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Tears among the Rebels players signaled the end for Melbourne, whose place in the Super Rugby Pacific was up for grabs after a quarter-final loss to the Hurricanes.
The Rebels had little chance of upsetting the table-toppers Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday but held them to an eight-point half-time lead on the back of some desperate defence.
It paid off as the home side piled on five second-half tries to record a 47-20 win.
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Rebels winger Lachie Anderson scored a late brace but the Hurricanes stayed on course for the semi-finals.
After the financially strapped club received news of their expulsion from Rugby Australia two weeks ago, the gutsy loss saw the Rebels bow out in their first final in 14 years in the competition.
Young lock Josh Canham – a born-and-bred Victorian – and playmaker Carter Gordon were among the Melbourne players in tears, while fans who had traveled to Wellington also looked grief-stricken in the stands.
Former captain Brad Wilkin, who spent five years with the team, fought back tears in a post-match interview.
“It’s a sad time, just the realization that the club is over,” he told Stan Sport, his voice shaking.
“A lot of guys, a lot of people have invested a lot in this club, a lot of hard work has gone into it and I couldn’t be more proud that the group is staying together this season.”
Melbourne threw everything at the Hurricanes early on and upset the hosts with their speedy defence.
They became the first team this season to keep the Hurricanes from scoring in the opening 20 minutes, holding the hosts over the line twice.
But the Rebels’ 3-0 lead evaporated four minutes later when prop Pacilio Tosi crossed.
Another Rebels penalty closed the gap to 7-6, but Gordon twice failed to find touch with clearances and the Hurricanes went into half-time 14-6 after center Joshua Murby found a hole to score in the 39th minute .
The Wellington men struck first in the second half as All Blacks center Jordy Barrett slipped away from Rob Leota’s shot before finding No.8 Braden Yosse.
Two more tries in the space of three minutes meant there was a mountain to climb for the Rebels, leading to 35-6 after 57 minutes.
Anderson finally opened Melbourne’s try-scoring account in the 65th minute and re-entered the game two minutes later after back-rower Violini Equasi broke through.
Two late Hurricanes tries, scored by reserves Du’Plessis Kirifi and Kini Naholo, meant the scoreline blew away as the Hurricanes underlined their claim as title favourites.
Rebels captain Leota, who made his debut for the club in 2016, said he was proud of the way his side had held together with the ax hanging over Melbourne since January.
“Our goal was from the start of the year to be the greatest Rebels team, to get to the finals,” said the No.8, who grew up in Melbourne.
“We’re not happy with the loss, but when you give chances to quality opposition like the Hurricanes, it’s hard to come back.
“We’re really proud of that first half, but you have to do it for 80 minutes and the Canes did it.”
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