Robbie Farah’s role in on-going Wests Tigers saga was one of several recent events that got me thinking about the role of club captains in the modern game.
I can’t speak as to how much respect Farah has with the players at his club, but presumably he is a decent on-field leader.
He’s a clever rake, who organises the play, makes a ton of tackles, complains to the refs at every opportunity, and generally seems to inspire his Tigers teammates.
He is also the NSW State of Origin vice-captain, so that says something too.
But off-field, there has never been any evidence he is a good captain. It was always a popular suspicion, perhaps even an open secret, that Farah was a major part of the reason Tim Sheens was unceremoniously ousted in 2012. Now he is at the centre of another coach’s possible downfall.
Often, when a club is being ruined by off-field issues like the Tigers are currently, the playing group will unite, rallying around the only thing they can control and going on to win some football games. The captain and coach combine to lift the playing group, keep spirits high and shut out distractions. Think Jamie Lyon and Geoff Toovey at Manly right now, or Cameron Smith and Craig Bellamy at Melbourne back in 2012.
But instead, Farah looks out for himself. I genuinely don’t care if Farah did or did not tell Gorden Tallis a year ago that Mick Potter can’t coach. It doesn’t matter. But he stuffed up in the aftermath. He should have come out, and either (a) stood strong behind his coach and reinforced how good their relationship was, or (b) been honest and upfront about the problems, like Paul Gallen did with Peter Sharp.
Farah chose (c) – make the story about Tallis and take no responsibility.
Contrast this situation with the way Corey Parker handled his club’s recent coaching dramas. In the weeks leading up to Wayne Bennett’s appointment as the Broncos new captain, Parker threw his support behind Anthony Griffin. He said at the time, “I realise the industry is results driven, but I can assure you that the coach has got an enormous amount of support from the playing group… We back him 100 per cent.”
After Bennett’s appointment, he was openly disappointed. He spoke publicly about his frustration at the way Griffin had been treated and at how the board had handled the situation. He was, at all times, articulate, honest and forthright.
Parker is an exceptional club captain. Several times throughout the season he has taken responsibility when the team has not performed. He is inspirational on the field, constantly in the fray making metres, tackles and offloads. He even moved to prop to help the team, despite not being a natural front rower.
And off the field he is great, treating the media and fans with respect.
He reminds me a lot of former Bulldogs and Warriors skipper Steven Price. Price is the best club captain of the last 20 years. On the field, his hard work spoke for itself. He was a player his teammates genuinely wanted to play for. He didn’t just lead, he inspired players to be better, to work harder. Off the field, he handled himself with aplomb through some genuinely difficult situations that were out of his control.
He led the Bulldogs through their salary cap controversy, and the ignominy of losing the 2002 minor premiership after being stripped of all their competition points. He then had to stand up once again in 2004, when the Coffs Harbour sex scandal broke.
History will remember that the Bulldogs won the comp that year, and that Price (despite missing the decider through injury) was a huge part of it.
I hope Farah learns something about leadership from this whole experience. Because no matter what anyone says about the Tigers’ future prospects, they will not win another premiership if Farah is calling the shots.
Pete75
Roar Rookie
So you don't know who it is, so it must be Farah? Mate, there are plenty of people at the Wests Tigers, any one of them could be leaking. If you want my opinion, it is someone on the board given the infighting that constantly goes on. Dean Richie broke the story about Potter's sacking, and has now put the boot into Robbie Farah in an open letter published in the Telegraph. Clearly Farah isn't the leak.
Vivalasvegan
Guest
You are right about coverage. 360 is often good, focuses on footy and has some good guests. Feels too short. The rest is crap. Sterlo has become like Matty Johns and his show totally insults the intelligence. Why do people think that ex players are comedians? As funny as crabs. ...
The Barry
Roar Guru
You can be a great player without being better than the best player of all time in your position. He's a premiership winner, origin and test player and he's been in the top couple of the Dally M awards a few times. From memory he lost to Thurston in the last week of voting. And he's done it from a position that doesn't always attract a lot of Dally M votes. How is he not a great player? Just because you think he's a mug doesn't mean you have to write off his talents.
Casper
Guest
The big issue with Farah, Tigers or NSW, is Robbie plays for Robbie first & the team second. He showed that in the 2013 origin decider when he went for the miracle play at the death. Has significant individual ability & is definitely not a plugger but guys like him can be toxic for a club with a bunch of up and coming young guys who need leadership. You may as well put Ennis there & turn the promising kids into absolute idiots. I always feel his stats are overrated because in origin he seems to be allowed to stand offside at marker. That might stop now that NSW have won their sympathy series. I'd take Ballin, Luke, either of the Friends and potentially McCullough & Segeyaro as a club man before him when basing it on value for money under the salary cap. There are players you worry would go for the big individual play in important games, Farah was one, Reynolds is one.
mushi
Guest
Sunjay I unreservedly apologise for the mum comment. My intent wasn't to bag him for his loss, I had clean forgotten about his mum dying two years ago. My intent was to bag him for getting someone else to make his statements for him. I would love for the roar to change the comment and have even reported my own comment for moderation.
Meesta Cool
Guest
This week Meesta Farah made my weekend. to see him attempt to milk a penalty and drop the ball in the process was a GOLDEN MOMENT. His attempts to milk penalties and whinge to the ref are the only two things that irk me about him,, both traits point to him not being a suitable candidate to captain a club with so much young talent coming through the ranks. I will never doubt his ability to play the game!.
Cowboys
Guest
Most people couldn't care full stop. This is full of presumptions and call-outs the author would not be able to back up and support. Yes people have bad days, why put scrutiny on someone when most wouldn't want the same to happen to them. Yes he is in the lime light, although he got there playing footy as a job and continues to do so. NRL has gone to crap. The T.V deal, non-promo, refs, rules, crowds. however all irrelevant, the most TOXIC thing in our game right now are the supporters. Journalist (if one would call them that) are turning a tuff game in a weekly soap opera. Enough is enough. Mick Potter said the same, focus and attention has to be on the game. There hasn't been a decent breakdown of plays done this year by any 'journalist'. Nothing going into plays teams uses, how best to stop them, key positional match ups. Players on form week to week. Where is all the playing data? I don't care for feel-good stories or if someone pissed in their own mouth. Then there are the actual supporters who for some reason believe the bias and agenda written articles about this sport. Those people don't know, they write stories that cause an upset on purpose. Everybody knows, but all supporters talk about these days is what happens off the field and predicting a team, which equates to nothing. NRL is trying to introduce more people to the game, why is it hard for a person who has followed one team passionately for 10yr to now say I don't want to be apart of this sport. I will always follow the Cowboys. However I wish they were not apart of the NRL. The game is known to be tough, why change that? It still maybe tough, it just seems less with the soap opera going on in the media. The media is killing the game. NRL never had a problem pulling a crowd or having supporters in the past. Now, good luck. You haven't convinced a large majority of people to convert to RL, at the same time a large majority of RL actual fans don't like the sport. NRL you have sold out.
Sunjay
Guest
Feels awesome to bag a guys family loss mushi. What rubbish feedback. Other than your post of what farah could have said. In your previous comments
mushi
Guest
My apologies I only just remembered that Farah’s mum had passed some years back after thinking - why did they find that so upsetting about a guy who hid behind others. If I could edit the above post to say “dad” I would or if the roar could remove it I would like wise be happy. I didn’t intend to insult or involve his deceased mother more his own lack of integrity.
mushi
Guest
sorry should I have had an agent post it?
Sunjay
Guest
He plays above expectations. He just has a young team around him. That takes a while wouldn't you agree. He doesn't attack as much as he used to. Has really limited it from his game. Specially in origin felt bird and gallen dictated one out. And defense style. And didn't allow any one the team to attack. That's a different story. Blues will half to be attack oriented next year. Otherwise Queensland will retain it.
JOS
Guest
Farah was better when he was doing 40 tackles a game , 3 line breaks and getting the forwards moving forward, he has good forwards but hasn't been doing it past doesn't cut it at $900k per year.
Sunjay
Guest
Oli.cam smith is just media hype. He had strong 05,06,07 season. But cronk took charge after that. Robbie for me is better because for 80 misheard he doesn't have the experience around him. But still delivers every game he plays for the tigers. Smith has cronk slater and the structure around him at all levels. Therefore he Has an advantage. Also smith got his chance at test level. Through Wayne bennet when buduras was out 2006. Farah should of got a look in after of premiership win.
oli
Guest
Better player than Cam but not that smart, he'll be back!
Pat
Roar Rookie
Couldn't,t agree less with the poor judgement of many in this post. You guys a subservient to the media. Tallis was a footballer. MG was a footballer. Their opinions are theirs. They are determined to attack the tigers best player. Farah bleeds for this club. His form has consistently put him at the best players at the club. The rest of the side are very inexperienced. You were all to eager for them to come to first grade and they were not ready. The media have continued to carry this biased story that Farah is somehow responsible when he has played his heart out every week. Why should he spend time explaining to media lackies that don't respect him. Why this incredible Farah hatred? Cowards all of you.
Tiger
Guest
Media Media Media - say no more Robbie. You should remain our captain. Simply, you are one of the GREATEST players our club has produced. (Sorry Benny)
tigerqueen
Guest
Farah had a severe emotional experience recently when his mum passed away. He threw himself into achieving goals and improving himself, possibly not allowing himself to go through the grief process naturally. He achieved his Origin goals (for his mum) and went on a massive celebration and high. Then business with Tallis & Potter happ and the lack of support would have opened those wounds that would still be raw and exposed many pain bodies within his emotional centre. Is this how we really are in Australia. Kicking each other and our heros?
Sunjay
Guest
He is better than smith. Rumors are just a media beat up.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
I disagreed with my mate VOR on this very point. I don't think he said that, but aI take the point that, at the same time, he had to have known how his comments would have been perceived. Anyway, I don't think Farah is a shade on even someone like Matt Ballin. Farah is just too emotional and doesn't handle highpressure situations at all. He's certainly not a big-game player. The way he bascially lost that Origin series for us recently was a disgrace - too busy arguing with the ref and not watching what he was supposed to be doing. A tool of the highest order. But he still didn't actually say he was better than Smith, in his defence.
Jo
Roar Rookie
Farrah is not a great player and his deep-seeded bile that he has been spitting towards Cam Smith, the QLD team and other personalities shows that he is very self-conscious of his own failings as a footballer. He will never be the starting no.9 for Australia. He is nowhere near the calibre of Cam Smith.. He is inflated and he will not be remembered as a great.