Melbourne Storm co-captain Dale Finucane will depart the club at the end of the 2021 season, penning a four-year deal with the Cronulla Sharks.
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The premiership-winning front rower is hot off the heels of captaining the NSW Blues in Origin III and has inked the contract with the Sharks, reportedly worth $2.5million over four years.
Pundits believe it could be the Blues ties to incoming Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon that helped tip Finucane into the Cronulla camp.
Between his time at the Bulldogs and the past seven years with the Storm, Finucane has appeared in six grand finals. and won two of them.
He's got five Origin caps and has been recognised as one of the hardest-working forwards in the game.
"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."
Finucane said despite the challenges of COVID-19 and twice having to go into camp in Queensland, the forward is eager to get a few final runs in on the Melbourne turf.
"My big hope is that we can get back to AAMI Park and play in front of our members and fans who haven't had much of an opportunity to see us over the past two years," he said.
"I believe our members and fans are the best supporters in the comp and that view has only grown with the way they've stuck by us in record numbers during 2020 and 2021.
"Hopefully we can finish this season on a high."
