King signs new deal with Storm

Melbourne Storm has signed a new three year with deal with its star centre Matt King. King has become one of the NRL's hottest properties, and his new deal will see him stay in Melbourne with Melbourne Storm until at least the end of 2008.

King has enjoyed an extraordinary ride of success since being given the opportunity to join the Melbourne Storm in 2003. He was unable to crack reserve grade with Cronulla in 2002 but was offered a start by the Storm the following year.

"I'll be wrapped to play the next three years in Melbourne," King said.

"Craig Bellamy, the coaching staff and my team mates have been a massive part of my development and I look forward to exciting times ahead. I love Melbourne and the Storm supporters are the best in the competition. I can't wait to play in front of a packed house in our new stadium," he said.

Since making his NRL debut for the Storm in 2003, King has become one of the most popular and best performed players in the Storm line-up. His signing comes at a particularly exciting time too for Storm officials because he will be an important part of the team which will enjoy the use of its spectacular new home in 2008, the new rectangular stadium.

King has also become one of the heroes of the NSW Origin team after his outstanding debut in Origin I and his selection in the Origin II team.

Storm CEO Brian Waldron is pleased that King has made the commitment to the Storm.

"We are thrilled that Matt has made this commitment to us. He has developed into an elite NRL player throughout his time with the Storm and we are all pleased that the effort made by the Club to assist him to become the player he is, has been rewarded by his commitment to us," Waldron said.

King has been one of the most consistent performers for the Storm in 2005 and coach Craig Bellamy is very pleased to have secured his services for the future.

"I'm very, very happy," Bellamy said. ?It?s great news that he?ll be with us for the next three years. He?s playing that good at the moment and he?s broken into the Origin team, so it?s an important signing for us.?

?He?s playing great footy. It?s the sign of a good player when he can play for NSW in State-Of-Origin and come back and perform for his club the week after," he said.

In other Storm news;

Melbourne Storm front rower Ian Donnelly has accepted the offer of a two week suspension for a contrary conduct charge stemming from unnecessary head and neck contact in the game against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

The charge is worth 131 points for an early guilty plea. However, the charge ballooned past the 200 point threshold and a subsequent two week penalty as Donnelly had 80 points carried over from prior offences.

Donnelly will miss this Sunday?s game against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland and next Saturday?s (June 18) home game against the Panthers.