Storm's Finch hopes for coaching role

Melbourne veteran Brett Finch says it's time to hang up his boots but he's hoping to stay on with the NRL champions in a coaching capacity.

Melbourne Storm veteran Brett Finch

Storm veteran Brett Finch says he hopes to stay on with the NRL champions in a coaching capacity. (AAP)

Melbourne veteran Brett Finch says this NRL season is set to be his last but he's hoping to stay with the Storm in a coaching role.

After 15 seasons, Finch - who turned 32 this week - feels it's time to make way for the next generation of players.

"I think I'll hang them up which was always my plan," the five-eighth said ahead of their Sunday clash with Parramatta at AAMI Park.

"I need to sort something out soon because I need to get a job somewhere."

He said he hoped to stay a part of Melbourne, which was a reason for his return to the club.

The former Canberra halfback played in a grand final with Sydney Roosters in 2004 and won a premiership with Melbourne in 2009 which was later stripped, before joining Wigan in the Super League where he pocketed a Challenge Cup winners medal in 2011.

He spent two seasons there before returning this year to the Storm, where he has chalked up a total of 50 games.

His value to the defending champions sky-rocketed following a season-ending hip injury to Gareth Widdop, with Finch taking over the playmaking role.

Finch is the first to admit he took some time to again get used to the pace of the NRL and was grateful coach Craig Bellamy gave him time to keep working at his game.

Over the past month, he and star halfback Cooper Cronk have clicked, which has been crucial to the Storm's return to form.

"I struggled for about a month; it had been two-and-a-half years since I'd played NRL and I was off the pace," he said.

"I found it quite hard and I was struggling to find my feet.

"I feel a lot better now but I don't have the world's hardest job to do and, once the boys came from Origin, it certainly made things easier for me."

The Storm have spent the week in Nelson Bay, south of Newcastle, following their hard-fought 13-point win over the Knights.

They've used the time to recharge and also plan for their finals campaign.


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Source: AAP


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