Brett Finch to Leave Wigan

[Mike]

The fact is that Tommy is leaving after a long stint, George is retiring, big Jeff is leaving, Amos has retired and taking all those into consideration, there should be a significant reduction in the wage bill allowing for better deals to be tabled. Finch is far and away the best stand off in the league for my money, and that being the case we should have tried harder. We have another outstanding talent in Sam; we pushed the boat out for him and quite rightly so and nobody would argue otherwise. Brett Finch brought many things to this club that we will miss when he's gone.

That's why Shaun Wane wanted to keep him, and he made that point long and hard everytime he was asked. However, at the end of the day he states his case, and the powers above him pay the wages and make the deals. Whoever that was needed to dig deeper, and now we just have to deal with the fact that they didn't.

Using your theory it doesn't matter if Leului has been here for so long just offer him a highly paid contrat and he will stay so why should we be any less disappointed to see him leave?

That doesn't follow at all because TL has been here far longer than Finch and had not expressed a desire to stay on as Finch did. Different players, different circumstances.

The bottom line is the club has dropped a clanger in getting to a situation whereby both its first choice half backs are leaving at the same time and at the same time we are also losing two other very experienced and high quality players in Lima and Carmont.

BTW its not most likely not Wane's fault (unless it was him who prevented the club offering Finch a contract in March when he said he wanted to stay) as contracts are not usually down to the coach at the end of the day. He just say's who he wants and the club does the rest one way or the other.

This is what Finch has said

"There are a number of options back home that I find attractive and my life after footy needs to be given consideration. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in England and to play for a club like Wigan has been a dream."

He also said this in March:

I'd definitely like to extend my stay here....

Something happened between March and now to get him on a plane home for next season. In my opinion the club messes about too long before sitting down with players especially in this case when it already knew Tommy was leaving. It has been obvious from comments from Finch since then negotiations didn't start for some time after he said that which gave whoever he is going to time to decide to table an offer themselves.

Do you know that he wasn't offered the contract he wanted in March? Also, do you really believe that the things players say in the press are the whole truth about the situation? You only have to read the books they write at the end of their careers to confirm that it never is. You have to learn to take everything they say in the press with a very large pinch of salt. In my mind a quote like "I'd definitely like to extend my stay here" means its an option for me to stay, but I haven't made any decisions yet.

You've just got to accept that sometimes a player leaving isn't anyones fault. The deal we made for Sam was outstanding and very inventive - it had to be in face of the opportunity he was presented with in RU. I can't see any evidence that IL would not have offered Finch a very attractive deal. But at the end of the day, going above a certain level for an individual player is not in the best interests of the club as a whole, and someone has to make that call. Right now I trust IL to know where that line is for each individual. Maybe I'm wrong and the club has treated the negotiations badly - we'll find out in his autobiography i guess.

ALso, there is a lot riding on the replacement we make IMO. I don't think Smith alone is good enough to replace both our half backs. I'd like to see another Finch level replacement at Wigan on a two year deal. If we don't do that, I'll be concerned that financial prudence has too big an influence on IL against on field success.

[cpwigan]

People need to remember too that the quality of the player and his position matters greatly. The Wigan players returning Down Under are WANTED. Whatsmore, the exchange rate is no longer as significant as it was.

I believe Wigan tried to retain both Lima and Finchy. Sometimes no matter how hard you try you just have to accept top quality players will leave.

[i'm spartacus]

Do you know that he wasn't offered the contract he wanted in March? Also, do you really believe that the things players say in the press are the whole truth about the situation? You only have to read the books they write at the end of their careers to confirm that it never is. You have to learn to take everything they say in the press with a very large pinch of salt. In my mind a quote like "I'd definitely like to extend my stay here" means its an option for me to stay, but I haven't made any decisions yet.

You've just got to accept that sometimes a player leaving isn't anyones fault. The deal we made for Sam was outstanding and very inventive - it had to be in face of the opportunity he was presented with in RU. I can't see any evidence that IL would not have offered Finch a very attractive deal. But at the end of the day, going above a certain level for an individual player is not in the best interests of the club as a whole, and someone has to make that call. Right now I trust IL to know where that line is for each individual. Maybe I'm wrong and the club has treated the negotiations badly - we'll find out in his autobiography i guess.

There is one thing you can be absolutely sure of, no matter what was said to the press, or whether or not it was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

As you have pointed out, the deal to keep Sam here was made in the face of the oppurtunity he was presented by the RFU; he chose to stay here. If you ask yourself why he chose to stay rather than go, the answer will be down to the following.

We made a better offer - he accepted it.

For everyone who works for a living - and to Brett Finch this is his job - The plain and simple truth is if you are made the right offer, and you are happy with your job situation, or even to some extent you are unhappy, the right deal can force your mouth up at the corners and make you rethink your future.

[slimshady]

He's been awesome this year and will be a big loss but Iam thankful that we have had the pleasure of watching him in a Wigan shirt so thankyou very much Brett.

Just a thought about a replacement and I may get shot down in flames here but faced with the thought of Chase or Brough neither of which I rate, What about Craig Gower from the London Broncos for a year he could be a good stop gap and help bring on the kids.

[TrueBlueWarrior]

Do you know that he wasn't offered the contract he wanted in March? Also, do you really believe that the things players say in the press are the whole truth about the situation? You only have to read the books they write at the end of their careers to confirm that it never is. You have to learn to take everything they say in the press with a very large pinch of salt. In my mind a quote like "I'd definitely like to extend my stay here" means its an option for me to stay, but I haven't made any decisions yet.

You've just got to accept that sometimes a player leaving isn't anyones fault. The deal we made for Sam was outstanding and very inventive - it had to be in face of the opportunity he was presented with in RU. I can't see any evidence that IL would not have offered Finch a very attractive deal. But at the end of the day, going above a certain level for an individual player is not in the best interests of the club as a whole, and someone has to make that call. Right now I trust IL to know where that line is for each individual. Maybe I'm wrong and the club has treated the negotiations badly - we'll find out in his autobiography i guess.

There is one thing you can be absolutely sure of, no matter what was said to the press, or whether or not it was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

As you have pointed out, the deal to keep Sam here was made in the face of the oppurtunity he was presented by the RFU; he chose to stay here. If you ask yourself why he chose to stay rather than go, the answer will be down to the following.

We made a better offer - he accepted it.

For everyone who works for a living - and to Brett Finch this is his job - The plain and simple truth is if you are made the right offer, and you are happy with your job situation, or even to some extent you are unhappy, the right deal can force your mouth up at the corners and make you rethink your future.

Spartacus you seem to be missing one huge factor out of your argument, Finch is thousands of miles away from his home and his family, most of us in our jobs will never have to take that into account. Finch has and will remain a class act for us until like SW said the last second he plays for us. I am sure IL and SW did everything in their power to keep Finch WITHIN REASON, you cannot break the whole structure of players wages for one player especially a 30 year old, it could ultimately cause chaos within the ranks and team morale could quickly diminish. Like I have always said I have every faith in IL to keep this team/club progressing on and off the pitch to maintain longevity of success. Finch is a massive loss for next season but I am sure he will be replaced accordingly and next season we will be as strong as a TEAM as we are this year. Think we need to respect the decision Finch has made to RETURN BACK HOME and support the team and him for the rest of this season to win trophies, the show must go on.

[DaveO]

Do you know that he wasn't offered the contract he wanted in March? Also, do you really believe that the things players say in the press are the whole truth about the situation?

Sorry Mike but that is the ultimate straw man argument. Player says he definitely wants to stay but when he leaves he must have been lying. Really? I have no doubt something changed his mind subsequently but in March no one has any reason to believe he was not being perfectly honest when he said he definitely wanted to stay.

You only have to read the books they write at the end of their careers to confirm that it never is. You have to learn to take everything they say in the press with a very large pinch of salt. In my mind a quote like "I'd definitely like to extend my stay here" means its an option for me to stay, but I haven't made any decisions yet.

I have read plenty of RL biographies and they really do not paint a picture of players as bare faced liars.

You've just got to accept that sometimes a player leaving isn't anyones fault. The deal we made for Sam was outstanding and very inventive - it had to be in face of the opportunity he was presented with in RU. I can't see any evidence that IL would not have offered Finch a very attractive deal. But at the end of the day, going above a certain level for an individual player is not in the best interests of the club as a whole, and someone has to make that call.

The timeline is what matters. I believe had been offered a deal in March (and I do not believe he was and think this is obviously true) he would have signed it.

In the meantime his form gets ever better, it comes to the attention of other clubs and they know he is out of contract and before you know it he has plenty of options on the table.

What is more given the club knew Tommy was leaving before the season started we should not have been seeing interviews in March where the player expressed his desire to stay because the club should have already been talking to him. Had they been I am sure his comments would have reflected that. The club prevaricated and we are where we are.

ALso, there is a lot riding on the replacement we make IMO. I don't think Smith alone is good enough to replace both our half backs. I'd like to see another Finch level replacement at Wigan on a two year deal. If we don't do that, I'll be concerned that financial prudence has too big an influence on IL against on field success.

I agree with that. I don't know who is available though who is of that level.

[OJ]

IMO this is only the second mistake made by waney since his promotion to head coach, the finch fiasco being his second. finch said he wanted to extend his contract at the beginning of the season however wane waited to see how his form would be, to help his decision on whether or not to renew his contract and finch could hardly of played better tbh, but to be fair finch has given his all in every single match and wants to finish his career in is own country.


thanks finchy

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If Finchy had signed a 2/3 year deal way back when and then had had a bad season you might have had a point but as it is things didn't work out that way but defo not something you can have a go at our coach for :eusa9:

[i'm spartacus]

Spartacus you seem to be missing one huge factor out of your argument, Finch is thousands of miles away from his home and his family, most of us in our jobs will never have to take that into account. Finch has and will remain a class act for us until like SW said the last second he plays for us. I am sure IL and SW did everything in their power to keep Finch WITHIN REASON, you cannot break the whole structure of players wages for one player especially a 30 year old, it could ultimately cause chaos within the ranks and team morale could quickly diminish. Like I have always said I have every faith in IL to keep this team/club progressing on and off the pitch to maintain longevity of success. Finch is a massive loss for next season but I am sure he will be replaced accordingly and next season we will be as strong as a TEAM as we are this year. Think we need to respect the decision Finch has made to RETURN BACK HOME and support the team and him for the rest of this season to win trophies, the show must go on.

By the sound of that it must have been you that negotiated the deal he didn't take

He will be replaced, and I will still be sat in the same seat watching whoever it is that replaces him, but the homesick argument doesn't work because it hasn't been mentioned by him. What he said in March was he wanted to stay. Now I think it's a fair assumption that after being here for so long, and wanting to stay in March, he's not suddenly gone all 'I want my mum' by June. He's had a better offer from Russell Crowe no doubt

[TrueBlueWarrior]

It is not about being homesick, it is about him going back to where he was born and bred, where his family and friends are and where he sees his future. How many Australians have stayed to live in England after their career has finished? My guess is pretty few. As much as I love Wigan Warrriors, the NRL is a bigger and better competition and that is why all the best players in the world play in it, except Sam. Look, I am gutted and yes it doesn't sound good that in March he was happy to stay and now he goes but if he is being offered the same, more or maybe even less money to play in his own country in a better competition, absolute no brainer!!

[Kittwazzer]

DaveO. Having lost Madge last year along with Deacon, Coley, Gleeson, Joel, & Hoffman, it must be really pissing you off that we are where we are right now ie running away with the league and odds on to sweep the board.

Don't worry Mr Negative, I am sure you will eventually get you day in the sun when you can come on here and say “I TOLD YOU SO!”!