Robbie Farah is the easy target for public backlash

It is no surprise to see Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah be made the scapegoat in the club’s latest scandal.

Let’s take a step back to how this all started, before the Tigers’ game against St George Illawarra.

Rumours were splashed all over the media that Mick Potter was facing the axe regardless of how the Tigers would do that weekend. When that bit of news hit the ground I, like so many other rugby league punters, was baffled.

Before the season, the Tigers were tipped to get the wooden spoon, not lurk around the eight and produce some of the best talent the NRL has seen in recent seasons.

So to being doing this decently midway through the season when injuries, suspensions and Origin duty have hit the club, Potter was doing an outstanding job.

Then came the point where Gordon Tallis deepened this situation and caused such a divide within the community.

Gordie’s comments were so, so out of line.

People’s opinions change, Robbie may, or may not have said what he did to Tallis a year ago. But for goodness sake, that was a year ago!

It was probably said at a time when the Tigers weren’t doing so well. like all rugby league players Farah is entitled to his own opinions. But why do players opinions have to be sprayed all over the grapevine, as if we were on an episode of E! News.

Current players often turn to and trust ex-players due to their shared experience. For an ex-player to break that trust is wrong.

I am glad Robbie has stuck up for himself, not only during that post match presser on the day the scandal took another turn, but last night when he shared that text from the Tigers when he was receiving a public backlash for his no show on Monday Night’s post match presser.

Tigers officials were apparently shocked and disappointed at his public revelation, but what’s the guy supposed to do? If a Tigers official had come out to that presser on Monday night and had truthfully explained Robbie’s absence, then Robbie wouldn’t have had to do what he did.

I am glad that Robbie isn’t allowing people bully him and make him out to the toxic guy they are so eager to portray him as.

I hope the Tigers fan can get behind their captain, and I hope the rugby league community can get behind this loyal, dedicated and fantastic player who has done so much for this game.