A desire to play longer minutes and earn a starting spot were behind Dale Finucane's off-season move south from the Bulldogs to the Storm.
The hard-working 23-year-old conceded that would be a challenge in a forward pack now studded with internationals, with the likes of Kiwi Test players Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris at the club.
In his first time fronting the media as a Storm player, Finucane also expressed excitement about joining the likes of the Storm's 'Big Three' on the field in 2015.
"I'm really looking forward to the season ahead; I'm excited to play with some of the best players in the world," Finucane said.
"Obviously those three everyone talks about in [Billy] Slater, [Cameron] Smith and [Cooper] Cronk and I guess Jesse Bromwich now, Kevin Proctor, there's a number of representatives here from an elite level so I'm really excited to play with those guys – I can't wait."
Despite starting to play more minutes under Des Hasler at the Bulldogs, Finucane was still stuck on the bench behind workhorse props Aiden Tolman and James Graham in 2014 and came seeking a greater opportunity.
"I really enjoyed my time at the club, at Canterbury. I just think [there was] another opportunity down here for me to progress my game and play longer minutes and that sort of thing. That's probably the biggest drive behind the move I think and hopefully I can get that opportunity down here through hard work.
"I knew they were a really professional club and they've been one of the benchmark teams the last 10 years; they've always been thereabouts in the finals and in a number of grand finals. I knew I was coming to a professional club and it really excites me to be training with those guys and to be coached by Craig Bellamy is one of the major driving factors."
On Bellamy, Finucane said he was on a par with Hasler in terms of intensity, but added he found his forthright honesty welcome.
"I have found in a lot of the meetings he has been honest to blokes and that's what you want, you don't want anyone that's going to beat around the bush to you. Something that I really want to get into my game is playing a bit more football and that's something I've spoken to Craig about, that I want to develop into my game and I guess just play my role in this forward pack."
Finucane said he "definitely" wants to be a starter.
"That comes with playing longer minutes as well. I'd love to be a starter in this pack and I think through hard work in this pre-season that's something I'd love to achieve."
The other motivation is to try and win a grand final after having lost two in three years, one of those – in 2012 – to his new club, Melbourne.
"I'd love to win a grand final, that's what everyone plays for – to represent their country, represent their state and obviously win a grand final. That's one of the major driving factors coming here too. We played against Storm in 2012 and they beat us in that game so it's high on my goals."
He added the returning Four Nations representatives had made a huge impact on training in the short time they'd been back from an extended break following the November Four Nations Final.
"They've only been in at training [since] late last week and they really made an impression when they came back through their leadership and a lot of the younger blokes look to them as well. They definitely made their presence felt when they came back from their break."
