This week in Storm history

September 8

1999: Melbourne forward Matt Rua re-signs with the club for a further three years.

2012: Melbourne produce a performance of clinical control to down South Sydney 24-6 in a qualifying final at AAMI Park. The loss continues the Rabbitohs’ dismal run in finals matches, stretching back to 1987. Making matters worse for Souths is the loss of centre Matt King with a fractured forearm.

2013: Five-eighth Gareth Widdop turns out for Storm feeder club Easts Brisbane in a 31-18 Intrust Super Cup semi-final win over Mackay, 11 weeks after dislocating his hip.

September 9

2007: In a massive qualifying final victory, Storm overpower the Broncos 40-0.

2008: Manly halfback Matt Orford is named Dally M Player of the Year at an awards ceremony at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. Melbourne’s Billy Slater misses out on the top award because of a one-match suspension served during the season.

2009: Melbourne forward Adam Blair is cleared to face Manly in the opening qualifying final after being exonerated by the NRL judiciary on a dangerous contact charge.

2017: In their first taste of finals football since 2009, Parramatta go agonizingly close to toppling runaway minor premiers Melbourne at AAMI Park before the Storm fight back to win 18-16. Storm captain Cameron Smith breaks the all-time premiership appearance record while fullback Billy Slater joins Eddie Lumsden as the most prolific try scorer in finals football when he crosses for his 18th finals try.

September 10

2005: Melbourne repeat their 2004 qualifying final win over Brisbane with a 24-18 victory at Suncorp Stadium. Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett accuses Melbourne halfback Matt Orford of “taking a dive” after he wins a crucial penalty for obstruction.

2008: Despite speculation that he was a prime target for European rugby clubs, Melbourne Storm star Greg Inglis commits himself to the NRL for four years by signing a deal to remain with the Storm until 2012.

2016: The Melbourne Storm progress to a preliminary final for the ninth time when they outlast North Queensland 16-10 in a torrid qualifying final at AAMI Park.

September 11

2002: Mark Murray is sacked as coach of the Melbourne Storm.

2004: On a Saturday of upsets, Melbourne down Brisbane 31-14 at Suncorp Stadium and North Queensland score a stunning 30-22 victory over the Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium. The knock-on effect of these results sends St George Illawarra out of the finals race and gives Penrith a week’s break .

2009: Storm kick off the NRL finals series with a commanding 40-12 defeat of Manly at Etihad Stadium. Storm fullback Billy Slater scores a club record-equalling four tries for the match.

2011: Melbourne steer clear of the curse that afflicted the minor premiers in consecutive seasons to dispose of Newcastle 18-8 in the 1 v 8 qualifying final at AAMI Park.

2015: Storm bring the Sydney Roosters’ 12-game winning streak to an end with a gritty 20-18 victory in the opening match of the finals series at Allianz Stadium. Roosters’ winger Shaun Kenny-Dowall scores a try that ranks among the great four-pointers of finals football.

September 12

1999: Melbourne advance to the preliminary finals with a 24-22 defeat of Canterbury in the second semi-final.

2015: Storm winger Matt Duffie signs a two-year deal with Super Rugby outfit the Auckland Blues.

September 13

1998: The Broncos end Melbourne’s remarkable debut season with a 30-6 victory in an elimination semi-final.

2012: The Melbourne Storm announce the signing of former St George Illawarra and Brisbane forward Lagi Setu, who will return from a two-year Mormon mission in 2013, and Wests Tigers forward Junior Moors.

2013: South Sydney open the 2013 Finals Series with an impressive 20-10 defeat of Melbourne at ANZ Stadium.

September 14

2004: The Melbourne Storm appoint former St Kilda AFL boss Brian Waldron as the club’s new chief executive.

2006: The Australian reports that ARU officials have targeted Melbourne Storm star Greg Inglis as their next high-profile rugby league recruit

2008: The Warriors make history at Melbourne’s Olympic Park when they become the first eighth placed team to defeat the minor premiers under the McIntyre Finals System, winning a thrilling qualifying final 18-15. The Warriors’ survival spells doom for the sixth-placed Canberra Raiders after their 36-10 loss to Cronulla.

2014: Canterbury overturn two months of mediocre form to send Melbourne crashing from the finals with a comprehensive 28-4 victory at AAMI Park.

2018: Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith agrees to a one-year contract extension that will give him the opportunity to become the first player to notch 400 first grade games.

2019: Canberra upstage the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park to advance to a preliminary final after a dramatic 12-10 victory. Centre Joseph Leilua is struck in the eye by a firework as he enters the field but recovers to play a leading role in the win. The result ends the prospect of the Roosters and the Storm meeting in consecutive grand finals.