Former NRL star Brett Finch arrested on child abuse material charge

Former NRL grand final winner Brett Finch has been charged by police with commenting on child abuse material. He is one of eight people arrested.

Embattled former NRL star Brett Finch has been arrested for allegedly making comments about child abuse material in an online chatroom.

Finch, 40, was arrested on Tuesday morning and taken to Kogarah Police Station where he was charged with five counts of use carriage service transmit or publish or promote child abuse.

He was granted conditional police bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday, January 11 2022.

The alleged offending involving Finch is understood to have last taken place in January, with other incidents allegedly occurring more than 12 months ago.

Brett Finch was arrested at San Souci and taken to Kogarah Police Station. Picture: NSW Police

Finch’s solicitor Paul McGirr stressed it was not alleged Finch had shared any child abuse material.

“And there’s no evidence from the police to suggest otherwise,” McGirr said.

“We don’t know who’s making those alleged comments. At this stage, it is a defended matter – there is nothing more I can add. All we have at this stage are scant details.

“It would be foolish for anyone to comment or pass judgement on Brett or the matter.”

It is understood Finch will defend the charges although his manager, Steve Gillis, refused to comment on the matter.

Finch was one of eight men arrested as part of the Strike Force Hank investigation by the NSW Police Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.

The strike force seized mobile phones, electronic items and illicit drugs, as part of their ongoing investigation into the alleged transmission of child abuse material through an adult telephone service.

Brett Finch is arrested at San Souci. Picture: NSW Police

Finch playing State of Origin for NSW in 2004. Picture: Michael Ross

“We will allege that each of the men arrested by detectives over the past month expressed desires to engage in sexual activity with children, and in some cases, attempted to access child abuse material from other users of the service,” Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said.

“Producing, disseminating or possessing child abuse material are serious offences, and detectives will continue to dismantle these types of operations, so children are free from harmful situations, exploitation and abuse.”

Finch was scheduled to host a sports show on SEN radio on Tuesday afternoon before withdrawing from the shift. He had been substituting for holidaying regulars Bryan Fletcher and Joel Caine.

SEN took the feed from their afternoon show in Melbourne.

Finch has endured a long and controversial battle with alcohol, drugs and depression.

He checked himself into a mental health facility in October, 2019.

Police sources say Finch’s alleged offending took place in an online chat room. Picture: Getty Images

In a 15-year NRL career, Finch played 330 games for Canberra, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta and Melbourne. He also represented NSW between 2004 and 2006.

Speaking on a Melbourne podcast just last week, Finch urged those struggling with mental health issues to “keep going.”

“People say they’re going through hell. Well, if you’re going through hell, keep going,” he said. “Why stop? People give up because their life is hell. Keep going! Who wants to stay in hell?

“I could have given up many times, I’m so glad I didn’t. People didn’t give up on me.”

Former teammates have been aware of Finch’s drug and alcohol issues and have regularly attempted to assist in his recovery.

“We all try but he doesn’t seem to want to be helped,” said one former Roosters teammate.

Originally published as Former NRL star Brett Finch arrested on child abuse material charge