Queensland Origin prop Christian Welch reveals the day he planned to quit the Storm to join the Eels
Christian Welch was so convinced he was leaving Melbourne for Parramatta, he privately penned a farewell message ready to send to Storm fans on social media.
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Christian Welch is Melbourne’s grand final miracle man.
As he prepares for Sunday night’s decider against Penrith, the Queensland Origin prop has revealed how a freak accident saved his career in Melbourne — after he initially quit the Storm to chase his premiership dream at Parramatta.
In August last year, Welch had decided to walk out on the Storm. He was about to ink a lucrative $1.5 million deal with the Eels and was so convinced he was leaving, Welch privately penned a farewell message ready to send to Storm fans on his social media account.
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Then came the Sliding Doors moment. Just 24 hours after deciding to quit the Storm, Welch snapped his ACL for the second time in his career against the Broncos in a round 20 clash at Suncorp Stadium.
His 2019 season was over — and so was his move to Parramatta, who subsequently pulled their offer, advising Welch they could not take a risk with a player undergoing a second knee reconstruction.
With his career in limbo, Welch recommitted to Melbourne and took up a one-year option in a move that has put him within reach of a maiden premiership ring in Sunday’s grand final against the Panthers.
“It is pretty funny actually and I suppose I can say now (he was leaving Melbourne),” Welch said.
“I had called my manager on a Thursday. We were coming up here (to Queensland) to play the Broncos on Friday. I said, ‘Let’s go, let’s take the opportunity at Parramatta’.
“It was going to be a three-year deal and I had made peace with it. I even wrote up a (farewell message) on my phone.
“I have still got it in my notes, thanking the Storm fans and the club for the opportunity and how grateful I was to be a part of the club for six years.
“Then obviously I got injured and Parramatta pulled the offer and I totally understand that.
“It was my second ACL and there is a danger and a risk of taking a guy like that on.
“Parramatta probably have got a bit of a history in some ways of bad salary cap management in previous administrations, so I totally understood their decision.”
Ironically, Welch played a key role in Melbourne’s 36-24 finals defeat of the Eels a fortnight ago which eventually led to Parramatta’s title demise for the 34th consecutive year.
A week after beating the Eels, the veteran of 95 NRL games signed a two-year extension with the Storm.
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“I have a lot of respect for Parramatta,” Welch said.
“I flew up (to Sydney) and met Brad Arthur (Eels coach) and the coaching staff.
“There is no ill-will but it was just a fork in the road.
“That opportunity to join Parra went away and I signed for another year at the Storm, and have just re-signed, so it is crazy how things work.
“I am ecstatic about the grand final this coming week and having another two years at the Storm.”
Welch has been Melbourne’s front-row rock this season, amassing 2238 running metres at an average of 124m per game.
The 26-year-old has every reason to deliver at ANZ Stadium. Welch missed Melbourne’s 2017 premiership win due to his first knee injury and hopes a Storm victory on Sunday will propel him into the Queensland side for November’s Origin series.
“I am so proud of being a Queenslander and I love the state,” he said.
“The opportunity to play for the Maroons would be really special.
“It is surreal at the moment with the unique year we’ve had and my history with grand finals.
“I have played two (in 2016 and 2018) and lost two and missed 2017 with an ACL injury so I am ecstatic at going back to the big dance as they call it and having the opportunity to win a premiership.”
Originally published as Queensland Origin prop Christian Welch reveals the day he planned to quit the Storm to join the Eels