With a third straight NRL grand final appearance just days away, Melbourne winger Steve Turner claims the tumultuous decision to turn his back on the Gold Coast Titans has been justified.

By all rights, Turner should have just completed his second season with the Titans after agreeing to a three-year deal with the club in early 2006.

But midway through that 2006 campaign, Turner changed his mind, declaring he wanted to remain in the Victorian capital.

It kickstarted a bitter battle for his services, with Turner forced to train on his own for part of the 2007 pre-season as the NRL, Melbourne and the Gold Coast sought a resolution to the matter.

Eventually the Storm gifted the Titans a pair of players as compensation for freeing Turner from his contract, and the elusive flyer hasn't looked back since.

"It's not so much the grand finals that justify it ... it's just the boys and the coaching staff and the lifestyle I've got down in Melbourne, that's why I wanted to stay," Turner said.

"There was a few up and down times what with all the injuries and the Gold Coast stuff - I can't believe I'm about to play in my third grand final.

"Most blokes don't get an opportunity to play in one if in any. It has obviously been a good decision to stay here at the Storm."

Asked if he ever thought about what might have been, Turner - who made his NSW Origin debut this year, said: "Sometimes it does pop up into your head, what if I did go to the Titans?

"I wouldn't have had the opportunities I've had here," he said.

"But that was two or three years ago now, my focus is now solely on the Storm."

While Sunday's grand final against Manly will no doubt be another highlight for Turner, it will also come tinged with a little sadness no matter what the result at fulltime.

The game will be Turner's last alongside teenage star Israel Folau, with the diminutive winger paying tribute to his hulking running mate who will link up with Brisbane in 2009.

"I've enjoyed my couple of years with Israel, I've seen him go from strength to strength," Turner said.

"He's one of the top players in our game at the moment.

"It's going to be sad not having him there next year, but I suppose it gives another young guy a chance that the Storm will blood no doubt - hopefully we can strike up the same combination me and Israel had."

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