Melbourne Storm entered the 2004 NRL season full of optimism after being given a new lease of life the previous year.
In 2003 under new coach Craig Bellamy the Club had made it back to the finals after three years and two coaching changes. Storm fans hoped the ’04 campaign would see the men in purple continue on their road back to the top.
Be at AAMI Park when we take on the Rabbitohs, Saturday 6 August, 7:30pm.
However the start of the new season was not exactly smooth sailing.
Just one win from their first four games left Melbourne desperately needing a win to keep the early-season jitters at bay.
That opportunity would arise against South Sydney on a Saturday night at Olympic Park in front of 8,553 fans.
The Rabbitohs were themselves in the midst of a 15-year slump in the rugby league wilderness having been handed the wooden spoon the previous year.
Melbourne were certainly in need of a win but nobody at Olympic Park that night quite expected something so emphatic.