Melbourne Storms

Coates leaps over the Warriors to score the Match Winning Try

Coates flew more than five metres through the air, with almost his entire body horizontal and out of bounds, to dot down in the corner with seconds remaining to help the Storm complete a remarkable fightback.

Trailing 26-18 with five minutes remaining, Ryan Papenhuyzen crossed for the second of two tries to give the Storm hope.

Rabbitohs v Storm: Bunnies' big guns back; Meaney to fullback

Just two competition points separate them right now, with the Storm falling to fourth after their most recent defeat at the hands of the Raiders and South Sydney holding firm in seventh position after picking up their third win in a row on Sunday against the Bulldogs. 

Melbourne have struggled to put it together in attack over the past fortnight and are now without influential fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) for the rest of the year. 

The Bunnies have had no such trouble with ball in hand and are playing with a newfound confidence, led by star fullback Latrell Mitchell. 

Team List - Round 1 v Wests Tigers

Named in the new-look run-on 13 by coach Craig Bellamy are the club’s most experienced signings for the upcoming season - Xavier Coates who will become Storm player #217, Nick Meaney (#218) and Josh King (#219).

Coates, formerly from Brisbane Broncos, will take on the left wing position previously held by Josh Addo-Carr, while Meaney, better known as a fullback or winger during his time at Newcastle and Canterbury, will show his versatility by playing at five-eighth with usual No.6 Cameron Munster suspended for round one.

From water boy to the best centre in the NRL: The making of the Storm’s ‘human brick’ Justin Olam

That’s not a usual topic of conversation in an interview with a rugby league player.

Then again Olam isn’t your conventional rugby league player.

If anything, Justin Olam shouldn’t even be a rugby league player.

Little, if anything at all, about Olam’s journey to this point has been conventional.

Storm v Panthers: Foxx, Smith cleared; Penrith trio doubtful

The grinding 8-6 win over Parramatta on Saturday in Mackay was an energy-sapping encounter and the Panthers haven't got the luxury the Storm have enjoyed - virtually 14 days of rest to soothe some of their aches and pains. 

Then again, revenge is a hungry beast and the Panthers appetite is still there to knock the team, that beat them last year, out of this year's finals.

These are the best two teams from the 2021 NRL club competition - 21 wins each from 24 matches.

Not on our watch: Eels stand tall to deny Storm all-time record

Instead, Parramatta - who were written off by all and sundry a matter of weeks ago - emphatically reasserted themselves as title contenders with an astounding 22-10 victory at Suncorp Stadium.

And the ramifications for Melbourne could extend into the finals with three players placed on report: Jesse Bromwich (crusher tackle on Isaiah Papali'i), Harry Grant (hip drop on Makahesi Makatoa) and Brandon Smith (high tackle on Marata Niukore).

Storm 'lose the plot' but find a way to make it 18 straight

In the end the Storm prevailed 26-16 but they had to survive a Jack Wighton-inspired comeback from Canberra before registering their 18th win on the trot.

"Canberra always come and play well against, it's been a big rivalry obviously since Ricky Stuart's been at the club, he and Bellyache [Craig Bellamy] go head to head all the time and they know each other's game really well," Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster told Channel Nine post-match.

"They played well tonight and we needed to play a little bit gritty just to get the win."

Storm outlast gutsy Sea Eagles to make it 17 in a row

The Storm have put opponents to the sword week after week, scoring 40 or more 11 times in their 17-game win streak but the Sea Eagles pushed them to their limit and it was only a couple of late errors that allowed Melbourne to kick away. 

Centre Justin Olam crossed for a double but all of the Storm’s stars contributed to the win through key interventions whether it be a try, try assist or line break. 

Tom Trbojevic was kept relatively quiet, but still came up with two try assists, while Reuben Garrick crossed twice for a double. 

Storm circle all-time Roosters record after destroying depleted Panthers

Pandemics, lockdowns and 15 NRL rivals certainly can't.

With a 16th straight triumph over a badly depleted Penrith outfit – their nearest competition in 2021 to date – Melbourne bested their own club record, and have drawn within striking distance of the Roosters' all-time 19 consecutive wins in 1975.

Craig Bellamy remembers that run well, as a St George fan whose sister was married the same grand final day the Dragons were drubbed 38-0.

Happy Papi: Star fullback re-signs with Storm until 2025

Melbourne announced on Friday they have locked him into a three-year contract extension.

He was already under contract until the end of next season so he will stay at the Storm at least until the end of 2025 after inking this new deal.