Official Dale Finucane

CrazyMatt

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Man I’m so glad we managed to get this fella. Just imagining the on the job lessons that he’ll be giving guys like Rudolf, Williams and Pele in professionalism and attitude.
 

egg

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Finucane defends Storm and former teammate Smith as he starts life in the Shire​

Christian Nicolussi

By Christian Nicolussi

December 11, 2021 — 6.01pm
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New Cronulla recruit Dale Finucane jetted back to Melbourne on Friday night to say his final goodbyes and said there was certainly no bad blood between him and Brandon Smith, as well as denying there was a drinking culture at the Storm.
Finucane received special mention from Smith during his controversial podcast a few weeks ago where it was claimed he had consumed a bottle of vodka in just 32 minutes before vomiting into a shoe.
Dale Finucane at Sharks training on Saturday after joining the club from the Melbourne Storm.

Dale Finucane at Sharks training on Saturday after joining the club from the Melbourne Storm.CREDIT:CRONULLA SHARKS
The representative forward, who returned to Sydney early on Saturday and was presented to Cronulla fans for the first time in the Shire, made a point of defending his former teammate and club rather than feeling any embarrassment or disappointment.
“You hear stories of people having a beer, but there was no malice in what Brandon was saying – he was recounting some events that had happened,” Finucane said.

“Given what had happened with the [white powder] scandal over the off-season, it added fuel to it all. There’s no drinking culture down there at Melbourne. Like anywhere and any job, it’s all about enjoying a beer at the right place and the right time.
“There are protocols and rules in Melbourne where you aren’t allowed a beer within a certain time frame before a game. It’s also designed for recovery purposes.
Dale Finucane at Sharks training on Saturday.

Dale Finucane at Sharks training on Saturday.CREDIT:CRONULLA SHARKS
“I want to be strong on the fact there isn’t a drinking culture at the Melbourne Storm.
“I didn’t hear from Brandon and, to be honest, I didn’t know about the story until my father-in-law told me.

“I think, given what had happened around him signing with the Roosters, there were a lot of articles being written, and I was a part of it.

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“He didn’t text me and I didn’t hear from him. But there are no issues. I saw him last night, but we didn’t even address it.”
Finucane and fellow Sharks recruit Nicho Hynes spent the night in Melbourne on Friday after many of the Storm players went their own way after the club’s shock preliminary final loss.
The release of grainy video images of Smith and Cameron Munster inside a hotel room with white powder on a table during post-season celebrations at the start of October came as a shock to Finucane. Munster was at the same table as Finucane at the Storm’s presentation night on Friday and did not touch a drop of alcohol as part of the sanctions he agreed to as punishment for the scandal.

“As players we know what we are and aren’t allowed to do,” Finucane said. “Whilst it was disappointing [to see the images], they’re rectifying what they have done with their actions. Cameron is on the straight and narrow, and done a stint in rehab and is off the grog.”

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While Finucane loved his time at Melbourne, he has well and truly pledging his future to Cronulla and new coach Craig Fitzgibbon. The Gold Coast Titans were right in the mix for his signature, while St George Illawarra came even closer to landing the workhorse forward.
During the short time he has spent in the Shire – Finucane and his family are temporarily living with South Sydney hooker Damien Cook and his family – the 30-year-old said he had been stopped on the street more than he ever was in Melbourne.
“I could count it on two hands [the number of times he was stopped in Melbourne], although Sydney is a rugby league city,” he said.

Working with a defence-minded coach such as Fitzgibbon has real appeal for Finucane, who will call Cronulla home for the next four years. He has so much confidence in his body, the 30-year-old is backing himself to play on beyond his current deal.
“There were one or two clubs I won’t name that I seriously considered joining, but the relationship I had developed with Craig the last few years [at NSW Origin camp] and from what I had heard about him at the Roosters with defence, it excited me about coming here,” Finucane said.
Fitzgibbon returned the compliments and said of Finucane: “People believe in him. There will be things a lot of people don’t notice, but his teammates alway will. He makes people inside him and outside him better. I just love his level of intensity and focus. It’s infectious.”
 

Tatus

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Sharks PR guy deserves some wraps. I thought Cheese was off airing out the storm, Finucane included. For someone who has such a good name in the community, for cheese to air that out was a bit of a dog move. Nice work to call him back out on his own past issues and to normalise Dale.
 

Gal The Goat

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Good to at least hear he wants to stay and not “Test the market”

Edit. Oops wrong thread thought it was the Nikora story
 
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MMsharks

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tell you what...

something little despite that last try in the Canberra game. Dale was there, couldn't quite get Young wrapped up there, BUT he was there trying to cover , and brailz too. That's what we will get from Dale...seriously hope it rubs off on the others. time to step up for some

where was jesse lumbering behind in the background watching? after his non-commital to a tackle down his side. go in and finish off with nicho!!! sure he looked wrong-footed but go in a smash the ****er! make up for your mistake down the other end!!!!
 

Gards

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Dale didn't miss a tackle - just WOW

I tell you, his grittiness, toughness, work ethic, quality how he looks in our jersey even, I know he has only been here a matter of months but he just screams old school Cronulla to me. he has fit in so well like he has always belonged and has been here at the club for years juxtaposed with him in reality being a new face and someone I still kinda have to pinch myself to see in our colours

he should have always been here , hes a Sharky but if he hadn't gone to melbourne he may never have become the player he is now - sigh

compare him to someone like Woods, he was just a visitor, along for a quick ride. Dale has bought in 100% and committed to being his best for himself and his club - a warm hearted and loyal professional
 

HaroldBishop

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Dale didn't miss a tackle - just WOW

I tell you, his grittiness, toughness, work ethic, quality how he looks in our jersey even, I know he has only been here a matter of months but he just screams old school Cronulla to me. he has fit in so well like he has always belonged and has been here at the club for years juxtaposed with him in reality being a new face and someone I still kinda have to pinch myself to see in our colours

he should have always been here , hes a Sharky but if he hadn't gone to melbourne he may never have become the player he is now - sigh

compare him to someone like Woods, he was just a visitor, along for a quick ride. Dale has bought in 100% and committed to being his best for himself and his club - a warm hearted and loyal professional
Woodsy doesn't do anything quick mate.
 

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Woodsy doesn't do anything quick mate.
It's amazing how much a player can make a team play to their style. Woody making the Dragons middle look clow. Chaddles kicking into the back corners for the Cows. Had some serious flashbacks watching those two games
 

bort

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It's amazing how much a player can make a team play to their style. Woody making the Dragons middle look clow. Chaddles kicking into the back corners for the Cows. Had some serious flashbacks watching those two games
They looked pretty clow* last year too, although admittedly Vaughan to Woods is not an acceleration.

It was a very Chad game - the kicks to the corner were tactically sound but they were definitely fundamental Chadball.

*I know you mean slow but I liked the sound of it.
 
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