- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
St George Illawarra have distanced themselves from chairman Craig Young’s personal reference for Brett Finch, as the long-time official conceded he should not have used a Dragons letterhead.
Young came under fire this week after it emerged he had offered support to Finch, as the former NRL star awaits sentencing for a child abuse charge.
In a letter to the presiding judge in Finch’s case dated October 6, Young claimed Finch was “a decent young man who has made a genuine mistake”.
Young signed off on the letter in his official capacity as chairman of St George Illawarra, while also having the club’s logo and famous Red V atop the page.
But the NRL club moved to distance itself from the personal reference on Friday, making clear it was not supported or approved by them.
“It was an error in judgement to put this statement on a club letterhead,” Young said in a Dragons statement.
“I was asked to provide a letter of support to a family friend who I believe made a serious mistake but is a fundamentally decent person.
“I should not have connected the club to this matter and would like to apologise to members, fans, sponsors and all other stakeholders for any distress caused.”
Dragons chairman Craig Young. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
The semi-apology comes after Finch pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child abuse in August.
In the letter, Young said he was “very close friends” with Finch’s parents and that he had known the 41-year-old for most of his life.
In doing so, he pointed to Finch’s mental health battles and claimed he was confident the former playmaker would not appear before the courts again.
“I was Brett’s team manager when he represented New South Wales in a State of Origin series,” the St George legend and NRL Hall of Fame member wrote.
“He demonstrated to me at that point in his life strong leadership skills within the team environment and always showed great sportsmanship towards his teammates and opposition players as a whole.
“I am also aware of Brett’s long battle with mental health issues, and I have seen firsthand the ‘dark places’ he has been to.
“I am also aware that this has devastated him, and he is extremely embarrassed and disappointed in himself.
“To put it simply he is highly remorseful for what has happened, and I believe he has learnt the strongest of lessons from this matter.”
Young is due to hand over the chairmanship to WIN chief executive Andrew Lancaster next month as part of an alternating arrangement between his St George board and the Illawarra Steelers half of the joint venture.
Premiership-winning forward Ben Creagh is joining the board with director Peter Black stepping aside.
The Dragons’ culture had been called into question in recent weeks, with several body blows landed on coach Anthony Griffin from exiting players since Monday.
Griffin is off contract at the end of 2023, with significant chunks of his football department changing over the current off-season.
In team news, Jayden Sullivan has withdrawn his request for a release, with the young playmaker committing to see out his contract with the NRL club.
Still contracted until the end of 2025, Sullivan had asked to be released earlier this month following an approach to play No.7 at Canterbury.
The Dragons had long indicated they were hesitant to let the 21-year-old go, even after re-signing halfback Ben Hunt on a new two-year deal until the end of 2025.
However AAP has been told that Sullivan has now retracted his request, with a change of heart after talks with the club in recent weeks.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Sullivan made his debut for St George Illawarra in 2020, but spent most of last season coming off the bench and playing dummy-half with Hunt starring at halfback.
Hunt’s new deal had prompted concerns that Sullivan’s path to the No.7 jersey would be blocked, and that he should look elsewhere for that shot.
However the Dragons have told Sullivan they still see him as the long-term option, and there is no reason why can’t claim the jersey sooner.
One alternative could include Hunt eventually moving to hooker, given he stars there for Queensland in State of Origin.
The news comes as a welcome relief to the Dragons, who have had their culture questioned in recent weeks.
But there is a hope within the club that they have now shown they are able to connect with their younger players.
Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan and Talatau Amone have long been seen as the future of the NRL club.
Sloan earlier this week also revealed he had withdrawn his request for a release, after he committed until the end of 2025 earlier this year but played just four games as fullback this season.
Amone meanwhile has developed into a rising star, impressing more and more at five-eighth late in 2022 and is already signed until the end of 2024.
© AAP
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.