Cameron Munster says Melbourne's tough run to the NRL finals means they can't afford a repeat of last round's lacklustre loss to Newcastle.
The Storm sit fourth on the ladder but face four teams in the top eight in the remaining six matches, including clashes with ladder leaders Penrith and Brisbane, who are second.
They next host eighth-placed Parramatta at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
"Our inconsistencies as players and as a group are really hurting the club," Munster said on Tuesday.
"We're still in the top four but we've got a hard run home and we need to make sure we find some consistency.
"We need to play our best footy in next six or seven weeks just to stay in the the top four so we need to find what the piece is that's missing at the moment.
"It's not fitness it's mindset and mental strength."
He said the leadership group - himself, Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes and skipper Christian Welch - needed to stand up and "take ownership".
Coach Craig Bellamy gave the team a trademark spray at halftime after Melbourne gave up a 12-0 lead before losing to Newcastle 26-18 and Munster said they got what they deserved.
"It was well overdue - we didn't show enough energy and we're not staying in the fight and looking for the easy option," the star playmaker said.
"When teams are beating you in effort areas that's what Bellamy can't cop and rightly so.
"I've been at the club a long time and I can't remember the last time we've been beaten in the effort areas so many times in a year."
Munster said their confidence and egos had taken a hit and he expected a response against the Eels, who themselves are coming off a loss to North Queensland.
"We need to have a good training week, play well against Parra and regardless of the result go out there and compete in those effort areas," Munster said.
"We just need an attitude swing and if we can get that going into finals it will hopefully be good for us at the back end of the year."
