Halfback Cooper Cronk suspects the NRL finals snuck up on the Melbourne Storm.

But having received the harshest of wake-up calls in last week's shock 18-15 home loss to the NZ Warriors, the defending champions are determined not to get caught napping again against arch-rivals Brisbane on Saturday night.

All the focus has been on the Broncos and their off-field dramas this week, but the Storm can also expect to have the blowtorch turned their way if they bow out of the playoffs in straight sets with another loss after claiming a third straight minor premiership.

"You look at last week and it was like we just turned up and thought 'oh we're playing finals now', but this week there are media everywhere, Suncorp is sold out, we're playing the Broncos," said Cronk, one of the large Queensland-born contingent in the Melbourne lineup.

"So the sense of occasion that wasn't there last week for whatever reason is definitely there now.

"It snuck up on us last week and there's no sneaking up on us now.

"We know the equation, we know what has to be done.

"We know we didn't do what we wanted to against the Warriors, nowhere near it - it just wasn't acceptable."

Storm coach Craig Bellamy insists publicly that he doesn't lift any more for clashes against the Broncos than any other team.

But his players have noticed a change in his demeanour this week as he plots the downfall of the club he served as an assistant coach under Wayne Bennett before taking on the top job at Melbourne.

The rivalry also extends to the two playing groups, both chockful of representative players.

And there's the Israel Folau factor, with the young Storm sensation to join Brisbane next season on a lucrative four-year deal.

"Aside from grand finals, this is just about as big as it gets," said Cronk.

"There's the rivalry between the two clubs, the passion of the Broncos fans, the way the community gets behind them.

"If that can't put a smile on your face and get you excited about a game of football, there's no point turning up and putting your boots on.

"The other thing is that both teams have been part of finals footy for a long time now, so the mutual respect is definitely there.

"You've only got to look back on the last 10 games we've played against the Broncos.

"They've been mostly great games, end to end and with good contact, everything you'd want from a game of football."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP