Bega junior Dale Finucane will ring up a massive career milestone this Friday night when he runs out for the Melbourne Storm for the 150th time.
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Finucane, who was born in Bega and played junior footy with the Bega Roosters, will play his future side Cronulla in a final-round showdown that could determine the NRL Minor Premiership.
His coach Craig Bellamy told a press conference Thursday morning he "couldn't speak highly enough" of Finucane both as a player and a person.
"I think everyone knows what I think of Dale and what he's given to our club and other individual players," Bellamy said.
"To be quite honest, we didn't want to lose him, but the situation with the salary cap and the position [he plays] led him to go to the Sharks.
"We know what Dale's done for our club over a long period of time, and I know what he will add to his new club."
Finucane said he'd received a lot of support from people in Bega since his decision to sign with the Sharks, and in the lead up to his 150th game with the Storm.
"One of my best mates Billy Hudson gave me a call just this week," he said.
"A lot of people have been reaching out since I signed my contract with the Sharks, and now again as we're heading into the finals.
"The support from home is always great, and I can't think them enough."
Finucane will join two other South Coast forwards at the Sharks next year with Narooma's Teig Wilton and Pambula's Jack Williams already on the Cronulla roster.
"Those guys are a bit younger than me, so they're not guys I knew growing up, but I've certainly followed their progression and development in rugby league," Finucane said.
"It's great to see the South Coast represented in the NRL, and it'll be great to connect with those guys and see them develop further into quality players."