Finch Tipped To Rejoin Maguire At Souths

[Newcastlerabbit]

On South's radar ... Brett Finch.


SOURCES in England say Brett Finch could become the second Wigan player to join his former coach, Michael Maguire, at South Sydney next year.

Souths yesterday confirmed Wigan and former Melbourne forward Jeff Lima, 29, would join them next year, on a two-year contract. Maguire coached Lima and Finch during his two-year term at Wigan, which ended when he accepted a deal to take over at the Rabbitohs this year.

Finch, 30, played with Canberra, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta and Melbourne in the NRL, before joining Wigan last year. He comes off contract at the end of this season, and sources in England say he is on the radar at Souths as a possible partner for Adam Reynolds in the halves. That would allow the Rabbitohs to move John Sutton from five-eighth to the back row full-time next season.

But it remains to be seen whether Finch would be prepared for one last crack at the NRL on what would probably be a shorter-term deal than he could acquire in the Super League competition.

''Brett is on fire over there,'' the player's manager, Steve Gillis, said yesterday. ''Wigan are in line to win the premiership and the Challenge Cup, and Brett could win the Man of Steel award for best player in the competition. He's a got a truckload of offers over there, but he's in no hurry to make up his mind. Wigan has got an offer out for him, but he has told them he's not ready to decide at this stage.''

Asked whether there was interest in Finch from any Australian clubs, Gillis said: ''I haven't had any concrete interest, and by that I mean an official offer. He could play for another five years in England if he wanted to, but I would imagine that at Brett's age, any offer in Australia for him would more likely be for a year or two. So if he was to consider coming back to Australia, we would have to look at what life after footy held for him.

''He is interested in doing media work when he does finish playing, and he could also be interested in coaching. I don't know who he's going to be playing for next year.''

Asked yesterday if Souths were keen on Finch, the club's chief executive, Shane Richardson, said: ''We don't make any comment about recruitment.''



http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...#ixzz1vtez89I1

 

[DC_fan]

Can someone tell me why we would want Brett Finch?

He would be 31 come the start of next season. We have two good halfbacks at the club in Reynolds and Keary. We have Luke to play hooker and Peats as his backup.

If we sign Finch and witht he signing of Lima we become an older team.

 

[Midnight Rabbit]

I was under the impression Finch was off to St. Helens, at least i hope that's true as i don't want him.

 

[Galeforce]

i would prefer to stick with sutton next year until we can develop / get a gun young tough 5/8. I hope Roberts/ Hunt / Keary can be developed for next year and would expect Farrell to be a backrow by next year. he does not have the pace for a star three qtr

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

This is too epic

 

[BunniesMan]

Even if true he'd only be depth, he'd play at North Sydney Oval for a year and then he'll serve a waterboy/trainer apprenticeship in the style of Toovey/Langer perhaps with an agreement to be Maguires future assistant.

 

[pierced]

Even as champion of the please get John Sutton out of 5/8 campaign, I don't want the bastard. We need to develope a specialist 5/8 as a long term goal. 31 is far over the hill for what we need.

 

[muzby]

wowsers...

maguire really is getting the band back together...

shame he's a few years too late..

 

[Ziggy the God]

wowsers...

maguire really is getting the band back together...

shame he's a few years too late..

You must be talking about Wayne.

 

[Big Sam]

I saw Finch live last year playing for Wigan against the then Harlequins. He looked old and slow even by ESL standards.

This would rival Orford to Canberra as the worst NRL signing of this millennium.

However, Thomas Leuluai is still going well for Wigan and could fit nicely into the 6 jersey (though I think he's still under contract for 2013-14).

 

[Fast Eddie]

However, Thomas Leuluai is still going well for Wigan and could fit nicely into the 6 jersey (though I think he's still under contract for 2013-14).

:lol:you need to get up with the play...

 

[Big Sam]

:lol:you need to get up with the play...

Ah, indeed. Must've signed in the offseason cos I've evidently missed it.

Good replacement for Maloney for you guys.

 

[Fire]

Damn, if I were you guys I wouldn't want to touch that merkin with a ten foot pole.

 

[Ziggy the God]

I don't either, but we don't make the decisions.

 

[Fire]

I don't either, but we don't make the decisions.

Very true. The most frustrating thing about being a supporter.

 

[Ziggy the God]

Very true. The most frustrating thing about being a supporter.

Even though I don't like him, if he comes, I will support him obviously.

Have to back the Coach, he knows more about what he wants to do than me.

The difference will be how long we would tolerate poor performance. Not long in this case. :x

 

[Stand And Be Counted]

Look Maguire has a plan on what he wants, we should not be negative and trust him. I know I will, who knew we would be so high up the ladder at this stage of the competition. Maguire knows his stuff he can get the best out of the players look at how Greg Inglis is going this season.

 

[Rabbit toes]

Even if true he'd only be depth, he'd play at North Sydney Oval for a year and then he'll serve a waterboy/trainer apprenticeship in the style of Toovey/Langer perhaps with an agreement to be Maguires future assistant.

Based on what exactly?

If he played under madge and is potentially linked to us, do you honestly think he'd forego all ESL offers to come back to the NRL and play for a norths with the prospect of running drinks a year later? :roll:

 

[BunniesMan]

Based on what exactly?

If he played under madge and is potentially linked to us, do you honestly think he'd forego all ESL offers to come back to the NRL and play for a norths with the prospect of running drinks a year later? :roll:

That's precisely why he'd come back. I'd say he's being brought back as depth in case Reynolds breaks down and the promise of a long term job after he's retired is why he'd forego the ESL offers.

It's more or less what his manager implies in the OP article:

Asked whether there was interest in Finch from any Australian clubs, Gillis said: ''I haven't had any concrete interest, and by that I mean an official offer. He could play for another five years in England if he wanted to, but I would imagine that at Brett's age, any offer in Australia for him would more likely be for a year or two. So if he was to consider coming back to Australia, we would have to look at what life after footy held for him.

Connect the dots, he'll only turn his back on those ESL offers for a pathway to post playing career opportunities.

 

[Fire]

Even though I don't like him, if he comes, I will support him obviously.

Have to back the Coach, he knows more about what he wants to do than me.

The difference will be how long we would tolerate poor performance. Not long in this case. :x

True. And I believe he is a good coach. I know a lot of people bag Souths out, but I believe in the saying "when Souths are doing good, rugby league is doing good", which is why I hope you (and Parramatta, but never Cronulla! lol) get a Premiership.

I'd have a lot of faith in your coach though, so if he wants Finch, he must see something that we don't.