It was match day today, a warm-up match against London Harlequins at Twickenham Stoop in preparation for the World Club Challenge showdown with Leeds next Sunday evening.

© Melbourne Storm

The Stoop was the venue for today's demolition of London Harlequins

The players congregated for breakfast before a team meeting at 9am. After the team meeting the players had some free time to get themselves ready before departing at 12.15pm. Some players played cards, otherwise had a massage, while others went back to their rooms to listen to music or rest up.

Once on the bus it was down to business. You could tell the players were ready to put in a big performance, the first game of the 2010 season for many of the players. Twickenham Stoop is a lovely little stadium, with four small grandstands making it an intimate venue that holds roughly 15,000 people. Today we got 3,612, but they made plenty of noise. There were even quite a few Melbourne Storm jersey’s, caps and scarves in the crowd which was great to see.

To read the full match report, click HERE.

After the match the players and staff made their way across to the post-match players’ room for a bite to eat. The room had so much potential, but it really needs some work put into it to make it feel more like a football club, and less like the waiting room of a public hospital. Next door is the room where all of the fans go after the game, the King’s Bar, which is separated only by a big, black curtain. Of course a few of the players poked their heads in next door, and not surprisingly they were mobbed by a pack of English rugby league fans.

After we ate dinner it was back on the bus for the 45-minute drive back to the hotel. Frank Ponissi told everyone to get changed and to meet in the team room in half an hour, and to get a beer from the hotel bar on the way. When everyone had arrived, Frank explained that the Club had organised a night in a local establishment to let their hair down and enjoy themselves as so far they have been on a total alcohol ban. However, the players put a 1am curfew on themselves which just goes to show how well behaved they are and know just how important next week’s game is to the Club.

To read the full Tour Diary, click HERE.