Melbourne Storm star Christian Welch opens up on NRL future

Storm forward Christian Welch is free to negotiate with rivals from November but the Origin star says his heart is in Melbourne.

Welch has cemented his status as one of the NRL’s premier forwards. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Storm prop Christian Welch can start talking to other clubs on November 1 about his next deal but said he would “love to stay in purple” and extend his stay in Melbourne.

The 27-year-old inked a new two-year extension with the Storm before last year’s grand final. Since his decision to remain with Melbourne until the end of 2022, he has won a premiership and become one of the first picked for the Maroons.

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His contract extension was announced on October 7 last year, just a week after Kevin Walters was officially installed as Brisbane coach.

“I had an offer from the Dragons and interest from the Broncos at the time,” Welch said.

“With the Broncos I was excited about the potential, having worked with Kevin Walters before. The Broncos timeline just didn’t fit my timeline because they had just gone through the process of appointing a coach.”

Playing on Welch’s mind was what had happened to him in 2019 when he was primed to sign with the Eels. He then ruptured his ACL for the second time, the Eels pulled the offer and he ended up taking up his one-year option with Melbourne for 2020.

“That was in the back of my mind last year,” he said.

“I was playing some good footy and wanted to get the contract done ASAP. Obviously you have mental demons with two ACLs and if something happens again it all goes off the table.

“It was a good decision to stay at Melbourne. I just love playing with this group.

“I’m not stupid either. I appreciate the forwards I have around me. That makes my job a lot easier and probably makes me a lot better than what I am.

“In November I can start talking (to other clubs) but I’d love to remain in Melbourne long term. It would be my ninth year at the end of next year after I arrived at 18.

“Hopefully we can extend it a bit more.”

Welch has played his entire first grade career to date with Melbourne. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Welch’s chat with coach Craig Bellamy last year when he was weighing up his next move was comforting.

“Bellsa doesn’t force things on anyone. Even when Dale (Finucane) told him he was leaving Dale was comfortable enough to talk to Bellsa about other clubs where he thought he’d be a good fit,” Welch said.

“With me, Bellsa said I was an important part of the team and they wanted to keep me.

“There are also guys here I have been through a lot with. Cameron Munster got here a year after me but we lived together for four years and we are really good mates. He is here long term. Nelson (Asofa-Solomona), we came through under 20s. There are a lot of guys that I have a lot of respect for with the way they go about their business as footy players and people.”

Welch’s Storm will meet either Penrith or Parramatta in next week’s grand final qualifier. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

While returning to his home town of Brisbane has been appealing in the past, Welch said there was “no point” about talking about the potential of playing with a second Brisbane team in the future so long as no decision had been made on expansion.

Welch has taken his game to another level with the Storm and said he was ready to make a big impact in next weekend’s preliminary final.

“My body is really mature now. I feel strong and fit,” he said.

“I am not a powerful man like Nelson and I don’t have the physical capabilities to run over people, or flashy footwork. I had to try and find some other stuff to add to my game. “Offloading is something I have really worked on as a bit of a craft and to benefit the team, especially with the hookers we’ve got. That second phase when the defensive line is caught off guard can be effective.”