Founded in 1998, the Melbourne Storm can lay claim to being the benchmark for immediate and sustained excellence in Australian sport. A Semi-Final berth in their inaugural season was quickly bettered by a maiden Premiership in 1999 under Glenn Lazarus’ leadership, raising the profile of the game in Melbourne. Success continued through the 2000s, which, upon a backdrop of team success, saw the dawn of the careers of the likes of Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk, and their meteoric rise at both club and representative level. Combined, these legends represented the Storm more than 1,000 times at first-grade level. Following in the footsteps of the early champions – Lazarus, Geyer, Bai, and Kearns, to name a few – they built a legacy that has been passed onto current stars like Munster, Papenhuyzen and Grant – a legacy most revered in modern Rugby League. Their contribution seemed to almost grow in parallel with that of champion coach Craig Bellamy who, in his 21 seasons at the helm, boasts a win record that is simply unrivalled in the history of the game. Celebrate the moments, the players, and the unbreakable spirit of the Melbourne Storm with this official medallion cover.