Wests Tigers continue to show how not to run a professional NRL club. That is not Robbie Farah’s fault.
Neither is it Robbie’s fault he has a hefty salary, which he deserves from years of quality service. The club paying ‘overs’ for players on the captain’s wish list is his fault though.
Some would say that it is the captain’s job to support his players and always push for loyalty. But what we are seeing now is that a professional club should not and simply cannot always say yes.
Jason Taylor has come out in the media to ‘get it out there’ that the Tigers have big salary cap trouble and it won’t be fixed fast. The board has been copping it over releasing the ultra-impressive Blake Austin with a year to run on his contract at the end of 2014, who is now gaining the attention of Blues State of Origin selectors. His energetic game is kind of like an in-form Josh Reynolds but without the grubbiness and tripping.
Now I am sure there have been salary cap pressures prior with the likes of Andrew Fifita, Beau Ryan, Chris Heighington and Benji Marshall let go in recent years. Much of the current situation, however, comes from decisions made early in 2014.
Without doubt the Tigers had to offer Luke Brooks and Mitchel Moses ‘overs’ to fend off other NRL clubs to keep them at the club. This at a time when they were both in their first season in the NRL and Moses had actually yet to make his debut.
The problem then escalated when James Tedesco hit the form of his life and began attracting all sorts of ridiculous offers. Finally, or so we thought, Canberra snatched him on a million dollar deal to replace the brilliant Anthony Milford who was Broncos bound.
I love Tedesco as a player but actually viewed this as a point of maturity for the Tigers. They obviously decided that he is in great form but we simply can’t afford that. We have good players coming through that can play that position (aka Moses) and we can keep some depth in the squad in not matching such ridiculous offers. As sad as that is to let a young junior go, he has made his decision.
Enter Farah, who happens to also have the same manager (Sam Ayoub) as Tedesco, and next thing he is reconsidering things. I can imagine Ayoub saying, ‘Robbie will talk to the Tigers. Let’s just wait and see what they come back with.’
Now everyone knows Robbie Farah basically runs the Tigers. It is said that Tim Sheens went when he lost his confidence and Marshall as well. Let alone Mick Potter, who Farah thought was a rubbish coach, according to Gorden Tallis.
Next thing the Tigers have a new offer on the table and Tedesco has done a Daly Cherry-Evans before we even knew what a DCE was (using the old Round 13 clause) and a Tiger he will remain.
Now this places the Tigers over the cap for each year of said contract so players must be shed and before 2015 out must go Adam Blair, James Gavet, Braith Anasta and one Blake Austin. Anasta was on old legs but Austin could still be there with some muscle up front and Moses easing his way into first grade up the back (where he made his debut when Tedesco was injured by the way).
Now let’s compare that with the Sydney Roosters who most would say have an incredible knack of being ultra-professional in managing the salary cap. Faced with a similar situation this year with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck getting offered the big dollars to go to the New Zealand Warriors, they simply shook his hand and moved on. It will allow them to keep Blake Ferguson, a young Latrell Mitchell and no doubt some of their enforcers like Sam Moa for the next couple of years.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have more to shed to stay under in 2016. Pat Richards has confirmed he is going and Keith Galloway rumoured to be heading abroad. No doubt others are to follow with the club telling us there will be no big signings on the radar for at least a couple of years.
Lucky we can still remember 2005. It could be a while between drinks.
Az
Guest
Hmmm delicious, I wonder who Wobbie will decide to keep at the Tigpies considering his pay check will soak so much cap. Raiders could use a quality front rower and by all accounts have the cash to possibly lure Taupau...
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Farah is over rated and is about 400k over his real market value. I still can't see with their existing cattle that the Tigpies are over the cap. Aren't they part managed by the NRL since the Balmain side of the marriage fell over and Wests Lumeah Club ceased funding the football club?
pjm
Roar Rookie
Furphy. Austin was the Tigers best back last year.
pjm
Roar Rookie
I'd hardly say they've made the right choice long term. Bringing up 2 halves together will mean that neither will become great.
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Difficult to pin all of the Tigers' salary cap issues on Farah. These things don't happen over one year, or due to one signing (unless its Manly and DCE which is going to hurt them in the long run). They build up over a number of years. And while it is a shame Austin left the Tigers, and has since exploded into form, he wouldn't have found that form at the Tigers. He's playing a different brand of football and is thriving in the Raiders' structure and Ricky Stuarts' methods.
cecil
Guest
he is one of the many reason for NSW poor record. Time to give some different hookers a run instead
Freighter
Guest
isnt farah on 900k? rediculous for him... They should have let him go to Canberra and had a fresh start at the club. Further, Tigers have now got two halfbacks or two fullbacks in their trio of Moses, Tedesco and Brooks- they had to keep Austin and made a decision on which 2 of the other 3 they wanted to keep. That club has been run terribly, and you can only hope this potential golden period for the club doesn't go unfulfilled
Birdy
Guest
As a tigers supporter I'm willing to accept that they are having a clean out that is set to go past '16. By then all the players involved in the sheen gate years will be gone by then , not criticising the quality of the players, just saying it would be nice to look forward to a totally fresh start for '17. New board coaching staff settled and the so called kids of today being more experienced and no subjected to yesterday's ( today's) nonsence. Go the tiges
Joe
Roar Rookie
Also would like to thank the Tigers for letting Marika Koroibete go cause he is killing it at the Storm. I thought they were crazy to let Austin go. He was their Mr Fixit last year (hooker, halves, fullback) and every time he played would be close to their best on ground. I guess he wanted to pin the 6 jersey down but that was already earmarked for Moses. They made a gamble to go with long term half solutions in Brooks and Moses but it hasn't panned out...so far anyway.
JB
Guest
Harsh on Farah, and plenty of things that appear to be facts in this paper which are purely opinion without supporting facts. I agree with one thing though they are an abysmally run club.
Mals
Guest
Maybe they're also tired of sinking the boot into Manly...?
D Rick
Guest
Blake Austin is playing fantastic at the moment and he also played very strong last year. BUT the thing is he is an off the cuff player he plays football as he sees it in front of him. He would not be playing well this year if he was still at the Tigers because he would not cope with the structured play that the Tigers are playing now. Either is Mitch Moses, Luke Brooks or Robbie they are being coached to play a certain way, a way that the Roosters play that have made them a success. These guys have made it to first grade by playing with flair and pure brilliance but when they now find themselves on the field playing first grade they cant play the way that has got them there in the first place. There in lies the problems we are having this year. JT is not coaching the team to their individual strengths he is coaching them to be players that don't think outside the square but just do their job. Like put a midfield bomb up so that it land just in front of the other teams try line AKA Mitch Pearce. Robbie's hands are tied he cant take a dart down the blind because he see's something, no he has to get his forward to the middle so we can throw the ball on one play of the set. Very predictable by the other teams in defence. At least against the Bronco's there appeared to be somewhat of a bit more attacking going on. Have you also noticed that Pat Richards is not doing his towering kick offs I wonder why this is? there would be a half in the competition who would choose one of his torpedo bombs of the kick off over an end to end. I think we have a great team of players if the coaching staff would just let them sing and do what they do we would be in the top 8 I have no doubts. GO THE TIGERS!!!!
pete bloor
Guest
problem is that the stats rugby league uses are poor there isn't really a lot of analysis done on how certain stats correlate with outscoring your opponent
no one in particular
Roar Guru
There is not much of correlation between rugby league stats and points scored (and therefore results). They are heavily flawed, but give talking heads something to talk about on TV
curaeus
Guest
So now you're blaming Farah personally for NSW's poor record over the past decade or so. Are you for real?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
I know quite a few tigers fans. None were worried last year when they lost Austin, because they had Brooks and Moses. Now they want to complain and bag the club for letting Austin go. Long term the club has made the right decision. But fans don’t think long term
cecil
Guest
JP I agree on your statement regarding Farah. But a lot of people will disagree purely on statistics. Some will even say he is better the Cam Smith based on that face alone. Hilarious isn't it
JP
Guest
Farah is a selfish player with good skills. He rates highly in club team stats, but when he rates highly his team is low on the table. He does not allow the team to play like a team consistently enough. e.g. Cameron Smith rates lower in most stats as a hooker, but his record as a team player unmatched. Every time Farah gets picked in the NSW side, you can generally bet QLD will win. Note Gould's recent article about how selfish the NSW team play footy for the past 10 years.
Tiger Fan
Guest
They should have sacked Farrah instead of Potter. All problems fixed in 2014. The board should be held accountable. This has been a recurring problem for years.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
How do these clubs get into such a mess. Don't they use accountants.