Brett Finch arrest: Video surfaces of former NRL star announcing he was set to coach junior league team

Just 24 hours after his arrest on charges of commenting on child abuse in an online chat room, a video has emerged of Brett Finch announcing plans to step back into rugby league in 2022.

Fallen former NRL star Brett Finch was preparing to coach a junior rugby league team before he was arrested on charges of commenting on child abuse in an online chat room.

The video of Finch announcing he planned to coach a Coogee Wombats junior rugby league team in 2022 surfaced on Wednesday.

“G’day guys, Brett Finch here… really excited that I am going to be a part of the Coogee Wombats under 16’s coaching staff for season 2022,” Finch said in the video.

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“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the continued success you have already had. I hope you are training nice and hard in the offseason.

“Any team I have been a part of, I have really enjoyed the selfless attitude, the team work ethic and a team first attitude. I’m looking forward to have that part of the team next year. It should be great fun.

“Thank you guys for having me.

“I know I am going to work as hard as I can to help you guys be the best players and the best team you can. I’m certainly looking forward to you guys helping me as much as I can improve as a coach as well.

“Really looking forward to 2022, go the mighty Wombats and I’ll see you at training soon.”

President of the Coogee Wombats Scott Bramham told News Corp he had seen the video but that Finch currently had no official affiliation with the club.

“He hasn’t registered to be a coach at our club, and as far as I know he hasn’t done a level one coaching course at our club,” he said.

A host on SEN radio, Finch was scheduled to host a show on Tuesday but was forced to withdraw from the chair.

Brett Finch played 54 games for Melbourne Storm over two stints.

In an on-air statement on Wednesday afternoon, SEN confirmed ongoing talks about Finch’s employment in 2022 had ended.

“Well, Brett Finch did some work with us this year on 1170 SEN and we had been in dialogue regarding 2022 until yesterday,” Afternoons host Julian King said.

“Like everyone we are shocked and extremely concerned by those reports and have ceased those discussions accordingly.

“We will allow the court process to take its course and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment while the legal system runs its course.”

Popular rugby league podcast Bloke in a Bar, where Finch appeared as a guest, also distanced itself from the former NRL star after his arrest.

“It has come to our attention that a guest on Bloke in a Bar podcasts has been charged with offences in his personal capacity. We had no idea nor knowledge of these allegations,” an Instagram post said.

“We want to make it clear that these allegations against the individual are terrible and not what Bloke is about. Bloke will continue to be a positive force in the rugby league and sporting community.

Finch is also an ambassador for Pointsbet. News Corp has reached out to Pointsbet for comment.

Finch spent three seasons at the Eels.

Finch’s arrest sent shockwaves across the rugby league world on Tuesday afternoon.

The 40-year old was arrested at his Sans Souci home and charged with five counts of using a carriage service to transmit or publish or promote child abuse.

He was one of eight men arrested as part of a NSW Police investigation into alleged transmission of child abuse material.

Finch hung up the boots from professional rugby league in 2013 as he struggled with substance abuse and a gambling addiction.

The former playmaker was sacked from a lucrative commentary deal with Channel 9, which included appearances on The Footy Show, and a job with 2GB in 2016.

He then joined Fox Sports but continued to struggle with the demons of addiction.

Finch denied checking himself into a rehab facility in 2019 after he was photographed by members of the public asleep with a bloody nose on a flight from the Gold Coast to Sydney.

More recently, Finch has opened up about his battle with addiction, hitting rock bottom and mental health illness on a number of podcasts.

Finch also played three times for the Blues in Origin.

Finch, widely recognised as one of rugby league’s larrikins, rose to NRL stardom after making his debut as a teenager for the Canberra Raiders back in 1999.

He would go on to play a total 270 games for the Raiders, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm.

Finch also played 60 games for the Wigan Warriors in the English Super League.

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

Originally published as Brett Finch arrest: Video surfaces of former NRL star announcing he was set to coach junior league team