Melbourne have blown their chance to play Super Rugby finals with a humiliating 59-8 loss to the Chiefs in their last round clash at AAMI Park.
The Rebels only needed to win to finish in the top eight and secure a maiden play-off spot but their season ended in embarrassing fashion with the team delivering their worst performance of the year.
While the scoreline didn’t top last week’s 66-0 loss to the reigning champion Crusaders, it hurt more with the match one the Rebels fancied their chances of winning.
It was the second straight year that Melbourne wrecked their finals hopes with a last round defeat, with conference winners the Brumbies the only Australian side advancing.
It was a painful outcome for a team who looked comfortably on course for the post-season but lost seven of their last nine matches.
The Chiefs’ bonus point win meant the Waikato side remained alive in the finals hunt, with their spot to be determined by other results over the weekend.
With former Rebel Jack Debreczeni at five-eighth, the Chiefs made the most of their opportunities with their first two tries coming off ineffectual Quade Cooper kicks.
Debreczeni collected the kick inside the 22 and ran through a hole with the Chiefs combining before skipper Sam Cane sealed the deal.
Their second try came after Cooper attempted to stab the ball through but it was charged down by centre Shaun Stevenson who galloped to the line for his first of three tries.
The visitors delivered a killer blow after the halftime hooter when a loose pass by Reece Hodge was scooped up by Stevenson and he off-loaded to Lachlan Boshier for a 21-3 scoreline.
Melbourne’s hopes weren’t helped by losing Marika Koroibete in the 10th minute when the Test winger was knocked out cold while trying to tackle Stevenson.
Their chances of mounting a second half challenge were crushed early when the Chiefs crossed after two minutes through winger Sean Wainui.
The floodgates then opened with centre Anton Lienert-Brown, who was one of his team’s best, scoring amongst his team’s haul of nine.
Melbourne’s solitary try was scored by hard-working lock Matt Philip but the home crowd had to wait until the 67th minute to have anything to cheer about.