Laurie Daley has no fears of NSW hooker Robbie Farah carrying mental baggage from his ongoing stand-off with Jason Taylor into next year’s NSW Origin camp.
Farah appears increasingly likely to remain at the Wests Tigers next NRL season, despite being asked to leave by the club.
The veteran rake was told it was best that he moved on and said he had been told by coach Taylor he would be relegated to reserve grade should he remain at Concord.
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Farah after the club signed Manly veteran Matt Ballin on a two-year deal last month.
Farah has always maintained that he wanted to remain a one-club player and his options appear to be closing fast.
Newcastle coach Nathan Brown has ruled out making a play for Farah’s services and St George Illawarra are reportedly in talks with former Canberra and Sydney Roosters back-up rake Matt McIlwrick, which would leave little room on their roster for another hooker.
Even Taylor himself, who earlier this year repeatedly publicly encouraged Farah to find a new home, said he was now getting on with the job and working productively alongside the 31-year-old.
It appears the schism will continue well into 2016 and could prove an unwanted distraction for Farah ahead of the representative season.
Farah will be a key plank of Blues coach Daley’s team in 2016 after they relinquished the Origin shield to Queensland this year, and will need him fully focused come Origin I at ANZ Stadium on June 1.
Daley said that after sitting down with Farah last week, he was confident he had his mind on the job and wouldn’t be scarred by the saga.
“I know Robbie’s training extremely hard and I’m pretty confident that will sort itself out,” Daley said.
“He’s an important member of our team and has been over the last couple of years. But that’s for the Wests Tigers to work out that situation.
“All reports are it’s going fantastically well in the off-season and they’re all training really well and getting on well.”
Bonza
Guest
given the cricket on display this summer we may as well talk Origin. In fact lets pick the team now, to fool Qld.......just fit James Roberts and Blake Ferguson in there somewhere.
Bonza
Guest
The more I see Loz stubbornly stick and pick the more it seems 2014 was due to Hayne, a Hodko try and no Cronk. Daley was a legend on the field but guaranteeing players in November makes me lie in the foetal position and cry.
Niall
Guest
To be fair, Bellamy had a very different set of players to choose from. Its not even about Farah. It's about quality players being held back because of BS reasons.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
May as well just lock up the trophy in QLD for another year then, based on what we saw last year Damien Cook could do better, and that's not a good sign.
pete bloor
Guest
Even that he does say "Obviously you have to have a look at who's going well and who is not, but if you ask me here and now, it wouldn't worry me" So it does sound like he's asked a question and he tries to caveat it but everyone just ignores that and picks the bits out they want to. when you said "If we get to May and Farah is in reserve grade but Daley feels he is still playing well enough and is the best man for the job so be it. " it sounds a lot like that's what Daley is saying.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Fair enough Pete. It's not in this article. Daley has come out and said in other interviews that he'll pick Farah from reserve grade. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-28/daley-would-pick-farah-from-reserve-grade/6731532
pete bloor
Guest
But Barry is he making that call I've re read the article several times now and none of the quotes suggest he is? In fact they suggests he doesn't think he'll be playing reserve grade right and that this will all be water under the bridge. I think it's a bit tough to hang Laurie out to dry on Steve's interpretation. Now if Steve's got quotes saying he will select him regardless fine but surely you'd put them in.
Samtwocan
Guest
I don't know that he's up to origin level but as pointed out Bellyache ( one of the best in the biz at club level ) has a much lower percentage of success . LD is at 44% and in reality his ability to select another Thurston , Cronk or Smith is non existent. His selection of Pearce is criticised and I can see arguments for both sides on that one but is a different half going to make the difference if the game plan is one out hitups and kick on the fifth. At the end of the day the QLD side has been freakish but some of the NSW game plans and selections have been dumbfounding. And I can't see any relief this year .
The eye
Guest
Real coach ? Belly preceded Laurie for 22% success.. Who's the option to Farah..Rein doesnt have the smarts,Ennis doesnt lift to the level,Peats is coming off a broken leg..
Niall
Guest
You're right, Sleiman. Laurie has the job because his face fits and he mixes in the correct circles. I'd love to see how a real coach would put together the team. So much NSW talent ignored because of the old mates act and the favouritism for 'TOUGH' 'ORIGIN PLAYERS' (YAWN)
cecil
Guest
surely he is joking… But as we all know he is not, Laurie is not up to origin level to coach or select. The last 10 years haven been a disaster, if he coaches Pearce will be in the halves and Robbie at hooker. Selections have been a nightmare, picking the same blokes over and over again and no game plan apart from bomb the ball, play through the middle and don’t let the ball go past the second rowers only on odd occasions and when they do there is no over lap or thought process. Time to blood some new players, and don’t say Robbie makes massive amounts of tackles every origin, Qld target him to tire him out so his attack lingers.
cecil
Guest
Laurie has to go, the boys club have killed NSW origin hopes. You can't pick and stick after only winning 1 origin in 10 years, Its madness!
HarryT
Guest
And yet every other club playing the game doesn't want to touch him.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
With all due respect, I just don't think he is a good enough coach.
Samtwocan
Guest
This is just a story for the sake of taking up space In the off season . Maybe woodsy can be left in ressies as well so they can work on some combinations .
pete bloor
Guest
Has he done the pre selection thing though? Take out the author's scene setting and just read the quotes: “I know Robbie’s training extremely hard and I’m pretty confident that will sort itself out,” Daley said. “He’s an important member of our team and has been over the last couple of years. But that’s for the Wests Tigers to work out that situation. “All reports are it’s going fantastically well in the off-season and they’re all training really well and getting on well.” That doesn't sound like he's said - we'll pick him from reserve grade and regardless of form. That sounds like he thinks he's mentally and physically prepared for the season and will be playing first grade but that it will ultimately be up to the tigers.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yep - that's where I am too Sleiman. If we get to May and Farah is in reserve grade but Daley feels he is still playing well enough and is the best man for the job so be it. But to call it in November in such a unique situation with so many unknowns between now and then is ridiculous.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I have no problem with Daley picking players in reserve grade. The problem is the pre-selection mentality.
Mike from Tari
Guest
So Daley is going to do an Olsen Filipaina with Farah who was picked out of Balmains reserve grade to play for the Kiwis.
Zorean
Guest
Daley is hell-bent on sticking to every decision he's ever made. Recipe for disaster really. Youve got to adapt. Youve got to have a gameplan. You look at the combo of strengths n weakness of your available Blues vs the Maroons. Auto-selecting Farah is premature.