Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has given the club's recruitment officers the task of compiling the best offer they can to keep Dale Finucane at the Storm next year.
The former NSW forward has been linked to several clubs in need of a veteran presence in their pack as the Storm feel the salary cap squeeze.
After his makeshift side, minus five Origin stars, beat the Titans 20-14 on Saturday night, Bellamy said some of the money banked from losing utility back Nicho Hynes to the Sharks might be used for Finucane.
"I'm not quite sure how much we've saved there to give to Dale but you'd like to think it's a chance," Bellamy said.
"We're trying to put an offer to him that hopefully he'll accept. Our recruitment guys are looking really hard on that trying to find some dollars here, and dollars there, to fit him into our cap."
Bellamy provides update on Papenhuyzen's recovery
Bellamy spoke glowingly about what the 29-year-old brought to his team.
"He's one player I'd hate to lose. I just love the way he plays. He just turns up every week and puts full effort in. He puts his head where a lot of people wouldn't put their feet," Bellamy said.
"There's also the things he does off the field. The standards he sets in training and preparation ... I don't think I've seen anyone prepare any better than Dale Finucane.
Match Highlights: Storm v Titans
"I've been in the game a long time. I played for a while and coached for a long time but I've never seen anyone that sets a better standard on and off the field than Dale."
Meanwhile, Bellamy lost another key player on Saturday at Sunshine Coast Stadium when Kiwis Test forward Kenny Bromwich couldn't return after the half-time break with a rib injury.
Bromwich came off in the 24th minute and had a painkilling injection but his night was over. Bellamy said it could be two weeks for him to recuperate.
It is still a moving picture with scintillating fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, who has missed the past three games with concussion.
"That's still a big question mark to be quite honest. He looked a lot brighter this week and he did a bit more training this week," Bellamy said.
"So you'd like to think it's not too far away but I don't think there's actually been a date pencilled in, or inked in, for when he returns.
"It would certainly be handy if we could get him back without a doubt. Again, with the injury he's got we need to be careful."
