2001 Melbourne Storm season

2001 Melbourne Storm season
NRL	9th
2001 record	Wins: 11; Draws: 1; Losses: 14
Points scored	For: 704; Against: 725
Team information
Coach	Chris Anderson Mark Murray
Captain	Robbie Kearns Rodney Howe
Stadium	Docklands Stadium
Top scorers
Tries	Matt Orford (15) Aaron Moule (15)
Goals	Matt Orford (78)
Points	Matt Orford (216)
< 2000 List of seasons 2002 >

The 2001 Melbourne Storm season was the 4th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2001 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season in 9th place.

The 2001 season was the least successful in the Storm's history, missing the play-offs for the first time. After making a decision to move base from Olympic Park to the larger Colonial Stadium, the club seemed to lack the support, atmosphere and composure they had built up. It reflected in the team's on field performances, losing four of their first six homes games and 7 from their opening 10 overall. Amidst this time the Storm was rocked when coach Anderson quit the club after the 42-18 loss to Parramatta in Round 7.

Along with Richard Swain and Matt Orford, replacement coach Mark Murray lifted the Storm from their bad beginning. Melbourne won seven of their next ten games to reach 6th place on the ladder.

But the bad start had taken its toll, and with the 2001 finals in sight they won only two more games. A last round loss to Canberra saw the Storm finish outside the Top 8.

The 2001 season continued to mark the endurability of Kiwi Test hooker Richard Swain. He was on the field for every minute of the Storm's season and had yet to miss a game for Melbourne in the club's history.

Draw and Results

Round	Opponent	Result	Mel.	Opp.	Date	Venue
1	Bulldogs RLFC	Loss	10	14	Feb 18	Docklands Stadium
2	North Queensland Cowboys	Loss	28	32	Feb 24	Docklands Stadium
3	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Win	20	16	Mar 3	WIN Jubilee Oval
4	Cronulla Sharks	Win	34	24	Mar 11	Docklands Stadium
5	Wests Tigers	Loss	10	40	Mar 18	Leichhardt Oval
6	Newcastle Knights	Loss	28	36	Mar 25	Docklands Stadium
7	Parramatta Eels	Loss	18	42	Mar 31	Parramatta Oval
8	Brisbane Broncos	Loss	16	18	Apr 8	QE2 Stadium
9	Northern Eagles	Win	52	18	Apr 13	Docklands Stadium
10	Sydney Roosters	Loss	22	23	Apr 22	Docklands Stadium
11	Penrith Panthers	Win	58	14	Apr 29	Penrith Stadium
12	New Zealand Warriors	Win	40	20	May 12	Mt. Smart Stadium
13	Canberra Raiders	Win	32	28	May 19	Docklands Stadium
14	Bulldogs RLFC	Loss	26	28	May 27	Sydney Showground Stadium
15	North Queensland Cowboys	Win	38	24	Jun 2	Dairy Farmers Stadium
16	St. George Illawarra Dragons	Win	34	28	Jun 17	Docklands Stadium
17	Cronulla Sharks	Loss	18	40	Jun 23	Toyota Park
18	Wests Tigers	Win	64	0	Jul 5	Docklands Stadium
19	Newcastle Knights	Loss	16	48	Jul 15	Hunter Stadium
20	Parramatta Eels	Loss	10	54	Jul 20	Docklands Stadium
21	Brisbane Broncos	Win	32	28	Jul 29	Docklands Stadium
22	Northern Eagles	Loss	12	20	Aug 4	Bluetongue Stadium
23	Sydney Roosters	Loss	28	50	Aug 12	Sydney Football Stadium
24	Penrith Panthers	Win	28	24	Aug 20	Docklands Stadium
25	New Zealand Warriors	Draw	24	24	Aug 27	Docklands Stadium
26	Canberra Raiders	Loss	6	32	Sep 1	Bruce Stadium

Ladder

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
1	Parramatta	26	20	2	4	839	406	+433	42
2	Bulldogs	26	17	3	6	617	538	+79	37
3	Newcastle	26	16	1	9	782	639	+143	33
4	Cronulla-Sutherland	26	15	2	9	594	513	+81	32
5	Brisbane	26	14	1	11	696	511	+185	29
6	Sydney	26	13	1	12	647	589	+58	27
7	St. George Illawarra	26	12	2	12	661	573	+88	26
8	New Zealand	26	12	2	12	638	629	+9	26
9	Melbourne	26	11	1	14	704	725	-21	23
10	Northern Eagles	26	11	1	14	603	750	-149	23
11	Canberra	26	9	1	16	600	623	-23	19
12	Wests Tigers	26	9	1	16	474	746	-272	19
13	16x16px North Queensland	26	6	2	18	514	771	-257	14
14	Penrith	26	7	0	19	521	847	-326	14

Awards and honours

• Player of the year: Richard Swain
• Rookie of the year: Steven Bell