Robbie Farah has to go.
“The decision was not made lightly but it ultimately allows the club a chance to restructure the football team to allow for future success.”
So goes the statement from the Wests’ Tigers board. We are told the salary cap is at fault here, but is it really?
The salary cap will be bagged but there is no doubt that clubs also use it as an excuse for their own decisions.
The Tigers may say it is unforeseen, but Robbie Farah is not worth $900,000 per season to them any more.
They have young halves and fullback up there with the best in the competition and some of the best quality hardworking forwards going around. You can’t afford everything and for years they have survived on a hooker overplaying his part but it is no longer what is required for them to be a finals contender.
It cannot be forgotten that the Farah has spent much of 2015 on the sidelines. When unavailable for State of Origin duty, many noted that the kids took charge of the show and the Tigers actually strung some wins together.
He was busted after State of Origin, and no doubt struggled to find his best form as a result, but it has also coincided with a poor run home from the Tigers to a point that they now sit alone at the bottom of the ladder.
Watching the Tigers play you can see the effect that Farah has on his teammates, but it is not all positive. It is not just the C next to his name in the program that tells you that he is in charge. He pulls the strings and barks the orders and the respect from his chargers is not doubted. He tries to do everything for his team.
It is not uncommon that he jumps out of dummy half late in the set and puts up the cross field bomb, or grubber into the in goal. Meanwhile young Brooks and Moses clap him on wondering what they are there for.
Seeing them play without him during Origin was like seeing a young Mozart let loose on the grand piano while the old man is at the office. That is not a new phenomenon with young players or a fault of Robbie Farah. Similar things have been muttered about Gallen at the Sharks.
The national Rugby League is a competition like no other in that any team can beat any other. The fact that fellow cellar dwellers Parramatta can all but beat the Roosters and then kill off the finals hopes of Manly an home says it all.
The salary cap, for all it is criticised, is much of the reason for this. Clubs cannot stockpile talent and player talent is shared amongst the competition.
Farah has to leave but the Tigers should be up front about it. The salary cap shouldn’t be mentioned. You have done your job Robbie but we no longer need you.
Potentially the Tigers could sign the likes of Matt Ballin, an experienced proven performer that is unwanted by the Sea Eagles, and pocket around $600,000 in change.
Now this is not to discredit Farah’s history with the club, fantastic contribution to the 2005 premiership and joy that he has brought to the fans in the style that he plays.
It is time to move on though.
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