The NRL finals: Who plays who in week one

The Storm will host the Eels on Saturday night. Photo / Getty

Rival coaches have declared Melbourne the team to beat in this year's NRL finals series, after they put an exclamation mark on the minor premiership with a seventh straight win.

North Queensland scraped into the playoffs after Canterbury shocked St George Illawarra 26-20 on Sunday, but they'll join a pack of six trying to chase down Melbourne.

The Storm's 32-6 flogging of Canberra on Saturday gave them a six-point lead at the top of the table - the biggest gap at the end of the season for a salary-cap compliant team since Brisbane in 2000.

And with their own finals hopes over, Dragons coach Paul McGregor and Bulldogs mentor Des Hasler both said the Storm would be a tough proposition to beat come finals.

"At the moment it's theirs to lose," McGregor said.

"They look ahead of the field right now. But things can change pretty quickly.

"They're fresh, they've rested guys at the right time that I know of.

"Defensively they are better than everyone else and attack-wise they've got people in good positions and they're scoring points every week."

Melbourne will face Parramatta at home on Saturday night, with the winner earning a spot in the preliminary finals.

The Sydney Roosters will host Brisbane in the other qualifying final on Friday, after they each chalked up round-26 wins over the Gold Coast and North Queensland respectively this weekend.

But Hasler also said only the fifth-placed Cronulla shaped as a big threat to Melbourne, after they wrapped up a home elimination final against the Cowboys with a 26-18 defeat of Newcastle on Sunday.

"Everyone is saying Storm, but I think there is a side that can beat the Storm, it's Cronulla," he said.

The Dragons should have joined their rivals in the playoffs, but let slip a 20-14 lead late against Canterbury at ANZ Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It means they end their season in ninth, despite having led the competition after recording a 6-1 start to top the table after seven rounds.Manly and Penrith will face off in a grudge match in the other elimination final, after the Sea Eagles thumped the Panthers 28-12 on Saturday night.

With their season on the line, Manly shot out to a 28-0 lead to wrap up sixth spot, giving them hosting rights at Allianz Stadium next Saturday night.

Meanwhile the Wests Tigers ended their difficult season on a high on Sunday night, condemning the Warriors to a ninth straight loss with a 28-16 result in the final game of the regular season.

NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series - Week 1

Qualifying Final: Friday, September 8, 9.55pm, Allianz Stadium
NRL: Sydney Roosters (2) v Brisbane Broncos (3)

Qualifying Final: Saturday, September 9, 6.10pm, AAMI Park
NRL: Melbourne Storm (1) v Parramatta Eels (4)

Elimination Final: Saturday, September 9, 9.40pm, Allianz Stadium
NRL: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (6) v Penrith Panthers (7)

Elimination Final: Sunday, September 10, 6.10pm, Allianz Stadium
NRL: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (5) v North Queensland Cowboys (8)