First grade footballers have plenty of people offering them advice. They get it from their parents, their coaches, their mates, and their fans.
So far be it from me to tell a first grade footballer what they should and should not do, but if I were to offer them one piece of advice it would simply be this – don’t talk to Gorden Tallis.
By revealing what Robbie Farah did or didn’t say – and the jury’s still out on that one – “Scoop” Tallis showed the same amount of disrespect to a player willing to talk to him as a journalist (and I use the word loosely) as he did for the contract he had with St George back in 1996.
He is a breaker of unwritten codes such as ‘being as good as your word’ and ‘not revealing your sources’.
He is not to be trusted. One can only wonder what motivation there was for him to hang Farah out to dry in such a manner.
Here is a premiership-winning player who has captained his state at State of Origin level and represented his country.
If he rolls a line like “my sources tell me…” out in the future, you’d be forgiven for thinking that either some poor kid naïve enough to give him some inside dope on his club is going to cop it in the neck real soon – or that he’s just making stuff up.
What Tallis did this week would have past rugby league writers like the great Peter (Chippy) Frilingos rolling in his grave. If you want to stay credible with your informants, you never tell who they are.
Albert Einstein was one quoted as saying, “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” Wise advice I’d say, and advice that Tallis would have been prudent to heed.
I can’t believe I actually mentioned Gorden Tallis and Albert Einstein in the same paragraph. That has to be a first.
Blaze
Guest
So how is it any different to all you blokes believing the other writers? (Which of course you have all done by the way) everything that has been said has been taken as fact by DT writers.... THE DT!!! Come on man...
Alex deLarge
Guest
Hans Christian Weidler is usually interesting reading. Like a good bedtime fairytale. You go to sleep believing in BS.
Pete75
Guest
I'd also recommend people have a read of Danny Weidler's column in the Herald today. It makes for very interesting reading.
Pete75
Guest
The fact that everyone is blaming Farah for this means that Mayer's little plan has come to fruition perfectly. There's your destabilising influence right there. The board needs to sack Mayer ASAP.
Blaze
Guest
http://m.smh.com.au/sport/by/Danny-Weidler Why not believe him too? Doesn't cause as much outrage tho does it..?
Blaze
Guest
Tallis let the cat out of the bag on Friday night, well before he spoke to farahs manager.... This backed him into a corner is a load of rubbish... But you blokes believe the media...
rvm99
Guest
I believe we should thank Celtic334 and Scrubbit for a more accurate and enlightened version of events then that presented in the article and for mine Tallis has no case to answer. Farrah needs to grow up a little and have a good look at those who purport to represent his best interests as I fail to see how his manager publicly questioning Tallis to confirm an unnamed source as his client was a particularly intelligent tactic as it just emphasises his client's "look at me" personality.
Blaze
Guest
You blokes will believe anything....
Emcie
Roar Guru
I think that perhaps Robbie Farah needs to learn how to deal with the media rather then have a sook or hide behind his manager. Every year he's involved in some drama, wasn't he "ambushed" on the Matty Johns show last year?
Jack
Guest
There might be an unwritten rule between current and former players, but that rule goes out the window if the current player is s*** bloke.
Alex deLarge
Guest
Farah sulked and spat the dummy and in a 'look at me' tantrum didn't turn up for training thereby massively upsetting preparations for this week's game. Appalling disrespect for the club, its fans and his fellow players. Not surprising given that he was getting around bagging the coach behind his back. Robbie needs to grow up and lose the spoilt brat stuff.
Tricky Ricky
Guest
A really big yawn. The Tigers season is effectively over. Farah has no leadership talent and his character is questionable with his past social media misdemenours, etc. The Tigers will be shopping Farah around to other NRL sides within a season.
Alex deLarge
Guest
So, Tallis is the bad guy for telling the truth after Farah's manager called him a liar, and Farah is the good guy for bagging his coach behind his back and then lying about it. With this logic let's appoint Alan Jones the new Tigers' coach.
Scrubbit
Guest
What's that saying lawyers have? Never ask a question you don't already know the answer to?
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Tallis had his honesty questioned by Farah's manager, as a rule if you are the source of the claims then you shouldn't be questioning their legitimacy unless you want your name revealed...
peeeko
Roar Guru
No mention of the role of Sam Ayoub in this whole saga? Surely he is the one to blame. i am also a bit concerned you think Peter Frillingos was a good journo
Scrubbit
Guest
Once again. Tallis never initially dropped the name, until after being branded a liar and being told several times to reveal his sources by Farahs manager. Obviously Farahs manager just assumed he could keep that up and eventually people would think that Tallis was lying, unfortunately for him and Farah, Tallis doesn't consider himself a journalist and isn't going to sit back when he's being bullied.
Samuel
Guest
Still think Tallis could have handled it a bit better. It obviously hit a nerve with him being called a liar quite a bit. I still don't believe he should have name dropped. It's nearly like an unwritten rule between former and current players, unless obviously those blokes have history and genuinely don't like each other
Scrubbit
Guest
Farah probably should've told his manager he was the one who told Tallis. Journalists don't reveal their sources on the basis that they will lose future/current sources, however if a journalists integrity is questioned, and they are being branded a liar by that source itself, do you seriously think it's wrong to drop a name?
Samuel
Guest
Guess that's true. It was all an assumption that Farrah was the source. If his manager just calmed down a little, this 'feud' probably wouldn't have exploded so much. But still don't think Gordon should have name dropped Farah!