South Sydney great Craig Coleman has urged the NRL club to send an SOS to premiership-winning halfback Brett Finch following Chris Sandow's defection to Parramatta.

With Sandow confirming on Wednesday he would join the Eels in 2012 on a lucrative four-year deal, the Rabbitohs must find a new player to take on the No.7 jumper.

And Coleman, who made 208 first grade appearances for the Bunnies from 1982-92, believes former NSW representative Finch is the man for the job.

Finch is currently plying his trade at English Super League club Wigan under coach Michael Maguire, who himself is heading to Redfern next season to replace John Lang.

Coleman believes Finch's experience and leadership are exactly what Souths are lacking.

"I think we need an experienced leader," Coleman told AAP on Thursday.

"Finchy's very, very experienced. He's played under Maguire for quite a few years now.

"He knows how to play footy, he's been a good first grader for quite a long time and I just think the Souths team needs direction.

"Hopefully we'll get that next year."

Coleman said it was sad to see Sandow leaving Redfern Oval - for both club and player.

"I would like to have seen Sandow stay there with a good coach coming next year," he said.

"They've got a good coach coming in and he would certainly show him how to play.

"I know some people who are friends with Michael Maguire and they say he's very, very good.

"If we could have got Sandow to a long-term deal, under Michael Maguire, he would have groomed him into the top No.7 in the comp.

"He's going to be sorely missed. He's only 21 years of age Sandow and he's certainly a crowd favourite with the Redfern faithful and I'm sure they won't be too happy."

With youngster Adam Reynolds ruled out for the remainder of the season following a knee reconstruction, Coleman said the Rabbitohs have no choice but to stick with Sandow for 2011.

He felt the club couldn't afford to prepare for life without Sandow if it would jeopardise their premiership campaign.

"They have to stick with him," he said.

"We've invested a lot of money in a lot of good players.

"Our roster's probably one of the top four in the league so the supporters will be expecting top four, top eight, for sure or it's another failed year.

"With the talent we've got, we should be top four."

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