Cronulla Sharks sign Dale Finucane from Melbourne Storm on a four-year deal from 2022 season

The Cronulla Sharks stretched out their offer to secure Dale Finucane, but they made sure it wouldn’t sink their salary cap.

Cronulla have pulled off a free agency masterstoke to beat the Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra Dragons to the prized signature of Melbourne forward Dale Finucane.

As revealed by dailytelegraph.com.au on Sunday, Finucane has agreed to join the Sharks next season on a four-year contract worth $2.6 million.

The Sharks were forced to stretch their offer to four years for Finucane, who turns 30 in September, in order to match the Tigers and Dragons bids.

However, The Daily Telegraph understands the Sharks have front-ended the deal, meaning the final year of Finucane’s contract will be for a bargain basement figure of around $320,000.

The final seasons of rich, long-term deals for Josh Dugan, Andrew Fifita and Matt Moylan have paralysed Cronulla’s salary cap, something they are desperate to avoid happening again.

Finucane broke the news to Storm coach Craig Bellamy on Sunday morning in Noosa, where the team is based in quarantine due to the Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne and Sydney.

Salary cap pressure meant the Storm could not compete with rival clubs.

Dale Finucane will bring a strong culture to the Sharks. Picture: David Crosling

The 29-year-old NSW Blues forward’s signing is a massive boost for the Sharks and new coach Craig Fitzgibbon, on the back of recently signing Finucane’s Storm teammate Nicho Hynes and former St George Illawarra skipper Cameron McInnes.

Finucane has been close to Fitzgibbon from being together in camp over the years with the NSW Blues.

The Sharks are building a formidible squad for when Fitzgibbon takes over next year, with lock Toby Rudolf and fullback Will Kennedy both recently committing to the club for the next three and two years respectively.

The Storm on Sunday morning confirmed Finucane would depart at season’s end, with general manager of football, Frank Ponissi, lamenting the loss of one of Melbourne’s “very best”.

“Knowing Dale will be leaving at the end of the year makes this a sad day for us but one we

expected,” Ponissi said in a statement.

“True to how Dale is, he has been totally professional and open with us during these contract

discussions.

“He has brought some outstanding traits to Storm, highlighted by his professionalism and

leadership, and just being a good bloke who has time for everyone.

“He has had a major influence on our playing group and we look forward to that continuing in 2021 as we head into another finals campaign.

Craig Fitzgibbon is building an imposing roster for 2022. Picture: John Grainger

“Dale has made players around him better and will be sorely missed by everyone connected to

Storm.

“He will always be regarded as one of our very best.

“We wish him, Maddie and Freddie all the best with the remainder of his NRL career.”

Finucane paid tribute to the club he joined after starting his career at Canterbury.

“I’ve been here seven years, played with some great players, enjoyed some success and had the chance to be coached by Craig, one of the best coaches in the history of the game,” Finucane said.

“I’m going to miss the people here, the friendships I’ve made and the way the club is.

“It’s hard to put it into words how much Storm means to me.

“I’m honoured to have had the chance to experience this club, what it stands for, and I’ll always look fondly on my time here.

“A big thanks goes to everyone I played with, Craig, Frank and all the coaching staff, as well as the behind scenes crew at Storm.

“Hopefully we can finish this season on a high.”

Bellamy recently spoke of how highly he regards the players he signed from the Canterbury Bulldogs back in 2015.

Nicho Hynes will join Storm teammate at the Sharks next season in a major coup for Cronulla. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

“We want him to stay, I don’t think I’ve ever coached a more enjoyable player to coach, to be quite honest,” Bellamy said.

“He’s that diligent in what he does, he’s one of those blokes you’ve got to hold back, you’ve got to put the reins on him and pull the reins back, you don’t have to get the whip out on him at any stage.

“That’s what we love about him, whether it be in preparation or whether it be in the game.

“I’ll be devastated if we don’t keep him but Dale’s got to make a decision and I know it’ll be the right decision for him and his family and I’ll support that all the way too, but I just hope he ends up in purple again next year.”