Wigan Warriors suffer set back as Brett Finch’s injury rules him out of season opener
Wigan will be launching their title defense in the Super League without their star half back, Brett Finch.
Brett Finch is their latest Australian signing and he is suffering a reappearance of his neck problem.
This injury might make him doubtful for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. The injury has already deprived him of a farewell to Melbourne Storm in September 2010 and it has occurred again this season.
Finch will certainly make him miss the Millennium Magic weekend in Cardiff and the launch of the Engage Super League.
Wigan will play against St Helens in the first game on 12th February.
Finch, the 29 year old half back, injured his neck in a pre-season match and he will undergo surgery this week. His recovery is uncertain and nobody can assume anything about the future of the Australian star.
Brett John Finch is an Australian rugby league footballer, who plays in the National Rugby League for Melbourne Storms.
His team mates also call him by Finchy and Snags. He plays at half back or as a five-eight according to the opponent team.
Finch has also played for Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters before he joined Melbourne Storms.
He is the son of Robert Fich, who is former Australian Rugby League player.
He started playing in 1998 for the Canberra Raiders, while studying in Erindale College and he won his first award in rugby as the club’s Rookie of the Year award.
Finch also played three State of Origin matches for New South Wales after leaving Canberra Raiders.
His most memorable performance was in Game 1 of 2006 for New South Wales and he set up two tries and scored one. Other than that he kicked the winning goal to claim the Man-of-the-Match title and was the hero of the club.
New South Wales won its famous 17-16 victory in that match at Telstra Stadium.
But Finch has had his fair share of controversy with club Parramatta Eels over contract complexities. Finch was seriously disturbed by the unjustified closure of the deal.
He took his revenge from Parramatta Eels after joining Melbourne Storm in 2009. He single handedly took over the game and scored two tries against his old club leading to a Grand Final in 2009.
In July 2010 Finch signed with Wigan Warriors for the English Super League, to begin playing with them in 2011 season till 2012.
Michael Maguire, the Warriors coach is devastated by the news and is looking for a better or equal alternative for Finch. He said, “The news is a blow to the club and the player and, as yet, we are unsure of how long he will be on the sidelines - but he
will miss the start of the 2011 season”.
The club has belief in the Australian half back and will be waiting for his return to the club after his surgery and recovery.
Wigan has also lost Pat Richards, the goal kicking winger, and 2010 ‘Man of Steel’, for this new season that starts on 12th February. Richards is still recovering from his ruptured Achilles, which he sustained in the Grand Final win against St
Helens in October.
Martin Gleeson, the English centre, and, Darrell Goulding, the English half back, will be on the bench in the opening friendly match, due to minor injuries, whereas Jeff Lima and Ryan Hoffman will be making their first appearances for the Warriors.
Roberts will be kicking the ball in this match after recovering from knee injury that he had sustained in August early season. Mossop will also be playing after his long term shoulder injury that he sustained in July last year.
Maguire seems satisfied and hopeful with this combination, although Finch is missing. He said, “The boys are really looking forward to their first competitive action of 2011 and Salford will provide a great test for us”. He went on to say, “Pre-season games
are vitally important, we have chosen a strong squad of 20 players for the clash".
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