Storm trio Wigan-bound

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Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch and Jeff Lima have all confirmed they will link up with former Melbourne Storm assistant coach Michael Maguire at Wigan next year.

While Finch's departure at season's end was a certainty, even before the revelation of the club's salary-cap cheating in late April, and Hoffman and Lima had also been linked to moves to England, nothing had been confirmed before now.

But just four days after Storm's owner News Limited released details of just how extensive the club's cheating was, with the actual figure for the seasons 2006-10 $3.17 million rather than the $1.7m the NRL had indicated in April, Hoffman, Finch and Lima have announced their destination for 2011.

Having already lost forward Ryan Tandy to Canterbury-Bankstown several weeks ago, just after Aiden Tolman had announced his signing for the Bulldogs for next year, coach Craig Bellamy is devastated he'll now have at least three more players to farewell at year's end.

"It's always a sad time when you have to say farewell to one player, let alone three," said Bellamy.

"Ryan, as an example, has been here for eight seasons since he was 18, and in that time I've been fortunate enough to watch him develop from a boy to a man."

"I played with his father, Jay, at Canberra and he's of the same ilk, a really good person."

"These three players will forever be remembered by all at the club for the contributions that they have made both the Melbourne Storm and to the game."

"We have seven weeks now to send them out of this club on the right note. They've been great servants of rugby league in this country."

With Hoffman, Finch, Lima, Tolman and Tandy's departures from the club all confirmed, Storm fans are set to have to deal with more stars leaving in the coming weeks and months as the club looks to shed players to get back under the salary cap.

Star centre Greg Inglis is again being linked to a move to the Broncos but the club's other Maroons superstars Cam Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk are all expected to remain with the club alongside a host of youngsters.

Hoffman arrived in Melbourne as a youngster and has gone on to represent both his country and his state at the top level and he hopes that his decision to move on will help the club in the long run.

"Melbourne's been my home for the past eight years," said Hoffman who has inked a one-year deal with the option of a second season in the English Super League and has played 163 NRL games for the Storm.

"It was a very tough decision to go but hopefully, with me taking this opportunity overseas, it will give someone else the chance to have the same great experiences that I have had here."

"I'm proud and honoured to have been able to play for the Storm."

"Likewise I'm excited about playing for one of, if not the most, famous rugby league clubs in the world and becoming part of that club's already great history."

"Playing overseas is something that I've always wanted to do so when the opportunity to join a club that is on the verge of something special was too good to refuse."

Finch, who joined Melbourne midway through the 2009 season and helped the club to a premiership victory that was later struck from the records as a result of the salary-cap rorting, has signed a two-year deal with Wigan.

"I've loved my time here in Melbourne," said Finch, who recently played his 250th first-grade game.

"It's been a difficult year, but if I had to go through it, I'm glad it was with this group."

"This club gave me an opportunity to continue in the NRL after I left Parramatta but playing in England has always been in the back of my mind."

"I've always wanted to play there and I'm extremely glad I'm going to such a strong club with a strong value set and a proud tradition."

Lima meanwhile has made 91 of his 93 first-grade appearances for the Storm since arriving several years ago and has gone on to represent New Zealand at international level.

"It was Melbourne that threw a lifeline to me back in 2006 and I won't forget what this club has done for my family in that time," said Lima.

"I'll be leaving with a lot of great memories."

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