This week in Storm history | June 16 - 22

We take a look back at significant moments in the club's history during this week in years gone by.

June 16

2004: Queensland winger Billy Slater scores a classic State of Origin try as the Maroons level the series with a 22-18 triumph before a record crowd at Suncorp Stadium. Slater is named man-of-the-match after scoring two tries and saving another with a last-ditch tackle on NSW winger Timana Tahu.

2018: Premiership-winning coach Craig Bellamy re-signs with the Melbourne Storm on a deal that will tie him to the club until the end of 2021.

June 17

1999: Melbourne grant front-rower Paul Rauhihi a release from his contract, allowing him to transfer to the Newcastle Knights.

2002: Bulldogs five-eighth Braith Anasta is dumped in favour of Melbourne’s Scott Hill in the NSW Blues’ squad for the State of Origin series decider.

2015: New South Wales squares the State of Origin series with a 26-18 victory over Queensland before a record Origin crowd of 91,513 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

2017: Rookie halfback Brodie Croft kicks a field goal from 30 metres out to lift Storm in a 23-22 golden point win over North Queensland.

2019: New South Wales coach Brad Fittler makes seven changes to his line-up, including giving Storm forward Dale Finucane his debut, for the make-or-break Game 2 of the series in Perth.

June 18

2004: Queensland hero Billy Slater is honoured with a parade through the main street of his home town, Innisfail, as he celebrates his 21st birthday.

2015: Melbourne and Queensland fullback Billy Slater is ruled out for the rest of the 2015 season after confirming he will undergo shoulder surgery.

2015: Former Melbourne media manager Dave Donaghy is appointed the Storm’s new CEO, replacing outgoing boss Mark Evans.

June 19

2010: Five-eighth Brett Finch celebrates his 250th first grade game as Melbourne crush North Queensland 58-12 at AAMI Park.

June 20

2012: Melbourne re-sign utility forward Ryan Hinchcliffe until the end of 2016, along with Jason Ryles and Siosaia Vave. The Storm also announce the signing of Newcastle Toyota Cup player Kurt Mann.

June 21

1998: Melbourne assume the outright lead in the premiership after 15 rounds.

June 22

2014: Melbourne’s Billy Slater responds to suggestions that Jarryd Hayne had overtaken him as the game’s premier fullback with a scintillating performance in the Storm’s 46-20 defeat of Parramatta at AAMI Park. Slater scored two tries to join Andrew Ettingshausen in third place on the all-time list of premiership tryscorers and created two others for team-mates in his most emphatic display of the season.

2015: Long-serving Melbourne Storm forward Ryan Hinchcliffe agrees to a three-year deal with Super League club Huddersfield, from 2016.

2016: Queensland claim their 10th Origin series victory in 11 years when they overpower a gallant New South Wales 26-16 at Suncorp Stadium. Skipper Cameron Smith is named man of the match for the sixth time in his 38-game career for the Maroons.

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