

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Qualifying Final 11 September 2009 19:45pm Local	Melbourne Storm	40–12	Manly Sea Eagles	Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 21,155 Referee/s: Badger, Hayne
	Tries: Slater 4,Nielsen,Smith,Tolman Goals: Smith 5/6,Turner 1/1		Tries: Foran,Matai Goals: Orford 2/2

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Preliminary Final 26 September 2009 19:45pm Local	Melbourne Storm	40–10	Brisbane Broncos	Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Attendance: 27,687 Referee/s: Hayne, Maxwell
	Tries: Inglis 3,Slater 2,Chambers,Johnson Goals: Smith 6/7		Tries: Folau,Glenn Goals: Parker 1/2

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2009 NRL GRAND FINAL 4 October 2009 17:00pm Local	Melbourne Storm	23–16	Parramatta Eels	ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,528 Referee/s: Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne
	Tries: Blair, Hoffman, Inglis, Slater Goals: Smith 3/4 Field Goals: Inglis		Tries: Grothe, Reddy, Moi Moi Goals: Burt 2/3

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Ladder

2009 NRL seasonv · d · e
	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	St. George Illawarra	24	17	0	7	2	548	329	+219	38
2	Bulldogs	24	18	0	6	2	575	428	+147	38*
3	Gold Coast	24	16	0	8	2	514	467	+47	36
4	Melbourne	24	14	1	9	2	505	348	+157	33
5	Manly-Warringah	24	14	0	10	2	549	439	+90	32
6	Brisbane	24	14	0	10	2	511	566	−55	32
7	Newcastle	24	13	0	11	2	508	491	+17	30
8	Parramatta	24	12	1	11	2	476	473	+3	29
9	Wests Tigers	24	12	0	12	2	558	483	+75	28
10	South Sydney	24	11	1	12	2	566	549	+17	27
11	Penrith	24	11	1	12	2	515	589	−74	27
12	North Queensland	24	11	0	13	2	558	474	+84	26
13	Canberra	24	9	0	15	2	489	510	−31	22
14	New Zealand	24	7	2	15	2	377	545	−188	20
15	Cronulla-Sutherland	24	5	0	19	2	359	568	−209	14
16	Sydney Roosters	24	5	0	19	2	382	681	−299	14

* Bulldogs stripped of 2 competition points after an interchange breach in round 2

Storm have secured a home finals berth

Squad

No. Position Player 9 HK Cameron Smith (c) 13 LK Dallas Johnson 1 FB Billy Slater 12 SR Ryan Hoffman 2 WG Steve Turner 7 HB Cooper Cronk 17 PR Brett White 4 CE Greg Inglis 8 PR Jeff Lima 10 PR Adam Blair 5 WG Anthony Quinn 3 CE Will Chambers 11 SR Sika Manu 18 PR Scott Anderson 16 PR Aiden Tolman WG Brett Anderson 14 HK Ryan Hinchcliffe 19 SR Wairangi Koopu CE William Isa 15 PR Matthew Cross 6 HB Brett Finch 19 CE Joseph Tomane

References

1. ^ Vaughan, Robert (13 May 2009). "Melbourne Storm and Johns part ways". ninemsn.com. http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=813420. Retrieved 21 May 2009. 
2. ^ Munro, Ian (6 October 2009). "Stormy Monday welcome for team in league of its own". LeagueHQ. Fairfax Digital. http://www.smh.com.au/news/lhqnews/stormy-monday-welcome-for-team-in-league-of-its-own/2009/10/05/1254700978279.html. Retrieved 6 October 2009. ^{[dead link]}