Former Canberra Raider Brett Finch’s case has come before a Sydney court for the first time, two months after he was arrested over his alleged involvement in a child sexual abuse chat line.

Finch, who is on bail and was not required to appear in court, is charged with five counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material between November 2020 and January 2021.

The 40 year old is one of eight NSW men accused of being involved in a telephone chat line where police allege they discussed sexually abusing children and swapped material depicting abuse.

His matter was briefly mentioned in the Sutherland Local Court on Thursday morning, where it was adjourned to resume on April 26 at Sydney’s Downing Centre court.

Finch played three State of Origins for NSW in an NRL career that also included three grand finals.

He won a premiership with Melbourne in 2009, but his crowning moment came in the 2006 Origin opener when he kicked a match-winning field goal for the Blues.

However, his post-football life has been dogged by mental health issues and time in rehab, with Finch publicly speaking about his drug use and battles with addiction.

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