Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah appeared on NRL on Fox last night, and displayed the petulance of a teenage girl grounded for smoking. Whilst some fans have defended Farah, saying that he showed some real fight, the truth is that he came across as petty, sensitive and immature.
If every Wests player was as defensive as Farah was last night, the Tigers wouldn’t have had a try scored against them this season.
Matty Johns grilled Farah right from the get go, but the questions were neither personal nor offensive. They were the questions every NRL fan, let alone Tigers fans, wanted answered. Yet Farah took them as a personal affront.
For those that missed the show, some of the ‘highlights’ included:
After Johns asked about the Tigers being premiership favourites, Farah got the interview off to a frosty start by snapping back “Well, who made us favourites, Matty?”.
I’m not even sure what that answer means. Is he suggesting that the Tigers aren’t that good?
When Matty suggested the Tigers have been soft, Farah replied that “Our footy hasn’t been soft, it’s definitely been disappointing.” Half right Robbie. You’ve been soft and disappointing.
When Matty said that the Tigers missing 48 tackles against the Raiders was soft, Farah replied “Yeah, but did we scramble well?”. I have no idea how anyone could think that’s a defence for being soft.
If you defend well and aren’t soft up the middle, you don’t need to scramble. I’m sure Timmy Sheens didn’t re-watch the game and say “Gee our scrambling was good!”
When Matty said that the Dragons punched straight up the middle against the Tigers and that it was soft, Farah replied “That’s your opinion, mate. I’m sure people have their opinion on you.” Wrong Robbie. That’s not opinion, its fact. And there was no need for the personal rebuttal on Johns.
The interview went on with Matty asking questions about Farah’s relationship with Benji Marshall and rumours they’ve fallen out, whether Timmy Sheens has the support of the playing group, and the club potentially signing Willie Mason. Farah handled all those questions, to his credit, very well.
Especially when he said the rumours surrounding him and Benji are ‘bulls*t’, and that they only surface when the club has lost a few games.
Farah’s point that no one is more disappointed with the Tigers form than the players themselves was also one of Farah’s better moments.
At this point it seemed like Farah had calmed down, got control of his emotions and realised that the questions weren’t personal, but insightful.
But as the interview wound down, Farah said to Johns “We used to be mates”, before then unleashing with the comment: “I love a good ambush”.
Not content with that little outburst, Farah then took to Twitter and tweeted: “Just got ambushed on NRL on Fox. Pretty fired up ATM to be honest and pretty pissed off. Wanted to unleash more then I did.”
Robbie, it wasn’t an ambush. Matty Johns asked all the questions that rugby league fans wanted to know.
They weren’t personal, they weren’t insensitive, and they weren’t offensive. Furthermore, Johns halfway through the interview revealed that he had told Farah what questions he was going to ask.
As for Farah wanting to “unleash more”, what exactly was left unsaid? He is suggesting he would have gone after Johns even more?
If Farah wanted to go on a show and have a giggle and talk about his restaurant, then he appeared on the wrong footy show. NRL on Fox is a serious rugby league show for serious rugby league fans. It’s been a revelation this year and provided viewers with real insights about the NRL.
Sadly, the main insight from last night’s show is that Robbie Farah is petulant, sensitive and overly-defensive. C’mon Robbie, grow up.
Highlights:
Damien
Roar Guru
LOL. Very True Ryan. Can't argue with you there. I reckon Johns and Farah took the meaning meaning in different ways..
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
But the context in which the word 'soft' was used was in reference to their 48 missed tackles, and the the fact the Dragons busted them up in the middle. In other words, their defense was soft. That's directly was Johns was alluding to, and when I watched that Dragons game, the immediate and only reaction that I, and everyone that I was watching with had, was that they looked very brittle in defense. Or soft.
Damien
Roar Guru
Ryan, I beg to differ. You've made the the 'Soft, bad, terrible..' point already in this same post but IMO they have different connotation's. Just my humble opinion but when I played I would have rather been called 'bad or terrible' than 'soft'. You can be bad, garbage but still be considered having a crack. The GWS Giants got toweled up by 60 points against the Swans but nobody is calling them soft. They're just not good enough yet. The Australian MMA fighter Anthony Perosh in a fight against Cro Cop in the UFC got absolutely smashed. He was not even within the same universe in terms of skill against Cro Cop. Cro Cop was even looking at the ref to stop the fight early becasue he was giving Perosh the mother of all beatings. But Perosh showed heart. Perosh was terrible against Cro Cop but no one called him soft. Soft implies that the Tigers are just cruising through the week not giving a crap about training. Soft implies that the Tigers are scared of making tackles. Quade Cooper is soft in defense, he looks scared when he makes tackles. Rob Horne has missed the most tackles in Super Rugby but I wouldn't be calling him soft. I'm not arguing that they're not going well coz the results speak for themselves The words may seem the same to you but there is a huge difference between them in the mind of a footballer..
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
The way Robbie answered the first question, he was ready for a fight. It was an innocuous question, and Farah blew up. I think you're right - Matty gave him a heads up and he was on the attack straight away.
Pete75
Guest
I'd ask how his relationship is with Tim Sheens... I don't have a problem with the questions he was asked. I think there is more to the Benji question than meets the eye. I suspect that, as Matt Johns says, he was prepped about the question, knew it was coming, and was pissed off from the get go. Probably, and I'm only speculating, he then felt that MJ was calling the team soft, about to ask him a question he didn't want to have to answer and he felt he'd walked into an ambush. Again, I'm only speculating and I'm not saying he was in any way justified. Another thing to consider here is that none of us knows the relationship between Farah and Johns. There could be history there, maybe Farah went in with some preconceptions. Pure speculation once more. To answer your question, I'd probably ask about the forwards and what is the plan is to add more depth to a pack clearly lacking it at the moment. The Tigers offence only ever clicks once they get their defence in order and that starts in the pack. What is becoming pretty clear to me is that Farah it's a pretty intense, some might say prickly, character. I don't have a problem with that per se. It was good television. I'd also like to think that most of my comments are measured to some extent. Ink as passionate as they come about the Tigers, but I'd like to think that I do my best to "keep it real". Others may disagree! PS. If you want aan exercise in pure, hair pulling frustration, try writing your posts with a smart phone. This one took me the better part of forty minutes...
Max
Guest
There is a good way to ask QA and a bad way!!! nine axed 7 axed Fox u can have johns... Tiger so far Just bet sharks(are not a bad team this year) by 1 it was 1st game, played bad for just 20 mins out of 80mins with manly, what team would have bet Stg that night??????? monday half time it's was 10 v 12 then the penalty come... Few injuries key player & benji hit the head twice still wait for the penalty! Side note video referees and some referees this year have been terrible maybe even soft lol! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Actually, they are ARE all smarter than me!! The point is, there are very few people who wouldn't have loved to ask Robbie Farah the exact same questions that Matty Johns asked last night. Because people wanted to know the answer. Pete, if you had the chance, what would you have asked Robbie last night? (apart from an autograph!)
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Soft, bad, terrible, not having a crack, weak, bad. . . They're all from the same family. The point is that the Tigers suck and Johns wanted to know why.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I appreciate the measured response Pete, especially as we've gone toe-to-toe on the Tigers before. I understand that Farah may be under pressure and that it may have contributed to his behaviour and responses. But part of being mature is knowing when you should and shouldn't front the media. I too appreciated Farah's passion, but he came across in a very bad way last night, that did himself and his club absolutely no favours.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Hang on a second, when did I ever quote Farah as being 'childish'? Do not put quote marks over a word or statement that I never actually wrote or said. Not that I don't think he wasn't, but it's a little irresponsible to quote me on something I didn't say. As for the 'same rumors start every year' comment, can we please try to concentrate on the main issue? I presume you're talking about the Benji stuff, which was a minor part of the interview. The majority of the interview was focussed on the perception that the Tigers being soft. That's not a rumour, I can assure you.
julie scott
Guest
Robbie Farah grow up instead of behaving like a child ur a friggin sook. The tigers r playing soft as watz wrong with u robbie are'nt u being paid enough n matty ur a legend as per usual u neva back away or hide
adam
Guest
Sorry this is a poor article. A very one sided report on a situation where there were two parties giving as good as they got. Robbie Farah could have been a bit more professional in his answers, but you have quoted his answers that were a bit "childish", for want of a better term, but then not quoted the questions and answers afterwards from Johns that were unprofessional on his part. Personally, I don't blame Farah for being annoyed. he's right. The same rumors start every year, and they are created by the media to write stories, they are completly baseless, clearly. If we are starting rumors, I think Johns does have issues and maybe they are with Marshall. The sly "being called a d##khead, now I know how Benji feels", that was subtle, but not too subtle. Maybe that stems from the charity cricket match and Johns connection to the Eagles, or maybe Benji refused to come on his woeful CH 7 Show
Damien
Roar Guru
Totally agree. Thats what really fired Farah up. Being called soft is quite offensive in league I reckon. Its just the implied meaning of the word. Johns has added to his comment that he doesn't think the Tigers are soft players its just that they are playing soft which is probably a better way to put it..
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
No KOTG. You're unfairly representing NRL players based on your prejudices. Keep out of it. Thanks, Roar Mods.
Mickyt
Guest
Great article and even better comments. Just waching the Nine Footy Show (after the Blues one) and its garbage!
Pete75
Guest
So all your loved ones are smarter than you Ryan? Why don't you get them writing for the Roar? ;-)
Pete75
Guest
Well said Ben.
Pete75
Guest
I'll keep it simple. Robbie's performance was intemperate, and probably unwarranted. But I do believe he's under a lot of stress. Injury, his mother, suspension and the performance of his team. He's a proud bloke who is disappointed with the way things are going at the moment. Yeah, he could have done better. Most here know I'm a Tigs supporter so, disclosure done, I'm actually pleased he's that passionate, even if I'd advise him to chill out a bit next time.
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
I'd like MG's theory more if Farah was actually playing this weekend. Should be interesting to see how the Tigers fire up against the big boppers from the Bunnies though.
Rob
Guest
Robbie did the tigers proud with those stupid questions!!!