Dale Finucane


Dale Finucane, also known by the nicknames of "Hadouken" or "Bega Bomb", is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a and for the Melbourne Storm in the NRL.
Finucane previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League. He won the 2017 NRL Grand Final with the Storm. He has played for the Country Origin and New South Wales sides.

Early life

Finucane was born in Bega, New South Wales, Australia, and is of Irish descent.
Finucane played his junior football for the Bega Roosters and studied at Bega High School.
In 2009, he signed with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. When signed at Canterbury-Bankstown, he was educated at Bass High School.

Playing career

Early career

In 2009, Finucane played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs' S. G. Ball Cup team, winning the S. G. Ball Cup Player of the Year award and playing for the New South Wales Under 18s team. Later that same year, he moved straight into the Bulldogs' NYC team. He played in the NYC for the Bulldogs from 2009 to 2011, playing over 60 games. On 31 August 2010, Finucane was named on the interchange bench in the 2010 NYC Team of the Year. On 30 August 2011, Finucane was named at in the 2011 NYC Team of the Year. On 16 October 2011, Finucane played for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis, where he played at lock in the 28-16 loss. In 2012, Finucane moved on to the Bulldogs' New South Wales Cup team.

2012

In round 13 of the 2012 NRL season, Finucane made his NRL debut for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs against South Sydney, playing off the interchange bench in the 23-18 win at ANZ Stadium. On 30 September 2017, in the Bulldogs 2012 NRL Grand Final against the Melbourne Storm, Finucane played off the interchange bench in the 14-4 defeat. Finucane finished his debut NRL year with him playing in 14 matches for the Bulldogs in the 2012 NRL season.

2013

In round 20 against the Parramatta Eels, Finucane scored his first NRL career try in Canterbury-Bankstown's 40-12 win at ANZ Stadium. On 11 August 2013, Finucane extended his contract with Canterbury from the end of 2014 to the end of 2016. Finucane finished the 2013 NRL season with him playing all of Canterbury's 25 matches and scoring 1 try.

2014

In February 2014, Finucane was selected in the Bulldogs 2014 NRL Auckland Nines squad. On 4 May 2014, Finucane played for Country Origin against City Origin where he played off the interchange bench in the 26-26 all draw in Dubbo. On 5 October 2017, in Canterbury's 2014 NRL Grand Final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Finucane played off the interchange bench in the 32-6 defeat. Finucane finished the 2014 NRL season with him playing in 27 matches and scored 1 try for Canterbury. On 18 December 2014, after gaining a release from his Bulldogs contract, Finucane signed a three-year contract with the Melbourne Storm starting in 2015.

2015

In round 1 of the 2015 NRL season, Finucane made his club debut for the Melbourne Storm against the St George Illawarra Dragons, starting at lock in the 12-4 win at Jubilee Oval. On 3 May 2017, Finucane played for Country Origin against City Origin where he started at prop in the 34-22 win in Wagga Wagga. In round 9 against the Parramatta Eels, Finucane scored his first club try for Melbourne in the 28-10 win at Parramatta Stadium. Finucane finished the 2015 NRL season with playing in 23 matches and scoring 2 tries in his first year with the Melbourne Storm.

2016

In February 2016, Finucane was selected in the Storm’s 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. On 8 May 2017, Finucane played for Country Origin against City Origin where he started at lock in the 44-30 loss in Tamworth. On 2 October 2016, in the Storm’s 2016 NRL Grand Final against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Finucane played in his third grand final, starting at lock and sadly losing another premiership in the 14-12 defeat. Finucane finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in all the Storm’s 27 matches and scoring 2 tries.

2017

On 22 March 2017, Finucane extended his contract with the Melbourne club to the end of the 2021 season. On 7 May 2017, Finucane played for Country Origin against City Origin where he started at prop in the 20-10 loss in Mudgee. On 1 October 2017, in the Storm’s 2017 NRL Grand Final against the North Queensland Cowboys, Finucane appeared in his 4th grand final, starting at lock and scoring a try in the breaking of the hoodoo match with a 34-6 victory. Finucane finished the 2017 NRL season on a high with him playing in 26 matches, scoring 4 tries and kicking 1 goal for the Storm.

2018

To start the season, Finucane was part of the successful 2018 World Club Challenge team.
In round 12 of the 2018 NRL season against the North Queensland Cowboys, Finucane play his 150th NRL games in the Storms' 7-6 win at 1300SMILES Stadium. September, Finucane played in his fifth grand final and took part in the 2018 NRL Grand Final.

2019

Finucane was called up by New South Wales Blues for the second game of the 2019 State of Origin series. It was his first appearance in the interstate series. He came off the bench as inter-change No. 14. However a late change by coach Brad Fitler saw Finucane start the match at lock in place of Paul Vaughan who dropped to the bench and Jake Trbojevic came into the front row.
At club level, Finucane played 26 games as Melbourne won the minor premiership and were amongst the favourites to take out the title. Finucane played in Melbourne's preliminary final loss to the Sydney Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Honours

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs