Finn switches to Dewsbury after travelling takes its toll
DEWSBURY RAMS have signed former Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity half-back Liam Finn.
Finn, 35, is beginning his second spell with the club after playing for them from 2006-2009. He left the playing squad at Wakefield – where he is still a member of the backroom staff – at the end of last season to join Newcastle Thunder, but has returned to West Yorkshire after just three games for the north-east club.
Finn, who has also played for Halifax, Featherstone Rovers and Widnes Vikings, has signed until the end of 2020. Travelling to Newcastle for training and matches had taken its toll and the ex-Ireland international said: “I’m really disappointed to have made this decision and leave the club after such a short time.
“It was obviously never the plan, but circumstances change and I’ve made a decision within that.
“I’ve left a great club with ambition that is doing a great deal of good for our game with some fantastic people who work very hard.
“I’m gutted to have had to make this call and hope they and Thunder kick on and achieve what they’ve set out to do.”
Rams chairman Mark Sawyer said: “We are delighted to have Liam Finn back at the club and we would like to place on record our thanks to Newcastle Thunder and chairman Mick Hogan for his dealing in the transfer.”
■ Wigan’s appeal against a twopoint deduction for breaching Super League’s salary cap has been heard, but the Warriors must wait for the outcome.
A panel appointed by Sports Resolutions, an independent dispute arbitration service, sat in Manchester yesterday to hear the case and have up to 48 hours to deliver their verdict.
Wigan were represented at the hearing by chairman Ian Lenagan and rugby director Kris Radlinski.
The Warriors, who were also fined £5,000 by an independent tribunal appointed by the Rugby Football League, argued that the punishment was disproportionate for what they called a “marginal” offence.
The breaches, which occurred in 2017, relate to six separate payments, totalling £14,700, which the club claim were due to an administrative error arising from six small invoices of between £2,000 and £3,000 for agents’ fees that were overlooked and meant they exceeded the £1.825m cap by 0.8 per cent.
Wigan point out that for overspending by the same amount in 2006 St Helens were fined £18,000 with no points deduction. The points deduction was announced just over 24 hours before the Warriors began the defence of their Super League title six weeks ago.
It means the reigning champions remain on zero points, having won one of their first four matches.
In 2016 the panel upheld a decision by an independent RFL tribunal to fine Salford £5,000 and dock them six points for breaching the salary cap in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.