2010 Melbourne Storm season
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Melbourne Storm
season was the 13th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2010 Telstra Premiership, however following the much-publicised ousting of the administration's salary cap
rorting early in the season, were unable to accumulate any more competition points and ended the season as wooden spooners. The Storm started the season as reigning NRL premiers, having defeated the Parramatta Eels in the 2009 NRL Grand Final
. However this title was later stripped, along with their 2007 premiership title and the 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premiership titles.
. This involved a warm up game against Harlequins RL followed by the World Club Challenge
a week later against Leeds Rhinos
. The Storm won both games.
The regular season commenced with the Storm defeating Cronulla away in what was the first of three consecutive away games to begin the season. The Storm played their first home game at Etihad Stadium against St George Illawarra in front of a crowd of 25,480 which is a record home crowd, excluding finals games. They won the game which made them the only undefeated side in the League after Round 4.
On 24 April coach Craig Bellamy publicly announced that he vowed to rebuild the shattered club, and welcomed the NRL's investigation into the salary cap rorting before a training session with the team which was watched by thousands of cheering supporters.
Players were still allowed to play Test and/or State of Origin matches and for some of those players it did not affect Queensland
's bid for a fifth straight Origin series victory. The Storm were also allowed to keep its World Club Challenge cup they won in February 2010 (which was later stripped more than one year since the initial breaches were revealed). The team's under-20s team was not affected.
The day after the salary cap scandal was revealed, the odds of AFL club (which itself had a near-successful 2009 season) winning the 2010 wooden spoon were dramatically shortened, as it was rumoured that the club may have been subject to salary cap breaches dating back to 2002 when Brian Waldron was the club's CEO. Its coach at the time, Grant Thomas
, has since stated that St Kilda had not done anything wrong during Waldron's tenure at the club, however in 2005, ironically the year Waldron joined the Storm, the Saints were fined $40,000 over a minor incident involving major sponsor Xbox
providing the gaming machines to its players. As well as this, there was also contract disputes involving some ex-players, Peter Everitt
and Barry Hall
. St Kilda has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Storm defeated the New Zealand Warriors
40-6 in the first match since the scandal was revealed. This was followed up with a 34-6 win over the North Queensland Cowboys
in Townsville the week after.
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Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
season was the 13th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2010 Telstra Premiership, however following the much-publicised ousting of the administration's salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
rorting early in the season, were unable to accumulate any more competition points and ended the season as wooden spooners. The Storm started the season as reigning NRL premiers, having defeated the Parramatta Eels in the 2009 NRL Grand Final
2009 NRL Grand Final
The 2009 NRL Grand Final was a rugby league football game played on 4 October 2009 at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney. It was the 12th annual championship game of the National Rugby League staged to decide the premiers of the 2009 NRL season....
. However this title was later stripped, along with their 2007 premiership title and the 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premiership titles.
Season summary
The Storm began 2010 by travelling to England to play in the 2010 World Club Challenge2010 World Club Challenge
-Teams:-Match details:-First half:Leeds almost scored early in the first half when Brent Webb ran over but he was held up by Luke MacDougall on the last tackle. Soon after they posted the first points with a penalty goal to captain Kevin Sinfield. Soon after Melbourne drew level with a penalty goal...
. This involved a warm up game against Harlequins RL followed by the World Club Challenge
World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge is an annual rugby league football match held between the champions of the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League competitions to determine the world's best rugby league club...
a week later against Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. The Storm won both games.
The regular season commenced with the Storm defeating Cronulla away in what was the first of three consecutive away games to begin the season. The Storm played their first home game at Etihad Stadium against St George Illawarra in front of a crowd of 25,480 which is a record home crowd, excluding finals games. They won the game which made them the only undefeated side in the League after Round 4.
Salary cap scandal
On 22 April 2010, the Melbourne Storm were stripped of their titles of 2007 and 2009 premierships and their 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships following an alleged insider tip-off to the NRL auditing body that the club had been rorting the NRL salary cap. The club had a long-term system of keeping two sets of books, one set displaying players incomes' complying with the NRL salary cap and another hidden set in a separate room disclosing the true player payments. Following evidence of salary cap breaches, Melbourne were also fined a record $1,689,000, deducted all eight premiership points received in the season and barred from receiving any further premiership points for the rest of the season, guaranteeing them zero points and the wooden spoon for 2010.On 24 April coach Craig Bellamy publicly announced that he vowed to rebuild the shattered club, and welcomed the NRL's investigation into the salary cap rorting before a training session with the team which was watched by thousands of cheering supporters.
Players were still allowed to play Test and/or State of Origin matches and for some of those players it did not affect Queensland
Queensland State of Origin Team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
's bid for a fifth straight Origin series victory. The Storm were also allowed to keep its World Club Challenge cup they won in February 2010 (which was later stripped more than one year since the initial breaches were revealed). The team's under-20s team was not affected.
The day after the salary cap scandal was revealed, the odds of AFL club (which itself had a near-successful 2009 season) winning the 2010 wooden spoon were dramatically shortened, as it was rumoured that the club may have been subject to salary cap breaches dating back to 2002 when Brian Waldron was the club's CEO. Its coach at the time, Grant Thomas
Grant Thomas (footballer)
Grant Thomas is a former Australian rules football player and coach. He most recently held the position of coach of the St Kilda Football Club from 2001–2006. He attended St Bede's College in Mentone.- Playing career :...
, has since stated that St Kilda had not done anything wrong during Waldron's tenure at the club, however in 2005, ironically the year Waldron joined the Storm, the Saints were fined $40,000 over a minor incident involving major sponsor Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
providing the gaming machines to its players. As well as this, there was also contract disputes involving some ex-players, Peter Everitt
Peter Everitt
Peter "Spida" Everitt is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda, Hawthorn Hawks and the Sydney Swans in the AFL. He made his debut for St Kilda in 1993 and in 2003 began playing for Hawthorn. Everitt was traded to the Sydney Swans at the end of 2006. Following the club's 2008...
and Barry Hall
Barry Hall
Barry Hall is a former Australian rules footballer. Hall is considered to be one of the best forwards of the modern era, being named All-Australian, leading his club's goalkicking on nine occasions and captaining the Sydney Swans to their 2005 AFL Grand Final victory...
. St Kilda has since been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The Storm defeated the New Zealand Warriors
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
40-6 in the first match since the scandal was revealed. This was followed up with a 34-6 win over the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
in Townsville the week after.
Melbourne Storm 2010 season crowd averages
| Total Crowd | Total Games | Crowd Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 176,041 | 12 | 14,670 |
| Away | 168,109 | 12 | 14,009 |
| All Games | 344,150 | 24 | 14,340 |
Pre-season
----- World Club Challenge 2010
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Regular season - Rounds 1 to 12
During the regular season, the Storm will play their first three home games at Etihad Stadium before moving to their new purpose built and permanent home AAMI Park.----
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Regular season - Rounds 13 - 26
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