2002 Melbourne Storm season

2002 Melbourne Storm season
NRL	10th
2002 record	Wins: 9; Draws: 1; Losses: 14
Points scored	For: 556; Against: 586
Team information
CEO	John Ribot
Coach	Mark Murray
Captain	Rodney Howe
Stadium	Olympic Park Stadium
Top scorers
Tries	Aaron Moule (17)
Goals	Matt Orford (62)
Points	Matt Orford (156)
< 2001 List of seasons 2003 >

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 so far. It was Mark Murray's final season as coach of the club. ^[1]

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 14 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.^[2]

Draw and Results

^[3]

Round	Opponent	Result	Mel.	Opp.	Date	Venue
1	Canberra Raiders	Win	16	12	Mar 16	Olympic Park
2	Cronulla Sharks	Loss	24	30	Mar 23	Toyota Park
3	North Queensland Cowboys	Win	38	10	Mar 30	Olympic Park
4	Parramatta Eels	Win	32	30	Apr 6	Parramatta Stadium
5	Bulldogs RLFC	Loss	6	22	Apr 13	Olympic Park
6	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Win	12	4	Apr 20	Olympic Park
7	New Zealand Warriors	Loss	10	20	Apr 27	Mt. Smart Stadium
8	Newcastle Knights	Loss	28	36	May 4	Olympic Park
9	Sydney Roosters	Loss	6	34	May 11	Sydney Football Stadium
10	Parramatta Eels	Loss	20	22	May 18	Olympic Park
11	New Zealand Warriors	Loss	12	28	May 25	Olympic Park
12	BYE
13	Newcastle Knights	Loss	16	37	Jun 8	Hunter Stadium
14	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Draw	30	30	Jun 15	WIN Stadium
15	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Win	44	6	June 22	Olympic Park
16	Northern Eagles	Loss	22	36	Jun 29	Brookvale Oval
17	Wests Tigers	Win	26	20	Jul 6	Olympic Park
18	Sydney Roosters	Win	48	10	Jul 13	Olympic Park
19	BYE
20	Penrith Panthers	Loss	16	36	Jul 27	Penrith Stadium
21	Brisbane Broncos	Loss	20	48	Aug 3	Olympic Park
22	North Queensland Cowboys	Win	40	30	Aug 10	Dairy Farmers Stadium
23	Penrith Panthers	Win	42	10	Aug 17	Olympic Park
24	Wests Tigers	Loss	16	26	Aug 24	Leichhardt Oval
25	Bulldogs RLFC	Loss	16	24	Aug 30	Sydney Showground Stadium
26	Canberra Raiders	Loss	16	25	Sep 7	Bruce Stadium

Ladder

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	B	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	New Zealand	24	17	0	7	2	688	454	+234	38
2	Newcastle	24	17	0	7	2	724	498	+226	38
3	Brisbane	24	16	1	7	2	672	425	+247	37
4	Sydney Roosters	24	15	1	8	2	621	405	+216	35
5	Cronulla-Sutherland	24	15	0	9	2	653	597	+56	34
6	Parramatta	24	10	2	12	2	531	440	+91	26
7	St George Illawarra	24	9	3	12	2	632	546	+86	25
8	Canberra	24	10	1	13	2	471	641	-170	25
9	Northern Eagles	24	10	0	14	2	503	740	-237	24
10	Melbourne	24	9	1	14	2	556	586	-30	23
11	North Queensland	24	8	0	16	2	496	803	-307	20
12	Penrith	24	7	0	17	2	546	654	-108	18
13	Wests Tigers	24	7	0	17	2	498	642	-144	18
14	South Sydney	24	5	0	19	2	385	817	-432	14
15	Bulldogs	24	20	1	3	2	707	435	+272	8^1

Awards and honours

• Player of the year: Rodney Howe^[4]
• Rookie of the year: Michael Russo

References

1. http://stats.rleague.com/rl/teams/melbourne/melbourne2002_sc.html
2. http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/evolution-storm
3. http://stats.rleague.com/rl/teams/melbourne/melbourne_by.html#2002
4. "NRL Honour Board". melbournestorm.com.au. Melbourne Storm. Retrieved 10 February 2014.