This Saturday night the Melbourne Storm can enter the record books with a record-breaking 20th consecutive victory when they face the Parramatta Eels at Suncorp Stadium.
Not even the retirement of their legendary captain Cameron Smith on the eve of the start of the season has slowed them down, with Harry Grant slotting into the hooking role seamlessly following one season with Wests Tigers on a loan deal last year.
Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has also missed a considerable portion of the season due to injury, but his absence hasn’t affected the side either.
Last week the club survived a scare from the Gold Coast Titans to win by 34-20, joining the Sydney Roosters class of 1975 in winning 19 consecutive matches.
They had trailed 10-0 after 15 minutes and then 16-12 at halftime before scoring four tries to one in the second half, two of them by Bulldogs-bound winger Josh Addo-Carr, to keep their winning streak going and put one hand on the minor premiership in the process.
While Craig Bellamy’s side will start hot favourites against the Parramatta Eels in Brisbane this Saturday night, they will be mindful that the blue-and-golds were one of just two teams – the other being the Penrith Panthers – to get the better of them this season.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The Round 2 clash at Bankwest Stadium saw the home side win 16-12, with that result seeing the Eels start the season 2-0 while the Storm, two games into the post-Cameron Smith era, dropped to 1-1 after they’d beaten the Rabbitohs at home in Round 1.
But the fortunes of both clubs have changed significantly since, and while the Storm lost their next match against the Panthers, they have gone on to win their next 19 games in a row.
They have broken numerous scoring records along the way, including scoring 40 points or more in 11 matches this season and having the largest points differential in Australian rugby league history at +499.
Their current points-for of 777 is the most by any team after 22 matches, and they are just 62 points off the 839 points scored by the Parramatta Eels in 2001 – though that season saw every club play 26 matches and no split rounds for byes.
Additionally, Josh Addo-Carr became the first man since 1950 to score six tries in an Australian rugby league premiership match, doing so against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Round 9 game the Storm won 50-0.
No wonder why Bulldogs fans can’t wait for his arrival, with the club already doomed to finish with the wooden spoon, its first since 2008.
The Eels, meantime, have struggled in recent weeks, losing five of their past seven matches to drop out of the top four with two rounds of the minor premiership still to play.
Brad Arthur’s side did, though, put an end to a horror month by beating the North Queensland Cowboys last Saturday night, with Mitchell Moses enjoying a welcome return to form after being slowed down by a back injury suffered in his Origin debut last month.
It has put them three wins clear of the seventh-placed Newcastle Knights. In a normal world, they would be guaranteed a home final, but with the entire finals series set to be played in Queensland, where they finish will be irrelevant.
Preceding the win over the Cowboys were humiliating defeats to the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with those three clubs overtaking the Eels on the ladder as a result.
Long-suffering fans hoping that it was a turning point in their team’s run to September stand to be mistaken as they face a club that has given them more hell than you could ever imagine in the past 12 years.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
While the Eels have suffered several heavy defeats against the Storm in recent years, including copping a 64-10 loss in Magic Round two years ago, the one loss that continues to anger their fans is the 2009 grand final.
Why? Because six months after the Storm lifted what was supposedly their third premiership title in front of a pro-Parramatta crowd at Stadium Australia it was revealed that the Victorian club had cheated the salary cap over a four-year period starting in 2006.
That 2009 title as well as the 2007 title and a hat-trick of minor premierships were thus wiped from the record books, while the club was also forced to return $1.1 million in prize money, fined $500,000 and were sentenced to finish the 2010 season as wooden spooners.
In the Round 13 grand final ‘rematch’ that took place at the since-demolished Parramatta Stadium that year angry Eels fans unleashed their feelings towards the Storm players, with signs in the stands saying “Grand final forecast: No Storm” and “Go home you cheat$”.
In the week leading up to the match a banner was unfurled in the Parramatta CBD that read: “Home of the Parramatta Eels – the real 2009 premiers”.
But as the saying goes, there’s no use crying over spilt milk.
Back on topic now, and the present-day Eels will brace themselves for the ultimate challenge that is facing a Melbourne Storm side that has clearly been the benchmark team of 2021.
At stake for the Storm is a record-breaking 20th win, which would cement the club as the greatest of the NRL era (1998 to present) and have their finals rivals running scared.
Should they beat the Eels at Suncorp Stadium as expected on Saturday night, another four wins in succession would take them to back-to-back NRL premierships for the first time in club history.
It would be the second consecutive time a different club has won back-to-back titles, after the Sydney Roosters did so in 2018-19.
So the question remains: are the Eels the team that is capable of putting an end to the Storm’s winning run, or will Craig Bellamy’s side brush them aside and complete the grand slam of beating every club this season?
Joey
Guest
Not so ideal now, half the spine still recovering from concussions, Papenhuyzen took another head knock, Addo-Carr doubtful for week 1 or even more, Bromwich would be a miracle to get less than two weeks. Seems to be falling apart instead of the opposite.
Joey
Guest
Arrogantly obsessed with chasing records instead of resting up. Told you so.
Joey
Guest
Considering the history between these two clubs, and Parra desperate to find form, this could be a lot more of a grinding and physical affair than was expected. Add to that the likelihood of some Storm players rested and Parra could end up making a game of it. Gloves off. No holds barred. Well, except the holds that have since been barred - crusher tackle, chicken wing, hip drop, cannonball ..
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
I dont think the comp has been that bad. the bottom 10 teams (that is 10 out of 16) have been relatively close (bulldogs too had some close games). By that I mean picking a warriors win, broncos win, knights win, dragons win, tigers win etc wasn't as straightforward or one sided as made out to be. As for the top teams 4-5-6 have always battled it out, and its really only Strom, Panthers and Rabbitohs that have mostly beaten everyone below them. That seems to me like a well balanced comp, expect 2-3 really strong teams, 3-5 good teams, 6-7 middle teams and a few stragglers.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The thing is Parra in round 20 were not Parra in Round 6 or 7 when they were towelled up by the Dogs and Broncs . One of the great RL stories of all time becomes an asterisk. Really sad.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
What you mean is Parra deserved to contest the grand final against Brisbane, who were knocked out by Melbourne in the preliminary final.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
...and still finished 8th! Out of 16 teams, LOL.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
From round 19 ( where they beat Melbourne) they won 10 of 11 games , most by a margin. It truly was the most magical of finals runs and they absolutely deserved to win against a side that ruined a whole year of footy.
Joey
Guest
I’d say Panthers have the same respect for Storm’s streak this year, as Storm did for Penrith’s last year. (Not much). I’d love to see Storm come into the GF v Panthers on a winning streak, shoe on the other foot from last year. That would be something.
Joey
Guest
Will be interesting when Hughes comes back. Too early could be a massive risk, too late and he may not have had enough game time. If he fails the protocols to make it back for semis, I don’t think they win it without him.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yep, pretty strong team and happy to see it, at least won't die wondering! Finucane rest is sensible given his history of concussion and Tui on reserves and Lewis playing well no need to rush him. NAS is a worry...that hammy still not ready means he will be underdone in the Finals. Hopefully Tui gets at least 2 games.
Walter Black
Guest
No NAS either
Walter Black
Guest
Just seen the team list, its a strong one Main outs are Jennings and Finuacane. It looks like Craig is going for it.
HENRIK
Guest
As good as the Storm are i think the Standard of teams below 6th on the ladder in this years competition should be taken into consideration when comparisons are made. Every team below that has a negative points differential. Ive found this years competition to be the worst i can remember for watching games as a neutral spectator
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yeah, as I indicated in my main post I really want them to take that record outright. From what Bellamy has done last week I think there will be rest for players who have played most games. Hughes, Finucane was more for the head knocks but Olam, B.Smith has played most game so I'm thinking this week might be Reimis, Jessie...maybe even Nicho.
Walter Black
Guest
But what does that mean Joe ? It could be as little as resting up Finucane this week or it could be more. I know you think that he doesn't care about records or the minor prem but I think he would be very foolish not to have a crack when he is so close and has the luxury of a last game before the finals to rest folks. But we will soon see who is right.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I really hope they take the streak outright. Bellamy has indicated he will rest players again this week and if they lose at least they'll be equal first. Having it outright in my opinion would matter more historically than a premiership. People still remember the 75 Roosters because of that streak and the names of players on that team. I also think the streak belongs to the whole squad because it is done over the whole season and not just the 17 picked for a GF. Bit players can point to this streak and truly say they were a part of it. I know people are quick to point to Panthers 17 in a row last year in a shortened season so win streaks might be a product of the new rules but they didn't have to contend with mid year Origin or injuries to key players and we've seen how that affected them this year. This is a major achievement for this team and I hope they get the W this week.
Clancy
Roar Rookie
As a broncos fan I can only stand and applaud this Melbourne Storm outfit and Craig Bellamy in particular. To be on the verge of Rugby League history after losing the club's greatest player is truly phenomenal. Most clubs generally down for a period after losing their best player. The Broncos went from one game short of a grand final in Lockyer's Final season to 3 underwhelming seasons seeing us scrape into the eight 2/3 and being bundled out first round and missing the eight entirely the other season. So although I despise the storm for their continual dominance over the Broncos I cannot help but admire just how good they are.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Bellamy has already indicated in an interview yesterday that he will rest players this week and next.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Yes, same as you I think the worry is more NAS, Kamikamica needing game time. NAS was close to MoM in the GF last year as a starting 13 but it looks like he won't be in that sort of form this year...hopefully Dale who returned from long injury in the first finals game last year is in peak form for this years finals so the two can just swap.