The 2000 Melbourne Storm season was the third in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2000 Premiership and finished the regular season in sixth place, being eliminated in the first week of the finals.[1]
The Storm began 2000 with an easy win over St. Helens in the World Club Challenge. It was a great start for Melbourne, but overall the 2000 season was a disappointment. Major injuries to Marcus Bai and Robbie Ross, along with a lengthy suspension to Stephen Kearney, seriously disrupted the season.
It was made worse when the club was forced to negotiate its way through the trials and tribulations of 12 players coming off contract by the end of the year. Most distracting was the contractual saga of Brett Kimmorley as he travelled between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in search of his future (much to the bewilderment of the Victorian public who were not used to rugby league's mid-season mayhem).
With respectable home crowds averaging over 14,000 the Storm finished the 2000 season in sixth place, earning themselves a semi-final against the Newcastle Knights in Newcastle. However, the defending premiers exited with a 30–16 loss on a wet and miserable afternoon. The season's undoubted highlight was the grand final rematch against the Dragons at the MCG where the Storm won by an incredible scoreline of 70–10.
Tony Martin (to London) and Brett Kimmorley (to Northern Eagles) were key losses for the club in the lead up to 2001 which were slightly off-set by the arrival of half-back Matt Orford and winger Junior Langi.[2]
7 February – Team manager Mick Moore dies in tragic circumstances in Auckland on the evening after Melbourne's 2000 NRL season opening loss against Auckland Warriors. Moore was socialising with team officials when he fell from a wharf. Moore's funeral is held in Brisbane on 10 February.
3 March – In a further provocation, Mundine writes in a weekly newspaper column that "I think they (the Storm) are nothing but pretenders. Many critics are saying some of the statement I make do nothing but fire up the opposition. That's exactly what I want to do. I don't want Melbourne to come up with any excuses. I want them to be at their best. I want them to be fired up and I want St George Illawarra to crush them because nothing is sweeter than revenge."[3]
Round 5 – Snapping a four-game losing streak to start the season, Melbourne humiliate St George Illawarra 70–10 at the MCG in a stunning rebuttal against Anthony Mundine. The 70 points sets a new club record, and the 60-point margin also is a new club record. Melbourne became only the fourth team in Australian rugby league history to score 70+ points. Glenn Lazarus parades the NRL premiership trophy before the game, having retired at the end of the 1999 season.
Round 6 – A second successive first half blitz sees Melbourne lead 30–0 against Sydney Roosters, before going on to win 42–10.
9 March – Chris Anderson signs a new three-year contract to stay with Melbourne.
Round 7 – Marcus Bai suffers a serious arm laceration in a collision with the advertising signage at Olympic Park.
Round 8 – Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks forward Jason Stevens accuses Ben Roarty of biting him during the game. NRL Judiciary Commissioner Jim Hall later dismisses the charge due to a lack of evidence after Stevens refuses to advance with the allegations.
16 April – Chairman John Ribot tells the media that the absence of a fixed schedule of matches costs each club in excess of $4m annually.
12 May – FullbackRobbie Ross is ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
Round 14 – Missing 11 players through Origin selection and injury, Melbourne hand debuts to a number of players, including drafting in Brook Martin from Queensland Cup team Easts Tigers.
Round 15 – Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai are placed on report for a dangerous spear tackle on Wests Tigers forward Jarrod McCracken. The tackle inflicts a serious neck injury on McCracken. Kearney is later suspended for eight matches, with Bai receiving a one match suspension, after pleading guilty at the NRL Judiciary.[3]
28 May – Despite being under contract, it is reported in The Sun-Herald that Melbourne has granted Brett Kimmorley permission to negotiate with rival clubs.[3]
4 June – Marcus Bai signs a new three-year deal to stay with Melbourne.
Round 18 – St George Illawarra inflict Melbourne's worst defeat and highest score conceded, thrashing Storm 50–4 in Wollongong. The reversal of fortunes coming just 13 weeks after the 70–10 game at the MCG. Melbourne again were missing a number of players due to Origin selection.
Round 20 – Matt Geyer equals his own club record with four tries in a game, as Melbourne thrash Auckland 56–10 to win the Michael Moore Trophy.[5]
26 June – CentreTony Martin announces he will be leaving Melbourne at the end of the 2000 season to play with the London Broncos.
4 July – Coach Chris Anderson accuses Brett Kimmorley of betrayal after Kimmorley announces he has signed a two-year deal with Northern Eagles.
Round 23 – Days after the death of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs patriarch Peter "Bullfrog" Moore the father-in-law of both coaches; Melbourne lose to Canterbury 22–31 in what Chris Anderson called the "worst performance in the three years we've been here."[3] In a unique milestone, Danny Williams becomes the first player to register 100 games off the interchange bench in Australian rugby league history.[6]
Round 24 – Rodney Howe becomes the first Melbourne player to be sent off. Howe is sent from the field for a high tackle on Geoff Toovey by referee Sean Hampstead, but has the charges dropped by the NRL Judiciary.[3][4]
26 July – Northern Eagles halfback Matt Orford signs a two-year contract with Melbourne to replace Brett Kimmorley for the 2001 season.
Round 26 – Melbourne secure sixth spot on the NRL ladder with a 36–26 win over Wests Tigers. In the first meeting between the teams since the spear tackle incident earlier in the season, Stephen Kearney is jeered by the Tigers' fans, but scores a late try to give Storm the lead. Wests Tigers WingJohn Hopoate is cited in the match for contrary conduct relating to 10 separate incidents, including a head slam tackle on Scott Hill.
5 August – Robbie Ross signs a four-year contract to stay with the club.
3 November – Melbourne strike a deal with Colonial Stadium management to play all 2001 season home games at the venue, leaving Olympic Park. Plans to play the club's opening game in Hong Kong are cancelled.
19 December – Adecco sign a three-year $4m sponsorship agreement with Melbourne to have their logo on the front of Storm jerseys beginning with the 2001 season.
Melbourne's jerseys were again manufactured by Fila and carried the same designs as the 1999 home and away jerseys. A special "Millennium" jersey design was worn in the 2000 World Club Challenge and again in round 5 against St George Illawarra Dragons. Using the home design as a template, the jersey featured reflective silver thunderbolts. The gold away jersey was only worn in rounds 19, 22, and 26.
Greatest number of games lost consecutively: 4 [g]
Round 1 – Round 4
Feeder Team
Melbourne Storm reserve players again travelled to Brisbane each week to play with Queensland Cup team Norths Devils. Making the finals for the third straight season, Norths Devils finished fifth and were eliminated in the first week of the 2000 Queensland Cup finals. Steven Bell won the Devils player of the year award, earning himself a contract with Melbourne for the 2001 season.
^Players are listed with the cap number as they appear on the Melbourne Storm honour board. Additional squad members do not have a cap number.
^This column denotes the previous RL club the player was signed to and played first grade RL for. If they are yet to debut then this is stipulated. If they were merely signed to the club but did not play then it is not counted.
