Brett Finch re-signs with Storm
Five-eighth Brett Finch has put a prospective big-money move to England on hold for another year, confident his pledge of loyalty to the Melbourne Storm will be rewarded with a premiership.
Finch has found a playmaking niche in the powerful Storm outfit alongside halfback Cooper Cronk since quitting Parramatta early in the season.
And even though Melbourne had little room left under the salary cap, the 27-year-old was happy to sign a further one-year deal for 2010.
"It's a pretty big cut for me but I had to weigh up what was most important for me and that's to win a grand final," Finch said on Thursday.
"While I'm paid this money I certainly feel I've done well out of the game (so) for one year I thought it was worth playing at such a good club.
"Ultimately I want to win a competition and I'll swap that for any money.
" ... I came down here just expecting this year and I'm very grateful that we've organised something and I get to play again next year and after that I'll probably look towards England.
"But for the next 18 months I'm very happy to be playing with the Melbourne Storm."
Now at his fourth NRL club, Finch was enjoying the new challenge of playing in a new position at five-eighth.
"There's not as much pressure on me to come up with all the plays with Cooper and (hooker) Cameron (Smith) there," he said.
"I've just been really enjoying my footy, having a lot of fun.
"There were a few other things to consider but in the end I want to win a competition and I think this is the best place to do it."
Storm coach Craig Bellamy said Finch had made an immediate impression at the Storm.
"Brett has been tremendous," said Bellamy.
"He's only been here a short time but already he's had a significant impact."
The decision by Finch to re-sign follows last week's announcement that Brett White had pledged his long-term future to the Storm.
White, also 27, extended his current contract until the end of 2012, joining Greg Inglis, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Dallas Johnson, Jeff Lima, Anthony Quinn, Ryan Hoffman and Cooper Cronk in pledging his long-term future to the Storm.
Finch, who has played 227 career NRL games, will return to Sydney for Friday's big NRL clash with ladder-leading St George Illawarra.
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