At the end of the day though they are coming for the money, I am sure they would play in my garden if i paid them enough each week to do so.

The obvious advantage we have with the Melbourne lads is Maguire.

Lets also not forget the lure of the JJB was not enough to stop Trent getting homesick. Its funny that the ones who do seem to get "homesick" like Trent and more recently Tronc walk straight back into the NRL with a nice new big contract in the bank, wonder if that has anything to do with the homesickness?

I still think that to give up the NRL and arrive in the UK at some crummy little ground that wouldn't pass for an amateur club back home must be a massive culture shock.

I think Nail and Head come to mind here Jonh

BIG rumour from Oz is that Orford is desperate to return to Manly.

If true could see them come into the reckoning for Finch and it'll mean a lot of money to offer him?

I just hope we've tied up the signings and just aren't saying anything until visas clear, etc.

By "they" I'm assuming you mean Bradford? If that's true then yeah they'll definitely look at Finch. Orford is quoted in the papaer today saying he wants to honour his contract at Bradford next year though. He's just gone back to Oz for shoulder surgery

Just out of interest - aside from wishful thinking from certain parties on this message board, what gives you the impression that Wigan have signed Brett Finch?

I haven't seen a single indication of this from any even vaguely reliable source.

I listen to a podcast from Oz called This Week In League, one fella on it is a sea eagles fan and was sying that the big rumour is that he is desperate to return, that he may have played his final game for the bulls and is willing to take a pay cut to return!



Fair enough, I'm just going off what others have said.

I fear that we may yet again be setting ourselves up for a disappointment.

A player gets mentioned repeatedly by posters on forums, even though the club themselves have given no indication of having any interest in him whatsoever, and when he doesn't sign for us - people start slagging the club off.

We do this to ourselves time and again.

While it is only a rumour, Finch has said that he will be coming to SL next year, looking at who will be in the market for a half and the pull of Maguire, whilst it is a rumour I would say it is a pretty strong one.

Rogues said a while back that the same source who told him about Gleeson has said we have signed him for next season. A good source if you ask me.

At first I thought we really needed Finch, however Mike McIlorum had a cracker against Wakefield & wasn't too shabby against Castleford either. I really hopes he keeps this up.

We've had so many strong rumours, Jon, and so few of them come to pass. I appreciate that this is a rumour discussion thread, but when you hear people talking as if these guys are signed and delivered when there isn't even any smoke never mind any fire, I think we need the occasional dollop of realism.

Personally, I'm not sure we even need Finch ... not given what he'd probably cost, both in terms of cash and in terms of angst to our current halfbacks, who are both playing pretty well.

If Piggy goes home we still would do

We talk about signings each and every year and they're either done really late or we don't make any and to be fair thats done us little harm upto now so I won't be losing too much sleep over it.

I'm happy enough to put my faith in Lenagan and Maguire to sign or not sign any players they see fit and just sit back and enjoy the rugby. I feel we could do with a halfback with a good kicking game and a prop for next season but if Maguire isn't of the same opinion then fair enough.

rlhttp://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/rugby_league/s/1248734_st_helens_props_final_flingrl

rlhttp://sportal.co.nz/league-news-display/finch-wouldnt-change-a-thing-93373rl

That Finch is a "good bloke". It sounds like he is saying farewell to the NRL. If we do sign him I would hope his "few beers after a game" are just that.

Given his experience playing with Laurie Daley, Brad Fittler and co I am sure he would help to develop the likes of Sam.