Brett Finch signs with Storm

Parramatta reject Brett Finch had the look of a kid in a candy shop after his
mid-season switch to NRL powerhouse Melbourne was finally confirmed on Tuesday.
Unwanted by an Eels side struggling near the foot of the ladder, Finch will later
this week link up with a Storm side brimming with internationals - the likes of
Cameron Smith, Greg Inglis and reigning world player of the year Billy Slater
running off his hip.
"It's exciting, I was actually very grateful to have the interest from the Storm,
obviously being extremely dominant for a long time, filled with a lot of stars of
our game," Finch said.
"So to get the chance to train and play and learn from them and also being coached
by Craig Bellamy, one of the best in the game, it's an exciting period coming up for
me and I'm looking froward to getting down there on Thursday."
While Finch will join his new teammates at training on Friday, a niggling shoulder
injury means he won't line up alongside them when they face Wests Tigers at
Leichhardt Oval on Monday night.
But it won't be too long before Bellamy works him into his side, Finch set to be the
solution to the side's five-eighth woes which have resulted in Inglis and Smith
being used there with varying degrees of success.
"We've been having some issues with our five-eighth area so we think he'll fit in
pretty well and help Cooper (halfback Cooper Cronk) steer the team around the
paddock," Bellamy said at Storm training on Tuesday.
"He's a tough player, he's a competitor - that's the sort of player we like here.
"I'm not quite sure when he's going to be right to play, he certainly won't be
playing this week.
"Our medical team (will have) a look at him on Friday, we'll sort that out from there."
Finch has signed with the Storm for just $50,000, after walking away from a $1
million three-year deal with the Eels when coach Daniel Anderson told him he had no
future at the club.
But money seemed the furthest thing from Finch's mind as he beamed his way through
Tuesday's press conference, even if his future beyond 2009 remained in doubt.
"With my payout at Parramatta I will get paid full there and obviously not on much
down at Melbourne, but for me it's the opportunity to play in an extremely strong
side, to be playing semi-finals and challenging for a grand final," Finch said.
"If I can be a part of all that and fit into the team I will be extremely happy.
"I'd love to stay there as long as possible, but I understand their situation with
the salary cap and they can't guarantee me any more than this year, I understood
that when I've signed with them."
Youngster James Maloney - the man set to lose out the most following Finch's signing
- has been retained at five-eighth for the clash with the Tigers.