They may have set the benchmark all season but Melbourne admit they must adjust to NRL finals intensity after receiving a shock from Parramatta.
The Storm are runaway title favourites after claiming the minor premiership three wins clear of their nearest rival before overcoming the Eels 18-16 in their weekend qualifying final.
Melbourne face either Brisbane or Penrith in a preliminary final in a fortnight at AAMI Park with the winner advancing to the grand final.
The premiership may be considered the Storm's to lose but forward Felise Kaufusi admits Melbourne were caught off guard by the Eels' energy.
"There are a few of us boys who haven't experienced that including myself," Kaufusi said of the opening final.
"To get a taste of that was something different.
"The intensity of it is completely different to round one to 26.
"It was a tough game. It is a different brand of football."
Kaufusi would be an accurate gauge - he is the only Storm forward to have played all 25 of Melbourne's games to date this year.
Melbourne quickly caught up to speed with the Eels after Kenny Bromwich's 46th-minute try sparked by Kaufusi.
The Storm backrower produced the line break that began a movement that went through 10 pairs of hands before Bromwich crashed over to break the game open.
"It definitely did give us a boost when Kenny went over," said Kaufusi, who ran 107m and made 25 tackles in his 80-minute performance.
"I think that was a big turning point."
Melbourne were not short of confidence before the finals but Kaufusi said the weekend win over the dangerous Eels would only provide another shot in the arm for their title tilt.
"It was pretty awesome we could hold out a side like Parramatta, with all the firepower they've got," Kaufusi said.
"I think we can really take some confidence out of that leading into the prelim."
Share
