Five-eighth Brett Finch is considering extending his cut-price deal with the Melbourne Storm as he weighs up the value of NRL premierships against pay packets.

Mid-season signing Finch has proved the missing piece of the puzzle for Melbourne as the 2008 grand finalists bounced back from a sluggish start to the 2009 season.

Since Finch's arrival to share the scrum base load with Cooper Cronk, Melbourne have notched up six wins, a draw and just one defeat.

Parramatta's decision to release Finch mid-contract in April meant he needed to find a new home quickly, and the Storm were happy to oblige for far less than he would command on the open market.

Lucrative offers from England for next season, as well as reports he is on the New Zealand Warriors' wishlist, mean the 28-year-old could earn plenty from 2010 on what would probably be his last big contract.

But Finch admits fitting in so well with a successful club has given him plenty to think about.

"That's something I've got to weigh up - the more time I spend here, the harder it's going to be to walk away," Finch said.

"I'm 28, I'm at the back end of my career and I've lost two grand finals.

"Maybe I take a pay cut next year, stay here, and be in a competitive footy team again and play finals.

"Like any player, grand finals are what I want to win. In 20 years' time, if someone asks you whether you want to have won a grand final or taken a big pay-day in the UK, you'd take the grand final every time.

"In the end that's the reason I play footy. You want to be winning and playing in those big games."

Melbourne, heavily constrained by the number of stars already secured for 2010 and beyond, would be unable to offer Finch anywhere near what he could earn in England or at another NRL club.

But their long-term retention of stars like Cronk, Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis and Billy Slater offers Finch plenty of premiership potential should he decide to stay.

Despite a club-imposed $5,000 fine for public urination while holidaying in Byron Bay in May, the energetic Finch has fitted in well with his new team on and off the field.

"We've definitely benefitted from his arrival at the club - he's a great bloke and he's become a friend to everyone here very quickly," teammate Ryan Hoffman said.

"We definitely want him to stay, but we also understand it's a Catch 22 and we want him to do the best thing for himself."

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