Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor was full of praise for a couple of the NRL club’s departing stalwarts ahead of Saturday’s clash with St George Illawarra – Robbie Farah wasn’t one of them.
A fired up Taylor came out swinging at a media conference on Friday, refusing to answer questions on the Farah saga.
Taylor addressed the media pack before a question was asked at Concord Oval ahead of the clash with the Dragons at ANZ Stadium.
“As a club, we don’t have anything more to say on the Robbie issue,” Taylor said.
“So if you’re going to ask me questions on that … we might as well move on. If you want to ask me anything about the Dragons, then let’s discuss it.”
Taylor was happy to talk about Tigers veterans Keith Galloway and Pat Richards who will both continue their careers in the Super League.
But the big question is whether 31-year-old Farah, who has played over 200 games for the club, will play again for the Tigers.
“They are just a pleasure to coach those two guys (Galloway and Richards) and we really wish them all the best,” he said.
Club great Farah, who along with Richards won a premiership at the Tigers in 2005, was told last week his services were not required beyond this season, but if he wished to stay, he’d be playing reserve grade.
The move prompted Farah to produce one of his best performances for the Tigers in years as they dispatched the Warriors in Campbelltown last weekend.
Another man-of-the-match effort from Farah would put more egg on the face of Taylor who has been widely hammered by Tigers fans since the call was made on the skipper.
St George Illawarra come into the game after an embarrassing loss to Gold Coast, but cling to eighth spot and would need an absolute disaster to prevent them playing finals footy.
The Dragons sit one win clear of Manly and boast a vastly superior points differential to the Sea Eagles.
“They may not have to win, but they’ll be playing like they do, so there’ll be a bit of semi-final intensity about it,” Taylor said.
Dragons five-eighth Gareth Widdop remains in doubt due to a quad injury, while the Tigers’ Chris Lawrence has been ruled out of the clash with a pectoral muscle injury.
The Tigers’ win over the Warriors moved them to 14th spot and only a serious flogging by the Dragons would see them claim the wooden spoon.
STATS THAT MATTER
– A win in this game will secure the Dragons their first semi-finals berth since 2011.
– Five of the past seven matches between these two sides have been decided by 16 points or more and six of the Tigers’ eight wins this season have been by 16 points or more, including their 22-4 win over the Dragons in round two.
pete bloor
Guest
If that is true then Robbie just mailed in 4 years of football
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Consider that the Tigers were essentially playing the Warriors NSW Cup side at home when they won last week. Any team that couldn't win that deserves to have all their contracts put through the shredder.
Ginger Meggs
Guest
Farah has a problem with coaches...Souths have a problem with their one, or perhaps two passes off the ruck coaching regime. Souths are losing Luke, have let Peats and Koroisau go to other clubs, and young McInnes, despite a sterling career in the juniors, is not yet ready for the top grade. They need a good hooker and forwards leader. Souths should offer Farah the job of captain/coach. Then he can decide the game plan and won't have anyone to argue with. They can get him pretty cheap, going 50/50 with Wests on his contract. Packer can pay off Maguire. Coaches fees are not under the salary cap. Maguire can use the money to set up a high class fitness centre and Packer won't miss some spare change. Wests have got rid of a player they don't want and some of their salary cap back. Most importantly the 35,000 Souths members could look forward to the beginnings of a revitalised team in 2016 instead of a continuation the dispirited, beaten up group that they have at the moment. Everybody is happy.
steveng
Roar Rookie
There is nothing for Taylor to concentrate on! If Robbie doesn't play or play well then the Wests/Tigers don't do anything, as it was proven last week when Robbie made a point!.