Eels in pole position as Finch tests the market
Glenn Jackson
July 19, 2006
BRETT Finch's impending move to Parramatta was a step closer last night after his manager and the Roosters confirmed the halfback was on the market.
The Herald yesterday revealed Finch was set to move to the Eels next season amid growing speculation surrounding his future.
The 24-year-old's manager, Steve Gillis, yesterday confirmed his client had joined the player market. "The club has given him permission to look about on the proviso he gets back to them with any offers," Gillis told AAP.
Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said Finch was given permission to negotiate with other clubs on Monday.
"The manager, on behalf of the player, requested the player enter negotiations, and that was given," Canavan said. "The manager must come back to us, of course. We're just allowing him to investigate. Brett's on our player list next year. He may well be with us, but he might not be."
The Eels are expected to come up with the funds to sign Finch.
Cronulla, meanwhile, will "cop on the chin" a $10,000 fine yesterday issued to the club for fielding an unregistered player.
The NRL's breach notice was for failing to register new signing Leon Bott before his first appearance for the Sharks last Sunday against the Roosters. Bott, who signed earlier this month from Brisbane, was registered with the NSWRL, but not the NRL.
"The bottom line is, there was a misunderstanding," Sharks chief executive Greg Pierce said. "He was a last training session inclusion. It's just one of those things. But we've got procedures in place to ensure it doesn't happen again."
Half the fine will be suspended subject to no further breaches of a similar nature within a 12-month period.
In team news, Cowboys coach Graham Murray has again wielded the axe. With the Cowboys in danger of dropping out of the eight should they lose to Brisbane this Saturday, Murray has dropped Ty Williams, Ray Cashmere, Brent McConnell and Mitchell Sargent.
He recalled Josh Hannay, Paul Bowman, David Faiumu, Gavin Cooper and Robert Tanielu, naming Bowman at lock, skipper Travis Norton at five-eighth and Johnathan Thurston at halfback.
St George Illawarra have lost Mark Gasnier to a calf injury for Sunday's game against the Raiders in Canberra. Coach Nathan Brown has been forced to reshuffle his back line after centre Daryl Millard (punctured lung) was also ruled out through injury. Trent Barrett returns from suspension at five-eighth.
Tigers coach Tim Sheens has named NSW Origin fullback Brett Hodgson at five-eighth.
Penrith coach John Lang said he was confident halfback Craig Gower (hamstring) would play against Manly on Sunday after naming him.
The Warriors yesterday signed Manly five-eighth Michael Witt for next season, at the same time re-signing rookies Patrick Ah Van and Sam Rapira to new three-year contracts.
Gold Coast have signed Bulldog Daniel Conn for three seasons. But the Titans have pulled out of the race for his teammate Nate Myles, who is expected to announce today he is joining the Roosters.
