Wests Tiger Robbie Farah has gone from being the club’s 900k captain and hooker to being told he has to play in the NSW Cup if he stays.
Now, after fighting his way back into NRL contention, he could find himself with a new number on his back for Round 1.
He has already lost the “c” next to him name having relinquished the coin toss to champion prop Aaron Woods, but with the team’s normal halfback Luke Brooks suspended, Farah is the likely replacement.
Brooks was charged by the NRL Match Review Committee following the club’s Round 26 match against the Dragons.
He was charged with a Grade 1 dangerous throw in the 46th minute, and will face a one-game suspension that carries into season 2016 following an early guilty plea.
Coach Jason Taylor is fortunate to have a ‘ready-made’ NRL class hooker in Matt Ballin (ex Manly) to come straight in and play 80 minutes, but he is light on for NRL class halfbacks.
Contenders include the experienced Josh Drinkwater and new recruits Jack Littlejohn (Manly) and Jordan Rankin, who made his first grade debut in 2008 for the Gold Coast Titans, playing a total of 17 NRL matches at the club before departing at the end of 2013 for a stint in Super League with Hull FC.
Rankin is still only 23-year-old can play a range of positions including fullback, five-eighth and halfback, it will be interesting to see what his new coach has in mind for him.
Wests Tigers are playing the very dangerous Warriors in Round 1 at home and will want to ensure they have their most experienced 13 starting.
The classy Farah has filled in at both 6 and 7 in previous years when an injury had occurred during the game and he is a natural play-maker with an excellent tactical kicking game.
Foremost in the coaches’ mind will be Farah’s organisational skills and solid defence.
Taylor will also know exactly what he will get with Matt Ballin, as he is very reliable as a tackling machine, a skill that has been sadly lacking in the Tigers in previous seasons.
He will know that Ballin will plug the middle third, while Farah is free to run the team and look for opportunities, especially with his flying machine fullback James Tedesco.
tim
Guest
'Journeyman' is usually used to describe players who have played for several clubs and never received rep honours. That doesn't apply to Ballin
tim
Guest
They don't let players do that anymore
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Hi simmo Agree with that, but Farah is still the next best 7 in the list after Brooks.
KillaKanga
Roar Rookie
Dead horse or not, I'm just glad no-one has mentioned Jarryd Hayne......Damn, hoisted by my own petard :-)
simmo green
Guest
So you move the best hooker in the game to 7 in order to accommodate a hard working journeyman at 9? Moreover a journeyman that is still in rehab? In any case, Farah doesn't have either the footspeed or the kicking game to be a dominant, much less effective, halfback. Nice 'middle third' reference though, NSW Rugby Refs would appreciate broader use of their terminologies
Mike
Guest
Can't Brooks serve his suspension in the pre season or Auckland 9's????
pete bloor
Guest
Just because it is still in the news cycle doesn't mean it isn't a dead horse, that's the whole point of the saying.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Pete That all may happen, but if it does the Warriors will be much shorter in the betting to win.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz Im tipping he will be fit for round 1 and can share hooking with Manaia Cherrington if has to.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sam Its not a dead horse mate. Like it or not it will be in the news all season. What happens if Ballin has a blinder in round 1 and Brooks is available for round 2? Could Farah play off the bench?
Brendan
Guest
Not a very well researched article considering Ballin will still be coming back from an ACL. Farah at hooker, Drinkwater at half and Cherrington on the bench. It really must be the off season!
Samtwocan
Guest
The dead horse is the Farrah debacle in general Scott . And if you are still Sunning yourself good luck to you...
Pete
Guest
Dare say Ballin won't be available for the first few rounds. Still recovering from the knee surgery. Dare say Drinkwater or Rankin will run on in 7. Farah in 9 and Cherrington on the bench.
muzza
Guest
Ballin is out til at least round 4....
muzza
Guest
How is Ballin going to play hooker rnd 1 when he wont even be back from his knee reco by then??? Making up stories again are we?
shane mitchell
Guest
the only positive news i.ve read coming out of the tigs
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Happy NY Sam What makes you think I am not sunning yourself in some tropical paradise? Don't quiet get what you are trying to articulate re "dead horse laying around", but I do think whoever plays 7 in round 1 for the Tigers will be interesting. I certainly would want Farah and Ballin in my starting side.
Samtwocan
Guest
Geez Scott I would have thought you'd be still sunning yourself in some tropical paradise , perhaps you still are and had a spare half hour between getting a pedicure and heading to the pool. As they say if there's a dead horse just laying around somebody may as well flog it.