They aren't quite the big three of Smith, Slater and Cronk but Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy says a NRL premiership would be a fitting way to farewell a trio of 2021 stars.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Storm need a preliminary final win over Penrith on Saturday afternoon to extend the stay of representative winger Josh Addo-Carr, co-captain Dale Finucane and utility back Nicho Hynes.
A victory will see the minor premiers continue their quest for elusive back-to-back NRL titles, taking on a surging South Sydney in the grand final.
Finucane and Hynes are off to Cronulla after this season while Addo-Carr will join the rebuilding Bulldogs.
"We've got basically three of our best players leaving," Bellamy said.
"We haven't spoken much about that at all - everyone knows they're moving on after our last game this year and we'd like to find a little bit of extra there if we can for those guys."
Addo-Carr, who has scored 96 tries in his five seasons at the Storm, is returning to Sydney to be closer to his extended family.
During his Storm stay the 26-year-old transformed from a fringe player at Wests Tigers to one of the competition's best wingers.
He missed their qualifying final win over Manly with a hamstring injury but said he was back in full flight.
Addo-Carr said he would miss his teammates and coaches, who he now considered life-long friends.
""I came down to the Storm a skinny little Indigenous kid looking for an opportunity," Addo-Carr said.
"I've learnt from the best - the great leaders that are here now and the past leaders, Cameron (Smith), Cooper (Cronk), Billy Slater.
"You just get drilled into their values."
He wanted to go out with a bang.
"It gives you more more fuel to the fire," Addo-Carr said of his departure.
"The ultimate goal every year is to be No.1 and we've put ourselves in a really good position so it's an exciting time."
Hynes had only managed 12 games in the past two seasons but made the most of an injury to star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen in a breakout 2021 season.
The 25-year-old leaves with Bellamy's blessing after the Storm was unable to match Hynes' soaring market value.
"Nicho has been such an important part of where we are this year, where we are at the moment," Bellamy said.
Australian Associated Press
