The Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith believes the inadequacies of the National Rugby League's McIntyre System could be shown up this weekend with top four sides fearing swift exits from the finals series.
The Storm are treating Friday night's grand final re-match with Manly as do-or-die, Smith claiming Melbourne are a very real chance of being the first side in the top four to be eliminated in the opening week.
Smith's fears stem from injury concerns and indifferent end-of-season form of the Bulldogs and Gold Coast which, coupled with the late surge of Newcastle and Parramatta, could be a recipe for disaster for the loser of the fourth versus fifth Storm-Sea Eagles clash.
If two of the Knights, Parramatta or Brisbane win, then either the Storm or Sea eagles will bow out.
