Melbourne plans to pursue former NSW Origin playmaker Brett Finch despite a promising performance by debutant James Maloney in its scrappy 16-14 NRL win over Penrith.
Former Newtown Jets player Maloney, 22, started at five-eighth in Saturday night's Olympic Park clash, allowing Greg Inglis and Cameron Smith to play in their preferred positions of centre and hooker.
He impressed coach Craig Bellamy with a solid showing in another sub-par effort by the Storm, which will be sweating on match review scrutiny of star fullback Billy Slater and centre Will Chambers.
''I thought he [Maloney] did a really good job defensively, a good job running the footy and as he plays more and more with us he'll improve his passing game and the combinations with different people around him,'' Bellamy said.
However the coach made no secret of his interest in Finch who is on the market after cutting ties with Parramatta last week.
''If we can fit Brett in here, the style of game he plays is really suited to our club,'' Bellamy said.
''I know him personally and think he'd really fit in really well socially and into the team culture but there are a lot of things to get through.
''He's got to sort out his pay-out with Parramatta and decide whether he wants to play in the NRL or England.
''The biggest stumbling block for us will be the salary cap.''
Finch's manager Steve Gillis said a club's immediate premiership chances could help sway his decision whether to stay in Australia or play in England.
''If he goes to an NRL club short term he is going for minimum wage,'' he said.
''Hopefully he can make a decision within a week.''
Meanwhile, the match review committee is expected to look at Slater's feet-first tackle on Penrith winger Shane Elford.
Elford was about to score a match-winner, only for the referees to call it back for a forward pass, as Slater slid in with his knees.
Match review committee chairman Greg McCallum confirmed the incident could be scrutinised even though it occurred well after the whistle.
''Anything that happens on the field is under match review,'' he said.
Given Slater's judicial record the Test fullback could be suspended for next Monday's clash with the Wests Tigers.
Chambers also faces a nervous wait for his tackle on Lachlan Coote that was placed on report and forced the young fullback from the field.
''It was a good strong tackle but because he went so high in the air and his legs went up it didn't look so good,'' Bellamy said.
After the match, in which the Storm only managed two tries, Bellamy took the blame for their attacking woes.
The wily coach, who has taken his side to three successive minor premierships, said he hadn't adjusted his team to the new rule changes which include the introduction of a second referee and quicker play around the ruck.
''I can't ask too much more of the guys' effort with our attack at the moment ... we're still struggling, obviously, but that's more my problem than the players,'' Bellamy said.
''I'm not coaching them well enough with the two referees and a couple of things that happened out there I have to change a couple of things in my mind-set. Part of my outlook on it just doesn't match what's happening out there at the moment. The game's changed a little bit and I didn't realise it's changed that much.'' AAP
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