Who cares who wins the minor premiership? Who cares who gets the wooden spoon? Who even cares who wins the grand final? Right now, all anyone wants to know is what is going to happen next at Wests Tigers.
ARTICLE: HAS HAYNE ALREADY MADE THE 49ERS’ 53-MAN ROSTER?
That may be an exaggeration, but surely even the most fanatical of supporters who always have their team’s fortunes at the top of their care list no matter what else is going on would still be fascinated by the drama surrounding Robbie Farah and Jason Taylor.
Farah had already established a big lead in the public relations battle – and then he went out and played a blinder for the Tigers as they smacked the sorry behinds of the Warriors at Campbelltown on Sunday.
Then afterwards came one of the most uncomfortable media conferences imaginable as Taylor and Farah fronted up. They sat close together, but were effectively miles apart.
Taylor made it clear he wanted to put the accent on veteran players Pat Richards and Keith Galloway having gone out winners in their final home game for the Tigers and not dwell on the events of the past week.
But Farah was happy to make clear his intention to remain at the Tigers next season, despite the coach not wanting him.
Asked if, as far as he was concerned, the match he had just played was his last home game for the Tigers, Farah answered with a very definite “no”.
Asked if he could work with Taylor next season, were it to turn out that way, Farah said “yeah, that’s never been a problem from my end, that’s never been a problem and it won’t be a problem”.
The Tigers have handled the Farah situation poorly and really have no excuse for not handling it much better. The fans have made it abundantly clear they are behind Farah.
How it all pans out remains to be seen, but we will find out a lot from how resolute the powers-that-be at the club are this week.
There is only one game to go. My guess is that they will put the hard-hats on with the aim of getting to the end of the season and then having the matter reach its conclusion at least without the background of regular media conferences for the players and coach that are scheduled in-season.
It is late in the season and Farah has a contract for another two years worth almost $2 million in total, so the difficulty for him in finding another NRL club – and one that he would really want to go to – is clear.
But you never rule out anything in this game. It is still possible something suitable could open up for him – particularly since the Tigers are prepared to pay a big chunk of his salary if he were to go.
If the Tigers don’t blink, it is hard to see Farah being at the club next year. That is, unless he can’t find something else that he likes here and doesn’t want to go to England. Then, he might just become the highest-paid reserve-grader in the history of the game. Talk about bizarre.
But back to that other matter of who will win the competition. Now that Sydney Roosters and Brisbane are set to fill the first two places in the top eight I’m prepared to narrow it down to them.
North Queensland is wobbling at the wrong end of the season, South Sydney appears satisfied with making cameos rather than adopting a starring role and now injuries are hitting the Rabbitohs on top of that, and Melbourne isn’t quite good enough.
I’m not convinced that either Cronulla or Canterbury can go all the way and St George Illawarra is just making up the numbers.
This week’s final round couldn’t have worked out better for the Roosters and Broncos. Brisbane plays Melbourne at home on Thursday and the Roosters play Souths at home on Friday.
The two qualifying finals on the first weekend of the post-season are played on the Friday and Saturday, which means the Roosters and Broncos will each get plenty of time in which to recover and then prepare to try to win straight through to week three of the finals.
Any advantage could be important in a tough competition like the NRL.
AA
Guest
The tigers are perennial losers. The only constant leader at the club in the last 5 years has been Farah. Step one for improving your fortunes is getting the wrong ppl off the bus. No one doubts Farah can play. Luke Lewis and Michael Jennings could play too when Penrith moved them on... From memory two years later they finished in the top 4 with a no frills team (not one player to the standard of Farah or Teddy) and missed the GF by a whisker. No promises but I think its a better plan than banking on a 30something bloke who is only going to get older, slower and probably more senile.
Sarah paulson
Guest
Hey guru! how do you know he is undermining the coach? Do you have sources? And if so what has been said? Tell us more about whats going on behind closed doors. I am sincerely intrigued so please share what you know and your knowledge,
Merry Gerry
Guest
When are they are a top four! When is that? Is that because they are niw making all of these "difficult" decisions that automatically gives them a top 4 spot for years to come? Seriously, have a look at the players they have axed over the last 5 years and the promises of new beginnjngs. Still fighting for the spoon i see. No top 4 position! I know when we come mid to low tabke next year we will again a get a new coach and board in who will say the exact same thing in executive talk, " we are building for the future". That future was promised 5 years a go and again i will remind you, we are playing for the spoon. The place is a rabble and i just dont buy it anymore, the day has come to stop insulting everybodys intelligence! Unless your gullible and you enjoy that type of thing.
Merry Gerry
Guest
Mate, buy a fullstop. I nearly exploded!
Kaks
Roar Guru
Sounds like Parra for the last 10 years
GB
Guest
No. This is a misrepresentation of the truth. In 2000, Western Suburbs could not stand alone due to the (ridiculous) criteria set by the NRL, predominately due to low crowds. Wests were not active in buying over priced players in the SL War and relied on local juniors not ready for first grade and hence performance on the field and crowds suffered. You can argue that the merger with Balmain assisted Western Suburbs in maintaining an NRL presence, however Western Suburbs has never required Balmain to pay its share of costs in the joint venture.
JoM
Roar Rookie
Wasn't it the Balmain part that propped up the Wests part for the first couple of years after the merge?
JoM
Roar Rookie
Why when it was a beautiful sunny Sunday and they got 6,000 or 7,000 there.
Michael
Guest
When they appointed Jason Taylor last year the writing was on the wall. There would have had some doubts about whether he and Robbie could cooperate together. It seems like it hasn't worked out, if it had Robbie wouldn't be in the situation he is in today.
Mick hughes
Guest
I am sick of the so called experts blaming farah the blame lies entirely at the club management and coach Taylor has stated all year that we have to change our playing style well I have news for him since the wests tigers were formed we have always played an attacking style of footy great to watch yesterday's result was embarressing for the board and Taylor and everyone saying he can find a new club this late in the year most clubs rosters are chosen for next year . A club legend like farah should be afforded a proper send off not the current situation
Maverick1990
Roar Rookie
Robbie needs to get himself sorted our. His ego is too big
Tomas Kelly
Roar Rookie
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed (and a little sorry for Tigers fans) watching this awkwardly unfold yesterday. It made a mockery of professional sport to be completely honest. The season's end couldn't come soon enough with both sides needing to swallow a bit of pride and sort this out ASAP.
Campbell Watts
Guest
Bugger off G! You can keep those sharkies! ;)
TrueTiger
Guest
Ricky's downfall as SOO coach??? He took another job at Parra! Geez mate wake up.
TrueTiger
Guest
Let me guess - you are not even a tigers fan. This may not have been his best season but he's been playing with injuries and a coach that has been trying to coach the finnesse out of his game. Look what happened when he decided he'd go back to his old style on the weekend. JT is the one who has justified his sacking. His decisions have been pathetic all year and he always passes the buck. It has just been one excuse after another.
TrueTiger
Guest
How about you go move to Perth!
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
Robbie Farah needs to go. For too long it's been what Robbie wants, Robbie gets at the Tigers. The last two coaches have had some kind of issue with Farah and have been sacked. If a player is undermining the coach, it doesn't matter how good they are, they need to stop or they need to go.
PGNEWC
Guest
Agreed Jason Taylor was divisive at Souths and was the same as a player. Chaos seem to follow him
Casper
Guest
Farah obviously has had a part in the demise of two senior coaches at the Tigers so far, so who can blame Taylor for launching a pre-emotive strike. Farah was probably also a key contributor to Ricky's downfall with the blues in SOO because he wouldn't follow the game plan. Selfish and overpaid.
GD66
Guest
Bingo ! Bang on, DT.