Minor premiers Melbourne have recovered from a six-point halftime deficit to edge out Parramatta 18-16 in a nail-biting NRL qualifying final at AAMI Park.

Second-half tries from Kenny Bromwich and Billy Slater and some accurate goalkicking from new games record-holder Cameron Smith proved just enough to get the Storm over the line in front of a crowd of 22,626.

Melbourne advance to a preliminary final in a fortnight, while the Eels will take on the winner of Sunday’s clash between Cronulla and North Queensland next weekend in a sudden-death semi-final.