BY SCOTT DILLON

Former Melbourne Storm half Brett Finch has gone into bat for his old club, after the latest spate of media scrutiny over the Storm’s wrestling tactics.

A war of words erupted between South Sydney CEO Shane Richardson and Storm boss Dave Donaghy after the team’s clashed in Gosford where the Storm were accused of playing dirty.

Now Finch has fired up, hitting back at fellow Fox Sports panelist James Hooper in a heated exchange on Sunday night.

“You don’t like it but the NRL haven’t got a problem with it,” Finch said.

“Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

“The NRL, if they’ve got a problem with it they’ll go down and tell them, ‘That’s wrong, stop it’, so whatever they’re doing is within the rules.”

And Finch wasn’t finished there.

“I’ll tell you what’s driven down there is hard work and that’s why they’re so successful.

“And the Melbourne players within the group think it’s an attack on their work ethic and that they only win because (of wrestling tactics).”

“You don’t think Cronulla were outstanding (wrestlers) when they won? The Roosters are outstanding wrestlers.

“Defence wins games, whether you like it or not that’s what the games’ built on, so that’ll always be in the game.”