NRL star Brett Finch gets married: ‘I struggled without footy but now I’m ready to settle down’

FORMER troubled NRL star Brett Finch — who has undergone treatment for drug and ­alcohol abuse — completed one of rugby league’s most ­inspiring redemption stories by marrying his partner of four years yesterday.

AT his lowest point 18 months ago, footy larrikin Brett Finch secretly worked a midnight-to-dawn shift as a stop-go man on the streets of Melbourne.

An Origin and NRL star, hidden under a yellow safety cap and orange vest, quietly directed traffic around trucks and bulldozers as the rest of us slept.

Finch had just checked out of a Thai rehab clinic after undergoing treatment for drug and ­alcohol abuse.

Channel 9 and Radio 2GB cut ties with the troubled star, fed up with his poor attitude.

It was the trigger that would turn his life around.

Yesterday, Finch completed one of rugby league’s most ­inspiring redemption stories by marrying his partner of four years, Elli Johnston.

Brett Finch and Elli Johnston were married in Melbourne. Picture: Josie Hayden

She is the girl who stood by the 36-year-old former Blues and Melbourne Storm grand final hero when few others would.

The guest list was a who’s who of league scattered among 140 family and friends at the plush Greenfield event centre at Albert Park in Melbourne. Best man was Roosters legend Anthony Mini­chiello with Clint Newton a groomsman.

Present were league immortal Joey Johns, Blues Origin coach Freddy Fittler, Australia’s Test captain Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Mitchell Pearce, Cooper Cronk, Will Chambers, super coach Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart.

“It’s a fair team,” he said, “And most of them were lun­atics like me in the old days.”

Brett Finch played for the Parramatta Eels in 2007.

Finch says he’s ready to settle down with Elli. Picture: Instagram

Also there was Fox Sports head of television Steve Crawley, the man who gave Finch an opportunity last year when others had reluctantly given up on him. The new Brett Finch didn’t even have a buck’s party.

“I’ve done enough of them. Times have changed for me,” he said.

“I’ve had a fair run and I’m ready to settle down.”

Of his time as a stop-go man, he said he had no other options.

“It was actually good to get out there and do some real work and to start appreciating what I’d had,” he said.

The happy couple at their wedding ceremony. Picture: Alex Coppel

Brett Finch with his groomsmen, which included his best man Anthony Minichiello (next to Finch). Picture: Alex Coppel

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy was a guest at the wedding. Picture: Josie Hayden

Recently married couple NRL star Cooper Cronk and Tara Rushton. Picture: Josie Hayden

Newcastle Knights player Mitchell Pearce was at the wedding. Picture: Josie Hayden

Andrew Johns and his partner Kate Kendall. Picture: Josie Hayden

“I was hoping no one would recognise me. It was the middle of the night about 40 minutes out of Melbourne. What chance anyone would see me? Only a few cars went by all night.

“You wouldn’t believe it — the second car that drove past and the bloke calls out, ‘Hey, Finchy.’ He got me straight away. It was about 2am when I used to be in the nightclubs.

“To me it wasn’t even about earning a wage. It was about keeping myself busy and I’ve never been afraid of hard work.”

Billy Slater and his wife Nicole. Picture: Josie Hayden

Anthony Minichiello and his wife Terry Biviano. Picture: Josie Hayden

He says his life went off the rails after retiring in 2013.

“I struggled without footy. I was lost, got stuck in a rut and made some really poor decisions. Lucky I had great people around me who helped me get the right treatment,” he said.

Finch is not only celebrating his marriage but a new two-year deal at Fox Sports.

“To have Elli in my life is a blessing,” he said.

“She’s a wonderful lady who has been there every day. We now hope to start a family.”