Melbourne Storm

The Clive Churchill Medallist has signed a one-year extension to his Storm contract, meaning he will return for one more time around the sun in 2018.

Melbourne announced the news on their official website on Tuesday night.

"We are delighted that Billy has made the decision to pull on the purple jersey again in 2018," Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy said.

"He has been a champion of this club and NRL for over a decade so it is fantastic for the game as a whole that Billy will be back on the field next year.

Slater and the Storm players were given a heroes' welcome home after demolishing North Queensland 34-6 to win the NRL grand final in Sydney.

The North Queensland Cowboys battled bravely right to the end were barely in the contest right from the outset against a Storm side that were clinical and relentless from the opening whistle in Cronk's final game in purple.

Kicking the game-winning field goal in a man-of-the-match performance to guide his side to a stirring 23-22 extra-time win without their Origin stars over a gutsy North Queensland Cowboys, there were no words for Croft and his parents to explain the moment either.

The Australia international forward has been recruited as cover for Christian Welch, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2017 campaign with a knee injury.

Myles, 31, is currently recovering from an elbow problem sustained in the opening State of Origin match but will begin work with his new team immediately.

"I'm ecstatic to be able to join Melbourne Storm for the remainder of the season," he said. 

The Storm have now conceded more than 20 points three times this season – all in the past four rounds – after allowing teams to score that many points just twice in 2016.

It could be the wake-up call the side needs before they enter a difficult Origin period without several of their stars.

Bellamy made sure his side learned from their mistakes after the full-time siren as they move ahead for the rest of the season.

Coming out of the Representative Round on the back of two straight wins, the Titans only have to travel an hour up the M1 for their 'away' clash with the Storm who have won seven of the nine matches played between the two teams in Melbourne.

Both clubs have been rocked this week by senior players Kevin Proctor and Jesse Bromwich being embroiled in a drugs scandal following New Zealand's Test loss in Canberra on Friday night and will take the field without the pair on Saturday night.

Kaufusi has signed for next season with the option of an additional year while Welch has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal to remain in Melbourne.

The re-signing of the young props is yet another significant boost for Storm’s forward pack.

Kaufusi and Welch join teammates Dale Finucane, Joe Stimson and Jesse and Kenny Bromwich as the latest big men to re-sign with Storm.

Welch, 22, has played 33 games in the purple jersey including last year’s NRL Grand Final.

Over the last two years his aggressive style of play has proved a real asset for Melbourne.

The 33-year-old is focused on returning to his superstar form after making his comeback from two long injury-plagued years.

The Storm's "Big Three" all rank in the top 10 for most victories, and Smith acknowledged the significance his long-time companions Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk have had in helping to accomplish the resounding feat of winning 238 first-grade games.