Another round, another stats breakdown. This time, it’s the St George Illawarra Dragons and Melbourne Storm.
It is the Storm who have the rub of the green over the Dragons, to the point of near domination.
Though with a chance to capitalise owing to no Origin stars, can the Dragons pounce?
St George Illawarra Dragons v Melbourne Storm Stats Breakdown
The St George Illawarra Dragons and the Melbourne Storm have played each other on 37 occasions; the Dragons have won just 10 games, the Storm have won 25 games and there have been two draws.
This is the lowest number of wins the Dragons have against any active side in the NRL (min. 20 games).
Although the Dragons have lost five of the past seven games between the two sides, they have won two of the last four.
The first game played between the two sides was a 28-16 win to the Dragons in round 13, 1999.
Josh Addo-Carr has five tries in two games against the Dragons.
Top try-scorers in this clash
Nathan Blacklock (SGI) – 10
Matt King (MEL) – 9
Steve Turner (MEL) – 9
Matt Cooper (SGI) – 9
Billy Slater (MEL) – 9
Jason Nightingale (SGI) – 9
Matt Orford (MEL) – 8
Brett Morris (SGI) – 8
Trent Barrett (SGI) – 6
Will Chambers (MEL) – 5
Josh Addo-Carr (MEL) – 5
Top point-scorers in this clash
Cameron Smith (MEL) – 2 tries & 67 goals (142 pts)
Matt Orford (MEL) – 8 tries & 21 goals (74 pts)
Gareth Widdop (MEL/SGI) – 3 tries & 26 goals (64 pts)
Nathan Blacklock (SGI) – 10 tries & 3 goals (46 pts)
Steve Turner (MEL) – 9 tries & 2 goals (40 pts)
Jamie Soward (SGI) – 2 tries & 16 goals (40 pts)
Matt King (MEL) – 9 tries (36 pts)
Matt Cooper (SGI) – 9 tries (36 pts)
Jason Nightigale (SGI) – 9 tries (36 pts)
Billy Slater (MEL) – 9 tries (36 pts)
Wayne Bartrim (SGI) – 16 goals (32 pts)
Brett Morris (SGI) – 8 tries (32 pts)
Tasesa Lavea (MEL) – 2 tries & 10 goals (28 pts)
Matt Geyer (MEL) – 3 tries & 8 goals (28 pts)
Head coaching records
Craig Bellamy (MEL) – 20/27 (74.1%)
Mark Murray (MEL) – 2/3 (66.7%) (1 draw)
David Waite (SGI) – 3/5 (60%)
Chris Anderson (MEL) – 3/6 (50%)
Paul McGregor (SGI) – 3/8 (37.5%)
Steve Price (SGI) – 1/3 (33.3%)
Wayne Bennett (SGI) – 1/4 (25%)
Nathan Brown (SGI) – 2/12 (16.7%)
Andrew Farrar (SGI) – 0/4 (0%) (1 draw)
Players to have played for both sides
- Jason Ryles – 2000-2008 (SGI) & 2012-2013 (MEL)
- Junior Langi – 2000 (SGI) & 2001-2003 (MEL)
- Henry Perenara – 2001-2002 (MEL) & 2003-2004 (SGI)
- Kirk Reynoldson – 2002-2004 (MEL) & 2008 (SGI)
- Bryan Norrie – 2004-2005 (SGI) & 2010-2014 (MEL)
- Ian Donnelly – 2003 (SGI) & 2005-2007 (MEL)
- Jeremy Smith – 2004 & 2006-2008 (MEL) & 2009-2010 (SGI)
- Lagi Setu – 2007-2008 (SGI) & 2013 (MEL)
- Chase Stanley – 2007-2009, 2012-2013 (SGI) & 2010-2011 (MEL)
- Dane Nielsen – 2008-2012 (MEL) & 2015 (SGI)
- Ryan Tandy – 2003 (SGI) & 2010 (MEL)
- Gareth Widdop – 2010-2013 (MEL) & 2014-2019 (SGI)
- Kurt Mann – 2014-2015 (MEL) & 2016-2018 (SGI)
Biggest winning margins
The Melbourne Storm’s biggest win came in round 5, 2000, when they demolished the St George Illawarra Dragons 70-10. This is the Dragons worst loss in history (as a joint venture) and the Storm’s third largest win ever.
The St George Illawarra Dragons biggest win over the Melbourne Storm came in the same year, when they won comprehensively, a 50-4 victory in round 18, 2000.
Players to be sin-binned/sent-off in this fixture
- Shane Walker (MEL) sent-off in round 14, 2002.
- Justin Poore (SGI) sin-binned in round 8, 2006.
- Billy Slater (MEL) sin-binned in round 21, 2006.