The Storm made a shock departure from the NRL finals series after going down to the Penrith Panthers 10-6 bringing Finucane's seven-year stint at the club to an end.

"We haven't had a better competitor," Bellamy told reporters after play, "He's given our club more than we could give him."

Bellamy said the outgoing co-captain Finucane would leave a lasting legacy as one of the hardest-working and best prepared players in the competition.

"The legacy he leaves is how much those young guys have learned off him. You want to be professional and do it properly, go and watch Dale Finucane."

Finucane told the reporters while he was disappointed with the performance and the result, he was "eternally grateful" to the Storm for the memories and chances provided to him.

"Met some great people here and made friends for life - and the accomplishments individually and as a club that we've had over the seven years I've been lucky to be here is something I'll remember when I finish playing," Finucane said.

Finucane said the season had been largely positive and successful for the Storm and a quick semi-final exit came as a bit of a shock, but he said the team could take away the minor premiership and their long undefeated stretch.

"The achievement of 19-in-a-row, the minor premiership, those things are something we don't take for granted and something we're really proud of as a club."

The early departure means Finucane's time at the Storm has officially come to an end after being part of the club's premiership winning roster, winning two premierships and seeing him in such fine form as to be called up for Origin two-year's running including the vice-captaincy of the Blues this year.

"It's hard to put into words actually what it does mean to me and I don't think it's something i'll truly reflect on until the coming week I guess," Finucane said.

"It's something I've probably put to the back of my mind, obviously knowing that my time is coming to and end and from tonight moving forward was do or die and my last game at the club.

As I said I'll certainly reflect on that in the next and I'm super grateful for everything that this club has done for me."

Finucane said he had certain expectations of the Storm, but the club had "surpassed" it in every aspect he said.

The lock forward will now head to the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks on a four-year contract.