Brett Finch

Brett Finch

Finch while playing for Parramata in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Brett John Finch
Height	183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	86 kg (13 st 8 lb)
Playing information
Position	Five-eighth, Halfback
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1999–02 Canberra Raiders 70 22 0 2 90 2003–06 Sydney Roosters 95 31 0 6 130 2007–09 Parramatta Eels 51 7 0 2 30 2009–10 Melbourne Storm 41 6 1 2 28 2011– Wigan Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 Total 257 66 1 12 278 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2004–06 New South Wales 3 1 0 1 5 2006–08 Country Origin 2 0 0 0 0 2010 NRL All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
Source: NRL Stats

Brett Finch (born 20 August 1981 in Maitland, New South Wales) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Melbourne Storm of the National Rugby League. A New South Wales State of Origin representative representative halfback or five-eighth, he previously played for the Canberra Raiders, Sydney Roosters and Parramatta Eels before moving to the Storm.

While attending Erindale College, Finch played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1998. At the Canberra Raiders he won the club's rookie of the year award.

Brett Finch has played three State of Origin games for New South Wales since crossing from the Canberra Raiders. His most famous moment was when he was called into the New South Wales squad on the eve of Game 1 of the 2006 series. He then turned out to be a hero by scoring a try, setting up two and by kicking the winning field goal to push New South Wales to a famous 17–16 victory at Telstra Stadium. However Finch had a disastrous Game II, and was dropped for the decider which New South Wales lost. They also lost the 2006 series for the first time since 2001.

In 2004, Brett Finch, whilst playing for the Sydney Roosters, threw a bottle back into the crowd after he was pelted by a Canterbury Bulldogs fan. The fan was banned for life from NRL Games, while Brett Finch was suspended for 3 weeks

The Roosters and Finch agreed on an early termination of his contract, allowing the Parramatta Eels to sign Finch on a two year deal from the Roosters, commencing from the 2007 season. The Eels then extended his contract to the end of the 2011 season, reportedly to be worth $1 million for 3 years.

On 8 April 2009, Parramatta CEO, Denis Fitzgerald, confirmed that Finch would be released from his contract with the Eels. The contract was not due to expire until the end of the 2011 season. Finch is quoted in media sources as stating that coach Daniel Anderson told him he "may not be the right person to take the club forward in the halfback position".

On 14 April 2009, Finch signed a one year contract with the Melbourne Storm. The Storm will be his fourth club in eleven NRL seasons. Storm coach Craig Bellamy commented: "He will add depth and experience to our squad and gives us further options in the halves."

He got his revenge beating his old team, Paramatta, in the 2009 grand final, setting up 2 tries. This victory was also third time lucky for Finch, having lost two Grand Finals with the Roosters (2003 and 2004, the latter of which was Brad Fittler's farewell match).

In 2010 Finch was the 18th man in the New South Wales Blues Squad.

In July 2010, Finch signed with English Super League club Wigan Warriors. The deal begins with the 2011 season and runs through the 2012 season.

External links

• State of Origin Official website Rugby League Player Stats