It wasn't a performance worthy of an NRL premiership but it was a step forward, according to Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy.

The Storm earned a week off and ended Parramatta's season with a hard-fought 12-6 win in their qualifying final at Olympic Park, scoring two tries to one.

Parramatta blew two chances late in the second half to level the match with Melbourne's defence, a key to their minor premiership, again rock solid.

Bellamy gave an emphatic "no" when asked whether his side could win the competition on that performance.

"We've got to play better than that," he said.

"I was very happy with the first half but not the second.

"We started off too comfortable with where we were at and struggled to get any rhythm."

He praised his side's forwards, led by hard-running prop Antonio Kaufusi who scored a crucial try a minute before half-time to give his side a 12-point buffer when he barged across the line after a pass from dummy-half Cameron Smith.

That was Melbourne's second try after an early effort from winger Steve Turner caught Parramatta winger Jarryd Hayne short.

While Melbourne set up the match-winning lead in the first half, the Eels had the better of the second.

With their season on the line they threw everything at the Storm, and were controversially denied a try in the 51st minute by the video referees.

Lock Glenn Morrison ignored an unmarked Eric Grothe to crash over the line with Smith and Matt Geyer in tow.

Despite Morrison's after-match protests that he "definitely got it down", video referees Chris Ward and Phil Cooley ruled he failed to ground the ball.

Eels coach Jason Taylor said he believed one replay showed Morrison had scored.

"I was confident he would get the benefit of the doubt on one angle," Taylor said.

"But it's not about that decision, it was a good game of footy.

"It was an enormous effort by the boys and we have no regrets."

Eight minutes later Daniel Wagon found a hole and the match was hanging in the balance.

The Eels looked like they would cross again with less than three minutes remaining when centre Brett Delaney made a break, however a last-ditch tackle by Storm fullback Billy Slater forced him to throw the ball back in-field and into the hands of the home side.

Melbourne now has the week off, which is needed after a number of injuries, although none are believed to be major.

They were dealt a blow before kick-off with gun centre and the team's leading tryscorer Greg Inglis (Achilles) and first-choice prop Brett White (hamstring) ruled out.

Test centre Matt King suffered a knee injury while Jake Webster, who replaced Inglis, suffered a cracked cheekbone early in the match but bravely played on.

He got another knock midway through the second half as Grothe was placed on report for raising his elbow in a tackle.

Hard-working second-rower David Kidwell suffered a face cut and concussion in a head clash with PJ Marsh.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP