Wests Tigers star Robbie Farah has asked for a release from the final two years of his contract at the joint venture with the Sydney Roosters emerging as a shock contender for his services.
The Tigers released a statement on Saturday confirming the request was made by Farah’s management.
It’s believed the remainder of Farah’s contract is worth around $1.9 million and he wants to be paid out completely.
Tigers boss Justin Pascoe said the club would work with Farah’s representatives to ensure the terms of the release were agreeable to both parties.
“Any decision taken in regards to this release will consider the club’s responsibility and commitment to ensuring this club transfers itself into a strong position for a sustainable future,” Pascoe said.
“As such, Robbie will remain a part of his this club until such an agreement is reached.”
The Tigers media release came a few hours after reports surfaced that Farah’s manager Sam Ayoub emailed the club on Friday night asking for the 31-year-old hooker to be released.
Tigers’ 238-game stalwart Farah has also been linked to Penrith, Manly, South Sydney, St George Illawarra before the Roosters emerged from the pack.
Fairfax Media said on Saturday Farah was in secret talks about moving to the Bondi Junction club who already boast an outstanding hooker in Jake Friend.
It’s believed Farah is viewed by the Roosters as being a valuable addition to the squad and wouldn’t be bumping Friend out of his current role.
Farah had been heavily linked with the Dragons and his former Tigers teammate and now St George Illawarra playmaker Benji Marshall would love to see him in the Red V.
“Absolutely I would,” said Marshall on Friday.
“He is a class player. The problem is we have a class hooker in Mitchell Rein.
“So if Mitch is at the club, I think he has a great future, he is a future Origin star, and if Robbie joins the ranks that is another extra hooker on the books.”
The latest development in the Farah saga comes after Tigers coach Jason Taylor said earlier this week he was confident the veteran would stay at the club.
Farah was given permission by the Tigers to talk with other clubs in August after being told he would play reserve grade if he remained at Concord.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Hi Robbie.
Birdy
Guest
Daniel p, I know the NRL would not like to set a precedent in financially bailing out a club , but as I said desperate times require desperate measures . South west Sydney is definately a priority region. Has to have a team. Already there are rumours of Tedesco , Moses and Brooks looking at what else is available. Assuming Farrer goes , that's the whole building block for the next decade gone. Now let's see, the last time western suburbs won the premiership was 1951, Balmain 1969 and Wests 2005. I think the club no longer needs promises and financial reports, I think we need success now , not in 5 years , now! Time for the NRL to fix this stuff up for once and for all! Two broke clubs allowed to merge and set up in a high growth area. Yep sounds like an NRL stuff up to me! Show me the money!
pete bloor
Guest
The chooks haven't really signed any key first graders post loosing Maloney and RTS, As much as other teams bleat they've picked up Jennings and Ferguson by being able to use their cap outside of when there is a bidding war. Sometimes it seems like managing a front office in the NRL is a simple as just letting some of the other teams do what they want and then walk in a pick up the pieces you want once they predictably blow themselves up.
pete bloor
Guest
If it's the best bid they've got then not much choice right.
Big J
Guest
100 percent correct
daniel p
Guest
The NRL should absolutely not be clearing any debts this club has!
m hughes
Guest
pratten please stop it taylor is overated this is a guy who put Lovett in the centres and guess what Penrith flogged us couldn't coach under 6's let alone nrl Robbie is a true legend of the wests tigers not Balmain or wests yes they both have great history lets move on and embrace the wests tigers before we have no team to support . SACK TAYLOR NOW INSTALL CLEARY .
chivasdude
Guest
Why ask for his full entitlements? Why not? It is a negotiation. But my fear is that the incompetent Tigers Board and a naïve Taylor went too hard to move Robbie on. Taylor basically saying that if he stayed he would play "Reserve Grade" is tantamount to constructive dismissal. This is why he might, in law, be entitled to ask for the full contract amount. Maybe a lawyer can comment? In any event, much of the money is actually owed from previous services, so he is entitled to that at least. I always doubted that, with the timing of all this, any Club would have that much room under the salary cap, meaning that the Tigers would be on the hook for the majority of the contract payments. I think that a new CEO (Pascoe) comes in, realises this, and is trying to band aid over it. An ambassadorial role after retirement? Things have gone too far for this and I reckon this was only offered to push the payments further down the road. I doubt Robbie or his management will agree. An indictment of the TIgers Board appointed by the NRL under Smith. When you appoint people with no idea about sports management...this is the result.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Both Taylor, the coach, and the Wests Tigers Board Chair, Go, tried CtD and then blinked and then some and capitulated. As befitting a great rugby league star and legend, Robbie Farah spotted a slight opening and then went for the jugular. Well played Robbie; just well played, Champ.
Akari
Roar Rookie
Robbie Farah to you, Big J. A contract is a contract and must be honoured or face the courts. In any case, Wests Tigers is a basket case now and likely to be so for the next few years.
boonboon
Roar Pro
Tigers only paid Blairs contract in 15 not for 16 - Brisbane are paying full freight for Blair next year. Sadly Blair was a good influence but had to deal with Farah and had no time for him either
boonboon
Roar Pro
I'm one too - he has made the decision to get rid of Farah and the behaviour of the Farah camp since and for past few years shows just why it was nessecary
Ken
Guest
Why does he ask to get paid out in full? It's a starting point for negotiations. He's not simply quitting either, a few months ago they told him to look elsewhere and that he wasn't part of their plans next season. Add in the bits about being owed money and it seems like requesting to be paid out of a contract is a fair place to start your bargaining. According to the media the club has done a complete 180 and are now offering him a contract extension so who knows what's going to happen.
I Know Everything
Guest
No wonder NRL "clubs" are under constant financial stress. Weak, ridiculous contracts that allow payment of multi million dollars to be paid to non playing "players" just beggers belief. Until League is administered professionally it will never expand beyond Qld,NSW, NZ and northern England. The whole Farrah saga is a sad, sad joke.
Birdy
Guest
I think Balmain are terminal , never to be heard from again , they have even lost rights to their name. If they (wests) want to move forward now, hopefully the NRL 's all of game review will recognise the south west is a priority area that must have representation. That being so the NRL , having taken control of the wests board should clear all their debts, caused by incompetent management who are no longer there, and then rebuild. It was the NRL who allowed this flawed merger and also allowed back ended contracts. It's partially their fault let them assist in fixing it. For me re name them the magpies, let them play in black and white, and set us Balmain boys free. Although I've always had this feeling the doggies have always been sniffing around the area. As for all the in fighting , I can't wait for Tim Sheens ' book. Has to happen soon.
Inner westie
Guest
I must be one of the other three. His record at Parra and Souths was good and Trent Robinson valued him at Chooks. I noticed that Farah met with Di Giralomo before announcing his dummy spit..I also notice that Balmain have about 8 days before they sink into the financial abyss
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Mergers (whether they be in sport or business) are interesting and challenging beasts. And most of the time don't work. It seems that those that do are the ones that are mergers in name, but takeovers in practice. The Wests Tigers board has been so distracted by all the infighting they've been unable to back their coaching staff as they should. As such, Farrah (who should have been turfed years ago) has been able to undermine multiple coaches over the years. This has l d to the club being forced to spend large sums on ex-coaches. Which simply contributes to the whole vicious circle. Maybe the current board has finally seen the light? Are they finally backing a coach who has the willingness to stare down Farrah?
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Tigers would want the Roosters to take on a lot more then that. No way they let him go for 200
Renegade
Roar Guru
Except Brisbane are still paying $400k of Barba's contract.
Jarijari
Guest
Ha, you said it Baz, me too. But the real problems appear to lie with: 1) The divisiveness of the two old clubs on the board. 2) Ongoing poor administration. 3) The Tigers' inability to re-establish their Rozelle base. 4) Mergers between disparate areas and cultures that don't work in the long run. 5) The desperation to keep young stars when you know many are going to be picked up by wealthier, more successful clubs who can work third-party deals. 6} The inability to lure big, effective forwards. 7) Overpaying older blokes like Benji and Robbie. 8) Farah's disregard of the coaches. 9) Jason Taylor. 10) The cheerleaders are too well fed (no, just joking girls, definitely withdrawing that one, best part of the club). Whatever the reasons, it's an overall dysfunction that doesn't appear to have a ready solution. They could move way out west, with another merger, and become the Wests Tiger Sharks in Perth. It does make sense for the NRL to start up a new club in Queensland, whether it's in Brisbane, Ipswich or Central Qld, and relocate another to WA, rather than increase the number of teams. Maybe 2016 will give us new hope, but I doubt it.