Parramatta's faint hopes of playing finals football suffered a blow after stumbling to a disappointing 12-point loss at home to Melbourne.

Another week of off-field controversy hampering their preparations could be the straw that broke the camel's back as the Eels failed to threaten for 79 minutes against their 2009 grand final rivals. They were spirited in their loss to South Sydney last week in the wake of their salary cap scandal but they may have finally run out of steam.

With 12 points stripped from their season, this round 11 match was already do-or-die for a Parramatta side, but an 18-6 defeat requires a near-perfect record for the remainder of the season for them to make the finals.

It was the simplicity of Melbourne's well-oiled performance that tamed whatever fighting spirit was left in the Eels whose bid to recoup lost points began unravelling after seven minutes.

Exploiting an overlap, Melbourne looked to their right and a slick exchange allowed winger Suliasi Vunivalu to cross the line untouched. The Storm thought they had second shortly after when Cooper Cronk latched on to a kick in the in-goal area only for the bunker to rule he fouled an Eels defender, pushing him in the back before he could ground the ball.

It was part of a disappointing run for the Queensland halfback, who passed a ball directly into touch then failed to find the sideline from a penalty kick.

For all of the Eels' disciplined early play, they struggled to gain any advantage over the Storm. Semi Radradra looked the closest to finding a breakthrough but couldn't find space, while Corey Norman failed to emerge as a creative spark, days after being allegedly caught in possession of drugs following a dinner with accused criminals.

The home crowd summarised the Eels' recent fortunes. They were small in numbers but hostile with desperation and an ever-present sense of vitriol.

That frustration crept into the attack as poor decisions ruined good chances. Given a penalty in front of the posts, they opted to take the tap instead of two points, only to oddly kick on the third tackle before giving away a penalty of their own.

They were made to rue that decision when the Storm doubled their lead from the resulting set. Blake Green spotted Koroibete open on his blindside and found the flying Fijian with a textbook chip into the corner, allowing Koroibete to score with ease.

The Eels' best moment of the half came 30 seconds from the break when Manu Ma'u produced a try-saving tackle to deny Dale Finucane, turning the big forward over to hold him up.

However, the home side remained toothless in attack. Not even repeat sets inside the Storm's 20 metres threatened to deliver for the Eels after the restart as poor decisions and errors saw chances go begging.

Vunivalu showed a glimpse of magic that made him seem bionic. Tackled two metres short of the line, the Storm winger kept his body still while somehow extending his right arm to the try-line, avoiding a double movement to extend the Storm's lead to 14-0.

Another simple yet effective set play sealed the result with Cheyse Blair's try giving the home crowd reason to head for the exit gates early. Few remained for Michael Jennings' 79th-minute consolation try that restored some respect for a club enduring its darkest days.