Roosters put young gun ahead of Finch, Wing

[Cliffy GC]

www.smh.com.au

By Brad Walter and Greg Prichard


SYDNEY Roosters coach Ricky Stuart has sprung the first selection shock of the 2006 premiership by switching halfback Brett Finch to hooker and dumping Test rake Craig Wing to the bench for Sunday's derby against South Sydney at Telstra Stadium.

In a major surprise ahead of the opening round of the NRL competition, Stuart has opted to start the season with talented young gun Jamie Soward partnering star five-eighth recruit Braith Anasta at the scrum-base.

After playing almost exclusively in the No.7 jersey, Finch finds himself in the unaccustomed position of hooker and it is believed Stuart is looking at it as a long-term move - although that will undoubtedly depend on how well 21-year-old Soward performs.

Soward, the record-holder for most points scored by any player in a single grade for the season following his 351-point haul for the Roosters' 2004 premiership-winning Jersey Flegg side, made seven NRL appearances last year.

Yet he is not even listed among the club's top 25 players in this season's media guide - instead being included under the heading "other players to watch" along with prop Steve Meredith and back-rower Lopini Paea, both also included in an 18-man squad to play the Rabbitohs.

Former Roosters coach Phil Gould said in The Sun Herald's 2006 Footy Guide published last weekend that 2005 wasn't Wing's greatest season, while he said of Finch: "Shown the door but didn't walk. Important year ahead."

After a falling-out with Stuart at training last September, Finch was the subject of talks with Souths about buying out his contract but he promised to change his attitude and serve out his contract until the end of next season.

Coincidentally, the two players who would have played either side of him had he retained the No.7 jersey spurned the Rabbitohs last year to join the Roosters, with Anasta rejecting a lucrative offer to return to his junior club and lock Ashley Harrison relinquishing the Souths captaincy to move to Bondi for less money.

The pair will be making their debuts for the Roosters, along with 20-year-old Meredith, who was recruited from Merrylands. Paea and fellow interchange forwards Shane Shackleton and David Shillington have just 12 NRL appearances between them.

Meanwhile, Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett has also gone for youth after axing Origin forwards Corey Parker and Brad Thorn for Sunday's match against North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

Making their debuts for the Broncos are schoolboy winger Darius Boyd, former St George Illawarra hooker Michael Ennis, former Roosters prop Ben Hannant and veteran halfback Shane Perry, who previously had stints with Wests Magpies and the Bulldogs. Bennett welcomed back skipper Darren Lockyer (foot), Brett Seymour (shoulder), Shaun Berrigan (wisdom teeth), Justin Hodges (neck), David Stagg (hamstring) and Tonie Carroll (elbow), but Sam Thaiday (knee), Brent Tate (ankle) and Barry Berrigan (groin) remain on the injured list.

In other selection news, New Zealand Test winger Matt Utai is expected to join a host of players making their return from injury without taking any part in pre-season trials for the Bulldogs in Saturday night's match against Penrith, while former Dragons five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth is tipped to partner Brent Sherwin at the scrum-base.

St George Illawarra coach Nathan Brown is believed to be leaning towards using former NSW Origin fullback Ben Hornby at halfback in Friday night's clash against Wests Tigers ahead of former North Queensland playmaker Chris Sheppard.

Wests Tigers yesterday confirmed Brett Hodgson as their new captain and the former Blues fullback revealed he had cleared things with former captain Scott Prince before accepting the job.

Prince stood down from the captaincy during a meeting with coach Tim Sheens last Friday, after announcing he would be leaving the Tigers at the end of the season to join Gold Coast.

Elsewhere, North Queensland lock and captain Travis Norton has announced he will retire at the end of the season. Norton, 29, said he didn't want to make the mistake of playing for too long if it meant his body breaking down.

[Social Loafer]

Finch at hooker? He will get seriously owned by the forwards there, hopefully he remains in the #9 for round 3

[Super Cronk]

I like Soward. Hope he goes real well.

[mb63]

Finch likely to be at a new club next year.Back to the Raiders?

[Titanium_BD1103]

Actually this raises an interesting question IMO.... if Finch plays well at number 9 and Ricky has a liking to him... like he has ATM... where does that leave Wing?

Question I have to ask is how long does Craig Wing have left on his contract? I ask this because if he is made to play on the bench in 2006, and Souths get funding.. a return back to Bunnies Town is not out of the question come 07..

Ricky has thrown another ball of confusion into the merry go round and once again we are left with more questions that answers from something very simple...

[Eel 33]

One of those 3, Soward, Finch or Wing will not be at Bondi Junction next year. IMO it will be finch, he will get frustrated at not playing halfback, get smashed by the forwards and Stuart will do very little to protect him. Wing will be the permanent hooker by round 8.

[Dakink]

Cant see the Raiders fans being to happy to have Finch back - Wing to Souths - I like!

[Titanium_BD1103]

Me too Dakink.. hence why I suggested it..

Finch is happy at the Roosters and the Roosters are happy with him... he just has a very big upcoming star behind him who the Roosters are desperate to keep in Soward.

If Finch can perform well there, I reckon Wing is the odd one out... he is not as in favour at the Roosters these days as he was under Gould... and the Roosters have a new Golden Child in Soward and if he can do well this year Anasta.

Therefore as long as he isn't signed for like 2 more years.. Wing is a strong chance of heading back to Souths... IF THEY GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.. ... and that is a good thing for not just Souths but the NRL in general.

[Social Loafer]

Finch likely to be at a new club next year.Back to the Raiders?

We are more likely to sign Wally Lewis then Brett Finch....

Anyway, there is no way Finch would want to come back to Canberra...