Captain Robbie Farah is killing the Tigers
Roar Rookie By mjpt, 29 Apr 2011 mjpt is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- 2011 NRL season, Brisbane Broncos, NRL, Robbie Farah, Rugby League, Wests Tigers
Related coverage
As a spectator at last week’s game between Brisbane and Wests, it pained me to see the Tigers play poorly and submit to the Broncos.
Worse were the comment’s amongst spectators that denied the plain and obvious fact that captain Robbie Farah is killing his team at critical moments in games with his poor decisions and selfish play.
He made mistakes of similar ilk in last year’s semi versus St George Illawarra (grubber into in-goal for himself on 5th and last) and was guilty of the bomb over the deadball on the full versus Easts in an earlier round. Both games were lost.
However, nobody will hear ill of Robbie Farah in the stands or the media, which leads me to wonder if people are seeing the same player.
He effectively killed the Tigers game last week when he again grubbered in goal on last with Benji Marshall waiting for the ball only five metres out at 18-6. The Broncos took the subsequent tap and rolled down the field to score to make it 24-6 and kill the Tigers hopes.
Farah has to be about the worst percentile player for critical mistakes at critical moments of any player in the competition. The simple reason is that he has playmakers outside him in Robert Lui and Benji Marshall (considered the best in the game) to make the decisions.
I honestly think the Farah is about 90 per cent for bad decisions at the wrong moments for the Tigers. Instead of getting it to the premier playmaker in the game to ball play, he is ball playing in a crowd, and taking time and space of his outside supports.
Marshall had about 25-30 contacts last week, way down on his 40-45 per match. That is because he is two passes away from the ball with Farah being selfish and Louie coming back from injury. A bad mix for any playmaker with spine players inside looking for rep jumpers and form.
As captain though, Farah can cut off the questions at source in the media press conferences post match. He is being protected by Sheens (who may be looking to get out and go to Penrith anyway), who is either designing plays that put the ball in the hands of the wrong guy, or Farah is going off the reservation and trying to get a rep shirt by playing for himself.
It is either bad coaching or bad captaincy or both.
Farah is not even the best hooker in his state, which only fuels his desire to prove otherwise in club matches. Sheens has not ridden him hard enough and instead picked him for the ill fated Four Nations campaign last year (along with Tuquiri and Tonga who got burned by Marshall big time in the final, which effectively ended their rep careers!)
Farah has to be dropped as a captain, or as a player or both, because at the moment he is destroying his team by not distributing to players in better positions and playmaking himself.
Even greats like Cam Smith and Steve Walters make sure the ball is in the 7 or 6′s hands first and foremost.
The evidence on Farah is compelling – and something needs to be done.
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- 2011 NRL season, Brisbane Broncos, NRL, Robbie Farah, Rugby League, Wests Tigers
April 29th 2011 @ 10:24am
Boydy said | April 29th 2011 @ 10:24am | Report comment
How in the world you can blame Robbie Farah for last week or for other loses for that matter beggars belief. He’s the best number nine the Tigers have had since Benny Elias and you’re bagging him? I’ve got a feeling you’ve got an agenda?
April 29th 2011 @ 1:52pm
mjpt said | April 29th 2011 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
I do have an agenda-better performance. He might be the best since Elias at Tigers but Farrah is getting judged on a higher plane now.The standards are higher. State football, Test football are where he should be, but with current performances, that is just not going to happen. but I have answers as I am a Tigers fan- put him at 7 and make Benji co captain with him so they can work WITH each other, not reading from different scripts. He can overplay all he wants one out and not in traffic..At the current rate and structure, Tigers won’t make the 8!!
April 29th 2011 @ 11:04am
David lawlor said | April 29th 2011 @ 11:04am | Report comment
I thought it was just me. I was reading this article and nodding the whole time.
I’ve always felt he was selfish as a hooker, and felt that his presence was always a hindrance to a side trying to win the tight games. No doubt he has skills, and he’s tough enough, but there’s always that niggling feeling he’s there to make himself look good at the expense of a team effort. I’ve always liked the selfless players, the guy who’ll let the ball do the work. Hodges, Lockyer, Marshall. A Player like benji who’s greatest gift is his offload, to the player in a better position to continue play. Robbie would rather just kick it for himself in the off chance he actually recovers it.
April 29th 2011 @ 1:56pm
mjpt said | April 29th 2011 @ 1:56pm | Report comment
You add in the fact that he is the captain he have double the issues as you cannot be seen as arguing with the Captain, so you a quiet storm developing that is oing to blow up. Bad for business if your a Tigers fan. Selflessness is a big word in a cap market where players try to extract as much as they can in a small amount of time. I hope I am wrong David and Farrah surprises the both of us by playing smarter and selflessly as you suggest.
April 29th 2011 @ 11:12am
Ali chahine said | April 29th 2011 @ 11:12am | Report comment
He’s been the most consistent player in the game over the last 5 years. Who got you to write it? Ennis?
April 29th 2011 @ 12:19pm
Boydy said | April 29th 2011 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
He he he….. I was thinking that it WAS actually Ennis writing it under a non-de-plume. He that thick he probably thinks Mick is spelt mjpt
April 29th 2011 @ 1:26pm
The Barry said | April 29th 2011 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
“He that thick…” hahahaha
Farah’s form has been ordinary for a couple of years…certainly below the standard he’s set for himself. Couldn’t agree more about the decline of his kicking game. His excuse for poor Origin performance and for his slow start to this season has been that he’s playing injured…maybe he needs time out to get himself right instead of playing on. He’s not doing himself any favours.
He definitely overplays his hand…but I guess that comes with the territory when you want an attacking option out of dummy half. Elias did the same, so did Kerrod Walters and so does Ennis. Probably Buderus and Cameron Smith are the attacking 9s that aren’t so guilty of overplaying their games.
April 29th 2011 @ 1:46pm
mjpt said | April 29th 2011 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
bang on their Barry, thats the whole issue-overplaying their hand. Those names you mention in Kerrod Walters, Elias are GREAT to watch -and fan friendly. however with the game on the line and where the margins are so small eg State of Origin and Test (partic now with Kiwis being decent!!) the hooker has to know his place. Buderus and Smith are probably the best exponents of dummy half play in the last 30 years, along with Steve Walters.
April 29th 2011 @ 6:51pm
Saxon said | April 29th 2011 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
“…the most consistent player in the game over the last 5 years”
‘Consistent’ doesn’t mean ‘good’. Look at the last 40 years; the Bunnies are ‘consistent’.
Similarly with Farah. He’s a talented hooker but plays to himself to the detriment of his team.
April 29th 2011 @ 12:17pm
Al from ctown said | April 29th 2011 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Totally ridiculous… Utter garbage piece of “writing”. Farah won’t be in the blues line up, nor the Australian team, so your wasting your time writing this crap to get ppl offside anyway… Cause really, that is all this is about.. Farah has been a match winner for the tigers, and if he is guilty of anything it’s trying too hard… Go back to feeling sorry for carney or someone else and leave farah alone… The whole team was crap V broncos not just farah… Have some respect.
–
Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here.
April 29th 2011 @ 1:42pm
mjpt said | April 29th 2011 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I am a tigers fan, I want to be wrong about this !! but the play action doesn’t lie. Your looking at it as a fan, but I am looking at it as a coach and manager and fan last. Hookers get more touches than anyone in the team (about 150) but if the hooker makes 3 bad plays on CRITICAL plays eg 5th and last in opponents 22, thats a 100% failure rate. You think I want to write this??? I have been waiting since last years semi disaster V Dragons (check the tape to confirm it) for Farrah to change it up….he hasn’t.
April 29th 2011 @ 12:20pm
Roarr said | April 29th 2011 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
I agree to a small extent. It’s funny that in the years after 2005 when benji was out injured for large parts (06,07,09) farah was absolutely outstanding. He was the only reason we would win a game and would tear teams to shreds up the middle. In those years I wouldn’t have swapped him for anyone (even cam smith). But the last 2 years he has been down on form.
His origin debacle definitely didn’t help. Apparently he had pretty badly injured ribs and didn’t tell anyone in the NSW camp to make sure he stayed in the team (and then played horrendously).
You would think the emergence of benji as a consistently awesome 5/8th would have only helped his cause but it seems to have gone the other way. Even his kicking game has gone backwards…especially attacking kicks.
In saying all of this, he’s definitely not the only (or main) problem with the tiges. Attitude would have to be the biggest worry. They seem to read all their own press and think they are all superstars.
April 29th 2011 @ 1:35pm
mjpt said | April 29th 2011 @ 1:35pm | Report comment
good to see that there is some divergence of opinion. I am not in the business of bagging players, but pro football is about what have you done for me lately, not past performance as you state. To put it mildly, I think Farrah would last five minutes if he was playing with Thurston, Lockyer and the like. They would not stand for a dummy half who did not pass. Thats the 9′s role,pass, distributor and secondary playmaker, nothing more. Thats what the NRL is all about, my spine players vs your spine players-and the collective strength of the rest. Thats the logical end game of a salary cap comp. Ask Melbourne who have said goodbye to half their team including Inglis!! Farrah is fan friendly but he is the ultimate coach killer-at the moment. I hope he turns it around.
April 29th 2011 @ 1:42pm
Ali chahine said | April 29th 2011 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
Farah is currently out of form, I’m the first to admit that. I still believe he is the best and most exciting hooker in the game when’s he’s on song. My little birdy is telling me that Robbie will be selected over menace in the first state of origin. Ennis just knows how to start a fight then run away the coward. Robbie you are all class, please bounce back into form asap.
April 29th 2011 @ 3:34pm
ScottWoodward.me said | April 29th 2011 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
I do this for a living and watch and know both players intimately.
There is no doubt that Farah, like last year, is playing injured, but his decision making is still down. He is a world class player and I am confidant that he will come good.
I would be more concerned with Benjy as he has been very hot and cold all season.
No doubt when he is hot he is brilliant, but so often when it is required he goes walk about. That is not good enough for the key “go to” man in the team. Lockyer showed him how to play 2 weeks ago when he spanked the pants off him.
We will not see the best of the Tigers until Robbie AND Benjy get their act together at the same time.
Lets hope thats soon.
April 29th 2011 @ 5:09pm
mjpt said | April 29th 2011 @ 5:09pm | Report comment
Well Scotty, I was at that game and there was a definite disconnect between 9/7/6 for the Tigers-sometimes it is better to NOT know the players asyour just thinking out loud whats in front of you totally objectively. There was Lui getting the ball for kicks downfield as well as a two pass gap to Benji who was not getting in at first receiver. It was clear that Farah was over playing. The test will be in a week for Benji to see what happens V Oz when he plays at 7 or has Luke, Fioran, Fien or Leulauai to give him the ball promptly playing at 6. The key could be to play benji at 7 at Tigers? The point is that Benji can get reps with the Kiwis- Farah cannot-he only has the Tigers-if Stuart does not pick him, it will confirm my mis-givings. By the way, I do not care for Ennis either but NSW cannot decide on 6,7,9 -spine players, so they are already dead, no matter what coach you get in…
May 5th 2011 @ 1:41pm
soapit said | May 5th 2011 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
what exactly is it that you do for a living? wasnt 100% clear and you’ve made me curious
April 30th 2011 @ 9:40am
Sam Chahine said | April 30th 2011 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Hey Ennis AKA mjpt, thanks fr wasting my bandwidth. Get this through your head:Robbie Farrah is the #1 rake in the game!
May 5th 2011 @ 1:52pm
soapit said | May 5th 2011 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
never rated farah after 2005. he does some good plays every now and then but his bread and butter hooker work leaves a lot to be desired.
May 17th 2011 @ 2:31pm
whoami said | May 17th 2011 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Worst story I have ever read – and then you make a comment further along that maybe Marshall should play at 7 for the Tigers.
Short memory – he already did and it was a disaster.