The first ever meeting between Melbourne and Gold Coast proved to be another enjoyable night in what was an unforgettable year for Storm fans.
A crowd of 11,770 people ventured to Olympic Park for the final game of the 2007 NRL season.
The Titans inaugural year had began with such promise, spending much of it inside the top eight. However John Cartwright’s men had endured a late-season fade out and arrived at Olympic Park having lost seven of their last nine games.
Be at AAMI Park when we take on the Panthers in Round 13, Saturday 4 June, 7:30pm.
The story could not have been more different for their opponents as Storm had already secured the NRL minor premiership for a second consecutive year.
This was a Melbourne team on a mission, desperate to atone for their grand final defeat at the hands of the Broncos a year ago. They had won the first seven games of the season and had held the competition’s top spot since Round 12.
The home side would head into their final game of the season in an understandably buoyant mood.
It took just five minutes into their clash with the Titans for Storm to give their fans added cause for celebration when Cooper Cronk found Ryan Hoffman through a gaping hole in the defence.
Moments later winger Steve Turner, just two weeks removed from knee surgery and a late inclusion into the side, also found the line.
When Cronk found his way over for another it was beginning to look like party time with Storm racing out to a 16-0 lead after just 14 minutes.
Anthony Quinn then scored his first try in six weeks before Matt King also crossed the chalk with a minute to play before half-time.
Storm headed for the sheds with a 28-0 lead but they were not done yet. Greg Inglis, playing five-eighth, entertained the crowd with a brilliant chip and chase on 51 minutes to score.
Mark Minichiello finally gave the visitors something to cheer about with their only try of the day but this was to be a Sunday night to remember for Storm fans.
Israel Folau, the Club’s leading try scorer that season, and Billy Slater became the eighth and ninth try scorers on the night to complete the 50-6 victory.
The win made it 21 in total for the season, the most in Storm history and the most wins by any club since 1983.
After the resounding win, the Storm players took the J.J Giltinan Shield around Olympic Park, a venue where they had won 29 of their last 30 games.
That Round 25 win over the Titans was part of an eight-game winning streak to end the 2007 season, including the 34-8 Grand Final triumph over Manly.
