CHANNEL 9 and 2GB personality Brett Finch has opted to take time off for the remainder of the football season and intends to return to a rehabilitation clinic.

Finch is a popular figure in the NRL and enjoys strong support from numerous high-profile players, including Anthony Minichiello, Cameron Smith and Luke Ricketson.

The ex-NRL player, who played 330 career games for Canberra, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta, Wigan and Melbourne, completed his commitments with 2GB and Channel 9 last Saturday before requesting the leave.

Finch’s closest friends are in his corner and intend to help him fight his way through tough times ahead.

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The former halfback, who kicked the match-winning field goal in game one of the 2006 State of Origin series, was forced to check into a ­clinic last April.

We wish Finch all the best for what will be a difficult time.

Thankfully, he has the ­support of family, friends and influential media figures, including Ray Hadley and Channel 9 head of sport Steve Crawley.

media_camera Brett Finch has the ­support of family, friends and influential media figures.

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MANLY wasted no time using the broom on the support staff who worked under Geoff Toovey.

Less than 24 hours after the team’s gripping round-26 win over Cronulla, assistant coaches Dave Penna and Steve ­Georgallis were told to hand over their laptops.

Long-time high-performance manager Don Singe will also cut ties with the Sea Eagles after being told he would be reporting to incoming conditioning guru Dan Ferris.

Popular football manager Steve Gigg was told to clean out his desk, only to earn a ­recall because the club’s NSW Cup and under-20s teams are still alive.

Georgallis intends to take the club to court.

It could mean by the time the Sea Eagles have finished paying out Toovey and all the other support staff, club ­owners Scott and Rick Penn will need to write a cheque for ­almost $1 million.

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FILIPINO boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will touch down in Australia in November for a round of public ­appearances, including at two screenings of the feature film about his life, Manny.

The Pac Man will conduct a four-day tour in Sydney and Melbourne, where the eight-time world champion will detail his remarkable rise from poverty in the Philippines to the pinnacle of world boxing.

WINNING+

WE wish the voice of rugby league, Ray Warren, all the best after he spent a couple of nights in hospital this week.

The great man waxed lyrical for the opening two finals last weekend before Matthew Thompson got a late call-up for Sunday’s Sharks-Rabbitohs game.

Thompson rushed back from Brisbane and put in a strong performance. “Rabs” will be back on deck on Friday night for the Roosters-Bulldogs, while Thompson will call the Cowboys-Sharks in Townsville.

DUNCE CAP

IT’S Groundhog Day but the NRL judiciary’s decision to exonerate Frank Pritchard further underlines how broken the system is.

Surely it’s time to get some fresher, recently retired players involved at NRL HQ to oversee proceedings.

No wonder clubs are routinely prepared to challenge charges when it has virtually got to the point where it’s a heads or tails toss-of-a-coin scenario when it comes to cases being thrown out.

SSSHHHHH

WESTS Tigers coach Jason Taylor has rejected speculation that strike forward Martin Taupau has asked for a release.

Rest assured, there are rumblings about the Kiwi Test international being unhappy at the club.

Meantime, the Tigers and popular club figure Paul Fletcher have parted ways. Fletcher — who was told his services were no longer required last week — took Balmain to the NSW Cup grand final in 2009 and 2012.