The Melbourne Storm have reached their sixth straight preliminary final – but Phil Gould senses it could be as far as they're going to get in this year's premiership race.
In beating Parramatta 36-24 in Saturday's qualifying final, Melbourne gained a week off to prepare for a preliminary final showdown against either the Roosters or Raiders, who'll face off on Friday night.
It was another game where Craig Bellamy's side highlighted their experience on the big stage, which is why many are tipping the Storm to be the Panthers' biggest challenges to this year's title.
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On a winning streak of 16 games and having maintained top spot on the ladder from round 10, Penrith booked their place in the preliminary finals after accounting for the Roosters in incredible fashion on Friday.
However many sense their biggest challenge still awaits, with questions still circling over whether Ivan Cleary's side possesses the finals experience to match the likes of the Storm, Roosters and Raiders in an elimination final.
But speaking on Channel Nine's Final Whistle, Gould virtually put a red pen through Melbourne's premiership credentials, claiming they've already hit top gear.
“I don't think so," Gould said when queried if Melbourne were playing well enough to win the premiership.
"I don't think they've got another gear to go to, I think that's as good as it's going to get," Gould said.
"They haven't got another gear, they're flat out. They're under the whip."
The win over Parramatta on the weekend was the fourth straight week Bellamy's side have conceded at least 20 points. While they're still winning games, their defence leading into the finals has raised eyebrows.
Bellamy has been critical of his team's work without the ball recently, and again placed more emphasis on the tries they let in against the Eels than the winning result in his post-game press conference.
Gould said the defensive effort raised huge red flags for the Storm's premiership claims.
“I don't think it's defensively anywhere near as strong as what the great Melbourne Storm sides have been,” he said.
"I thought this was a game really where I wasn't impressed with either side.
"There was some brilliant attacking football … but if I'm a coach of a team playing in semi-final like this, I'm a little concerned that we're going to need a lot of improving if we're going to win a premiership.”
