It's better to know now that he going at the end of this coming season. At least we can try out or source a replacement.

It may be prudent to try and keep Finch for at least one more year.

Good luck to him. He's been a joy to watch and is obviously a very honest and proper person.

We must sort out a replacement of the right quality. There is no excuse for us to be scraping around for somebody/anybody in 12 months time.

Definitely. Don't want to going into 2013 with a completely new half-back pairing. Think we'll definitely see Mellor get his chance this season too knowing this

Will be disappointed to see him go - he's a great player in attack & defence, and will be very hard to replace. However, would echo what others have said - credit to him for seeing out his contract & wish him well in the NRL.

He will be a hard act to follow,respect the guy a hell of a lot and a fine player as well,best wishes to Tommy from a Saints fan in peace.

The one thing I will always remember about him was that tackle on Maurie at KR a few years ago,didn't half hurt him and Maurie got up and acknowledged his hit.

Are the tables turning now then with the nrl poaching sl top players instead of the other way round. I know tommy is a new zealander but he came over here when he was 18ish dint he, so when he goes back he'll have been here 8 or so years. I reckon we can say the british game has had as much influence on him as the nrl. I say this slightly tongue in cheek but i think it was worth a mention

Aye, good luck to him, let's hope he bows out in style.

Plenty of time for a good quality replacement too.

Great player and great personality. It will be a shame to see him go but what a fantastic player he has been for us and I'm sure he will be amazing back in his homeland. He has achieved so much, all three domestic trophies, a World Cup, a few Tri-Nations and who can forget his Harry Sunderland man of the match performance in the Grand Final. A brilliant player and a top lad, Good luck Tommy.

Not really a moan, more a point of note - in the last 2 weeks we've read of the Joel transfer officially on the Saracens website first, and then this deal on the NRL site. Don't know what resources we put into updating our website, but it seems a bit off the pace.

I gave up on the official site sometime last year it's absolutely useless. This site is now my first port of call to catch up with all the news

Even more reason to blood Mellor and Powell as much as possible this season. I'm sure were gonna see a lot of rotation of the squad anyway. But with this news today, the more game time Mellor and Powell receive under the tutelage of Leuluai and Finch the better.

Sorry to see this, one of my favourite players from our SL era. Great professional and I've never seen a more hard-hitting scrum half in the tackle.

Big loss.

Best of luck to him, been a great asset to the club.

I would actually argue that it may be better off if Finch leaves at the same time. Maybe we should do what Saints have done and throw in a young halfback pairing who can develop an understanding with each other over a long period of time.

If you look at Leeds and St Helens, that's the pattern for long term success, stability in key positions.

Thanks a lot Tommy, you've been fantastic, make it a great last year.

As for replacements, I'd like to see a top class SH with micky mac and Logan being the two hookers.

sad to see him go as we will be left with micky mac and an inexperienced youngster in the hooking role, IL better sort this out as early as possible or 2013 will be a total disaster, specially if Finch also departs as well,

They didn't do that. Lomax was gradually introduced into the first team with 7 appearances (2009), 14 appearances (2010) and 24 appearances (2011). Powell started this season

Finch and TL will play the majority of games for us this season and so we need Finch to stick around so we can do that same as Saints and have one, not two young half backs for at least a season.

A magnificent servant to the club and certainly one of the best during the SL era.

Quality player.

Expected this to happen to be honest. Fully deserves a crack at the NRL, really pleased for him.

Just hope he goes out and wins us some more silverware first.

Feels like our team is falling apart.

Deacon, Joel, Coley, O'Carroll, Davies have left. Lealuai and Carmont leaving next season. Finch + Lima will probably do another year or two. Sam will probably leave in 3 years. And then there's the prospect of Richards leaving or retiring in a few years.

Although we've got some very exciting lads coming through with a lot of potential the above potentially departing is quite de-moralising.

Sums up how I feel also. It's inevitable when you have players and coaches from abroad. Throw in a couple of retirements and our coach going and it's hardly surprising it feel a little demoralising. However now looking forward to who we get to replace them and more of our youngsters given a chance under Wane

I will always remember his hit on fasivalu.... one of the best ever.

Shame he's off, he was fabulous in 75% of his games since he signed in 2007, but the other 25% he was posted missing... Fast as hell over 10 yards, any further and he's slower than Feka

Big ego for sure, but could back it up (most of the time)

Give us 100% every game next season Tommy please

oh, and that Hit on Faasavalu was immense



All the best

Put a Massive hit on Morley as well challenge cup semi 2009,only just came off second best,punches well above his weight,i always thought he was wasted at Quins!!

Absolutely, cut him in half - one of those ones you can feel from 50 yards away in the crowd.

And a great RL moment followed when Fasavalu got up, eventually, and gave Tommy a thumbs up.