When you’re a sports reporter, there are occasional times you actually get to talk and write about… well… sport.
You know, the stuff that happens on a field or a court or a track: the displays of spectacular skill and superior athleticism that have been honed by years of dedication and training.
I like those times. They’re probably the main reason I took this route, along with the fact that my lack of singing ability was a serious impediment to a successful career in musical theatre.
In the past month or so I’ve been rostered on to do match highlights for many of the Wests Tigers’ matches, and they’ve been a joy to work on. Even when they’ve been on the losing end, the emergence of genuinely exciting young players like Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, along with Blake Austin and Curtis Sironen, hints at a very bright future for the joint-venture club.
Talking about the Tigers on the field is to discuss the enthusiasm and fearlessness of young men who appear to have all the time and options in the world when they take on the line. Will he shape for the long ball and go short instead? Set up for the short ball and somehow drop it on his boot for the winger? An outrageous show-and-go, perhaps?
They also have a forward who has as much talent as hair, with the hirsute and likeable Aaron Woods bolstering their pack.
They have a coach who has done a fair job of getting a post-Benji Marshall side to punch above its weight for much of the season.
And, of course, they have a captain who also happens to be one of the best hookers in the game.
Robbie Farah appears to be the heart and the soul of a club that still has a young history. While most big names from the dazzling band of brothers who won the 2005 premiership have faded or moved elsewhere (Scott Prince, Marshall), and others have left and returned (Pat Richards), Farah has been the steadying base around which subsequent teams have been built.
He’s also been one of the NRL’s most vocal players in the media, happier than most to make his views public on wider-ranging issues and certain in-house matters: James Tedesco’s recent contract dramas with Canberra stirred memories of Tim Moltzen and some rather unhappy Dragons.
Farah is perceived as having a huge amount of influence at the Tigers, and there are, no doubt, many who take the view that, as someone who has been loyal to the club and played with such passion in the jersey, he deserves that influence.
The other side of the argument is that no player should hold too much sway, and no individual is more important than their club.
For that matter, neither is a coach nor a chief executive. Just ask John Cartwright and Michael Searle, who have fallen on their swords in the wake of the Titans’ internal review.
As the muddle on the Gold Coast shows – with absent fans, financial woes, salary cap questions and on-field mediocrity – good governance is the single most important issue at every NRL club in the modern, professional era.
But good governance requires strong leadership and willingness by all the major parties to pull in the same direction. A series of bouts, as they’ve been presented in the media, threaten to tear the Tigers apart.
Wests v Balmain. Potter v Farah. Gorden Tallis v Farah. Farah v Grant Mayer.
And now it’s Farah v the media.
The Tigers skipper wasn’t at the post-match press conference following Monday night’s loss to the Melbourne Storm. Instead, Potter and Keith Galloway fronted the media, who only wanted to talk to Farah, after he took a break from training last week in the wake of the infamous stoush with Tallis.
It’s important to remember these are human beings sorting through challenging working relationships in a very public way. It clearly is taking its toll, and each person involved probably shares some of the responsibility. Black and white ended with the Magpies.
As I’ve been writing, Farah has tweeted about a text he received: “FYI.. Msg from @Wests_Tigers media manager yesterday afternoon re after match presser”
The text reads, “Hey mate, just thinking about the post match press conference tonight. We might just throw Keith Galloway in there because it’s his 150th game for the Club and make it easier for you? Let me know what you think mate. Cheers”
FYI.. Msg from @Wests_Tigers media manager yesterday afternoon re after match presser pic.twitter.com/jlfs7NBqCs
— robbie farah (@robbiefarah) August 5, 2014
The implication in the text is that Farah was being given a choice, at least partly to “make it easier”. If he’d wanted to speak, but still give Galloway recognition, then there’s nothing to say a presser couldn’t have featured the coach and two players. Farah is clearly sick of talking publicly and is feeling the pressure.
But while speaking to the press can sometimes be avoided for a while, the Tigers desperately need conversations that lead to reconciliation or resolution at every level of the club.
Of course, it remains to be seen if everyone will survive the current mess, but as the season slips away, the Tigers can’t afford to wait for the NRL-appointed independent directors to arrive and wave a magic peace wand. Or ensure good governance.
My mother always says that no one notices if a house is clean but everyone sees when it’s dirty.
So, for the sake of all of us who love watching the generation-next Tiger cubs remind us why we love the game, let’s hope the major parties can roll up their sleeves, put this unedifying episode aside, and give Concord a good scrubbing.
Maybe then we can talk about… well… the sport.
BeastieBoy
Guest
Just reading this now in August 2017. How many good players mentioned above did they lose. Real blight on the club.
Melinda Farrell
Expert
Hi raging truth. Hopefully you're not referring to me. I don't dislike Robbie Farah or the Tigers at all - far from it - and I'd hope that couldn't be inferred from this article. As I said, the blame for this messy situation can probably be shared around. Cheers!
Melinda Farrell
Expert
I completely understand your frustration. I guess the NRL has to find the right people to fill those positions and that might not be as simple as it sounds.
Melinda Farrell
Expert
It's a key issue, isn't it? I'm sure the hope is that things will improve with the appointment of three independent directors by the NRL.
Melinda Farrell
Expert
It's an interesting point that was also made by Andrew Webster in the SMH.
Melinda Farrell
Expert
Thanks for the welcome, Chop! And thanks to everyone for your comments - I really appreciate you all taking the time.
AdelaideWill
Guest
Id love to see Farah at the Bronco's next year - If the Tigers can't manage a player then Im sure another club will put their hand up
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Robbie Farahs behaviour in the last 2 weeks shows exactly why he will never ever be in the same league as Cameron Smith as a player or a leader!
The Barry
Guest
He didn't 'apparently' bag the coach. He bagged him. He's admitted it. After of course two weeks to get his story straight and initially denying he ever said it. Farah has handled the situation poorly. He's taken no responsibility until the interview last night and blamed everyone else. It's been two weeks. If he'd done this two weeks ago this story would be nothing but fish and chip wrapping. He's constantly delayed fronting up about this and clearing up the mess. If the media manager says don't attend the press conference why run across the field and run out the back gate? It's weak and regardless of his motives makes him look dodgy. No one forced him to do that. If you think his comments after the St George game of I "don't have to justify myself and mick's relationship" and "we're both trying our best" and "we play tennis together" was a show of support then Potter really is in trouble. He could barely look at Potter. Sam Ayoub called MMM and demanded to know Tallis' sources. Either Robbie didn't tell him he'd made the comments or they tried (successfully) to set Tallis up. Don't tell me that Farah and Ayoub didn't speak between the story breaking on Friday and the MMM call on Sunday. Tallis shouldn't have dropped Robbie in it. But ever since Robbie has handled the situation poorly. I find it difficult to see how anyone can argue with that.
Pete75
Guest
Barry, Your comments are just so incorrect it isn't funny. - He "apparently" bagged the coach. He "apparently" has undermined him since. What evidence is there for that other than one comment he made that the coach was "struggling"? Zero. - He did not get his manager to phone Triple M. Triple M attempted to get a hold of him prior to the match, and when they couldn't do that they contacted Sam Ayoub. I know of no player that does unscheduled interviews before games. - When did he call Tallis a liar? What he said was that he wasn't happy with the comments and he wanted Tallis to "get his facts right". Tallis stated that it was Farah agitating for change at the Tigers, that is what Farah denies. Farah has admitted that he said the coach was "struggling" fifteen months ago. - He has not blamed the club for not supporting him. He has blamed Grant Mayer for not coming out and saying that the players have nothing to do with the coaching situation at the Tigers. He has further stated that he is disappointed with the club for editing out comments in support of Mick Potter. - Refused to support Potter? Rubbish! He has said on multiple occasions that Potter has his full support. He stated it in the post match interview after the Dragons loss. The fact that those comments were omitted from the Tigers website is the VERY REASON Farah is pissed off with Tigers management. - He didn't turn up to training. Fair enough. He has stated that he was having a hard time. It may or may not have been the best decision, but if none of the other rubbish was out there, and it is rubbish, it wouldn't have been an issue. - Not facing the media. Again, You don't know the pressure he was under. The week before in the post match interview, the whole interview became about the coaching situation and nothing to do with the match that had just been played. That was what both the club, Farah and, no doubt the coach were seeking to avoid a repeat of. - He sidestepped the interview with NRL 360 probably because Paul Kent has nailed his colours to the mast and stated on multiple occasions that he believes that Farah has handled it incorrectly. Everyone has had a chance to put forward their version of events on this except.... Robbie Farah. So he can hardly be blamed for seeking an opportunity to put his case forward and not just have to sit there and defend himself in front of Paul Kent. Then there's also the small matter of Channel 9 donating $20,000 to the Dwyer fund for an exclusive interview. So a lot of your criticisms are factually incorrect. It is these factual innacuracies that have been allowed to propogate thrrough the media, and then you want to take a piece out of him because it got to him on a personal level, because it affected him emotionally. Robbie Farah can be a prickly character. He could probably even have handled this situation better. Robbie Farah could probably work on his communication skills and his interactions with the media. But make no mistake, Farah is the victim in all of this. He has been treated disgracefully.
Muzz
Guest
I tend to notice the dirty ones too : ) IMO - I don't think Farah and Potter will be able to put this behind them and move on.It would be difficult to perform whilst working together. Potter is doing a good job with a young developing squad but the comments made by Farah, be it months ago, undermine the coaches position. As for Tallis - He has lost the respect of those involved in the game after repeating something that should of stayed between him and Farah.
The Barry
Roar Guru
You haven't made any points. You've just called people names...stuck your fingers in your ears and shouted "not true, not true, not true"
The Barry
Roar Guru
He bagged his coach after only a couple of months in the role and apparently undermined him since. Evidence? Farah has admitted it. He got his manager to call the radio station and demand sources. Evidence? It was on the radio He called Tallis a liar. When? He said at a press conference that Tallis "needed to get his facts straight." He blamed the club for not supporting him to the level that he demanded. Is this documented? Not withstanding what he reveals on Ch9 TV interview tonight. Yes he said that they had cut the wrong part of an interview and not made a public statement supporting him soon enough. He has refused to support Potter. Incorrect. Not incorrect. Before tonight all he said was "we're both trying as hard as we can" and "we live in the same building and play tennis together" He didn’t turn up to training…as club captain…during a tough time for the club…and at a club with a lot of young players who would be looking to him for leadership. True. Credit to you for never missing a work day. In light of the interview tonight regarding his mental state then it's fair enough he missed training. He ducked out the back of the ground instead of fronting a media conference after the game. Who cares if the media manager offered him the chance to not attend…a real leader would have faced the music. Covered all the drama & more in post match presser a week earlier. There's press conferences at EVERY game that the captain attends. He still went running across the field and out the back door. He sidestepped his regular live spot on NRL 360 (via his manager) so he can tell his story in a controlled environment with Phil Gould. Unlike the twenty or so people on this tiny website blog or the relatively small diehard Foxtel audience Farah will get huge exposure on Channel 9 & former teammate Simon Dwyer will get $20000. Good on Farah for raising money for Dwyer. The point is it's got nothing to do with self loathing and all the garbage you carried on with to have an opinion on someone's actions and behaviour which have been very questionable.
Chris
Guest
That interview on the footy show was a complete waste of time. Way to 'managed'. Can't believe I stayed up for that garbage.
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Farah should get a release from his contract and go play in the English Super League with the whinging Poms. This would free Wests salary cap up to retain some of their rising stars for the future.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Gordie Tallis has caused an almighty shite storm, poor form relaying his conversation with Farrah on air. You would assume that was something that was said ( if at all ) in utmost confidence. Potter was there 5 minutes before Farrah supposedley made the comment. I don't understand why Potters job is in jeopardy, he has done a good job and unlesss there is some player revolt or Farrah underminng him keep the guy on. Either way it appears either Potter or Farrah will be leaving at years end. I think Farrah is a terrific player however his leadership has at least looking from the outside been lacking the last few weeks.
Benjamin Rehmie
Roar Rookie
Something needs to change...at the end of the day the players can control outcomes (game results) but that comes at a cost to the club, its fans and the sponsors that put hard earned cash into keeping the clubs afloat. They are both as guilty as each other.
Mitchy
Guest
Move him on, free up space under the cap and back a few juniors. Lets be real here; in footballing terms he is getting on, and for the long term prospects of the club he has to go....to the Cowboys on 250 k
T bone
Guest
Isn't the reason he ducked these interviews because channel 9 donated $20k to Dwyer for an exclusive interview... Therefore meaning he could not discuss before Thursday night. It's the least he could do given his rubbish robbed any chance if a sizeable crowd on Monday night.
raging truth
Guest