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Wests Tigers continue to show how not to run a professional NRL club. That is not Robbie Farah’s fault.
Neither is it Robbie’s fault he has a hefty salary, which he deserves from years of quality service. The club paying ‘overs’ for players on the captain’s wish list is his fault though.
Some would say that it is the captain’s job to support his players and always push for loyalty. But what we are seeing now is that a professional club should not and simply cannot always say yes.
Jason Taylor has come out in the media to ‘get it out there’ that the Tigers have big salary cap trouble and it won’t be fixed fast. The board has been copping it over releasing the ultra-impressive Blake Austin with a year to run on his contract at the end of 2014, who is now gaining the attention of Blues State of Origin selectors. His energetic game is kind of like an in-form Josh Reynolds but without the grubbiness and tripping.
Now I am sure there have been salary cap pressures prior with the likes of Andrew Fifita, Beau Ryan, Chris Heighington and Benji Marshall let go in recent years. Much of the current situation, however, comes from decisions made early in 2014.
Without doubt the Tigers had to offer Luke Brooks and Mitchel Moses ‘overs’ to fend off other NRL clubs to keep them at the club. This at a time when they were both in their first season in the NRL and Moses had actually yet to make his debut.
The problem then escalated when James Tedesco hit the form of his life and began attracting all sorts of ridiculous offers. Finally, or so we thought, Canberra snatched him on a million dollar deal to replace the brilliant Anthony Milford who was Broncos bound.
I love Tedesco as a player but actually viewed this as a point of maturity for the Tigers. They obviously decided that he is in great form but we simply can’t afford that. We have good players coming through that can play that position (aka Moses) and we can keep some depth in the squad in not matching such ridiculous offers. As sad as that is to let a young junior go, he has made his decision.
Enter Farah, who happens to also have the same manager (Sam Ayoub) as Tedesco, and next thing he is reconsidering things. I can imagine Ayoub saying, ‘Robbie will talk to the Tigers. Let’s just wait and see what they come back with.’
Now everyone knows Robbie Farah basically runs the Tigers. It is said that Tim Sheens went when he lost his confidence and Marshall as well. Let alone Mick Potter, who Farah thought was a rubbish coach, according to Gorden Tallis.
Next thing the Tigers have a new offer on the table and Tedesco has done a Daly Cherry-Evans before we even knew what a DCE was (using the old Round 13 clause) and a Tiger he will remain.
Now this places the Tigers over the cap for each year of said contract so players must be shed and before 2015 out must go Adam Blair, James Gavet, Braith Anasta and one Blake Austin. Anasta was on old legs but Austin could still be there with some muscle up front and Moses easing his way into first grade up the back (where he made his debut when Tedesco was injured by the way).
Now let’s compare that with the Sydney Roosters who most would say have an incredible knack of being ultra-professional in managing the salary cap. Faced with a similar situation this year with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck getting offered the big dollars to go to the New Zealand Warriors, they simply shook his hand and moved on. It will allow them to keep Blake Ferguson, a young Latrell Mitchell and no doubt some of their enforcers like Sam Moa for the next couple of years.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have more to shed to stay under in 2016. Pat Richards has confirmed he is going and Keith Galloway rumoured to be heading abroad. No doubt others are to follow with the club telling us there will be no big signings on the radar for at least a couple of years.
Lucky we can still remember 2005. It could be a while between drinks.
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