Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy joked after the win over Brisbane that his team might have to throw a game and end their eight-match winning streak ahead of the NRL finals.

Clear competition leaders, Bellamy was asked whether the Storm had peaked too early but the master coach didn't believe that was the case despite another impressive performance as they put away the Broncos 26-6 at AAMI Park.

"We might throw one next weekend then," Bellamy quipped.

"I don't think about eight in a row, what's important now ... it's about our next opponent and what we've done last week, we won't think about that.

"I think after that performance, it's pretty reassuring that we're on the right track."

The Storm's run to the finals is tough, with clashes scheduled against fellow contenders Manly and St George Illawarra.

Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith had the same philosophy as his coach and said the side was only looking one game ahead.

"Having wins like we've had, it's nice and we need to enjoy that but we can't get carried away with beating the Broncos at home or anything like that," Smith said.

"We need to make sure that we put this one behind us because preparation for next week's game starts now and every week's a challenge."

Smith kicked his 500th goal during the Broncos match, although he gave credit for the feat to his try-scoring teammates.

He is only the 27th player to reach the 500 mark, and the third highest forward.

"I've only got those opportunities to kick 500 goals because of the blokes around me scoring all the tries," he said.

But Bellamy was more generous with his assessment of his skipper's qualities.

"It showed against the Broncos, that extra string in his bow with kicking goals.

"He didn't miss one and it was a very close game, a lot of those goals were really tough and if didn't kick them the Broncos would have still been in the game.

"It was just another example of how important he is to our team."

In a worrying blow to Brisbane, captain Darren Lockyer left the field late in the game with a hamstring twinge but the club expected him to be fit to face the Sharks on Friday night.

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