Sests Tigers and New South Wales Blues hooker and vice-captain Robbie Farah has been dumped to reserve grade.
Despite being named on the bench to play when teams were announced on Tuesday Afternoon for the round ahead, Farah has since been dropped.
It seems a strange decision for the struggling Tigers outfit to undertake, given they have lost one of their hookers Matt Ballin to injury for the rest of the season, after being out for most of the first half of the season.
Farah’s form has been questionable for the Tigers, but he seemed to get the job done for New South Wales during the recent Origin series.
Farah’s axing was first reported by Josh Massoud on Twitter.
It could provide the fuel to re-ignite the fire and arguments between the Wests Tigers board and Farah, who went from the clubs favourite sun to being at war with the board and coach Jason Taylor.
Many in the media believe he was behind the sacking of the club’s previous coach, Michael Potter, and has never got on with Taylor.
The club wanted to release Farah at the end of last year, but with his contract still in effect Farah refused to go. Threats were made that one of the club’s highest paid players would remain glued in reserve grade, although that hasn’t been carried out.
Farah has spent a lot of this season on the bench though, and being named there against the similarly struggling St George Illawarra Dragons this weekend wasn’t a great surprise, but this new information is a nasty blow for Farah and the situation could develop further throughout the week.
He will play in the NSW Cup clash against the Newtown Jets at Leichhardt Oval.
Wests Tigers can confirm that Robbie Farah will not play for the Club’s first-grade team on Sunday against the St. George-Illawarra Dragons.
Head Coach Jason Taylor informed Farah on Wednesday that he will not be in the NRL team to face St. George-Illawarra this Sunday.
“This was not an easy decision to make, but I have selected the 17 players that I believe will give the Club the best chance of victory against the Dragons,” Taylor said.
“Robbie is understandably disappointed, but I have spoken at length with him that he will be given every opportunity to regain his position in the NRL team.”
Farah will play for the Club’s Intrust Super Premiership team on Saturday, July 23 against Newtown Jets at Leichhardt Oval.
Davico55
Guest
So in other words you are a Robbie Fan not a Tigers fan, as anybody who says that they would rather the team lose just to give someone a personal milestone is obviously not a real fan of the club. It is a TEAM game and the players are very well compensated for their efforts. The club does not owe Farah anything apart from what is in his contract.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Surely if Robbie plays how the coach wants then the issue has to end there. But this has been going on a while, you have to wonder if Farah can (cant see why he couldn't though) or won't do it.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What negative comments have I said about Farah? I've outlined what the coach thinks, and what the general commentary about the team's performance has been.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Spot on.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What many Farah supporters won't acknowledge this is part of his doing. It's not his fault the club agreed to such and overpriced deal. But he asked for it, and if you come into any job asking for a certain salary, you will be expected to perform at that salary level. Is Farah performing as a $900k a year player?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The media storm that was based on Farah's comments right? He got Potter sacked by repeating something Farah said...
Davico
Guest
So with Robbie in we have lost to the knghts, been flogged by the Roosters, flogged by the raiders, flogged by the dogs, lost to a bad storm at LO, and 2 of the wins with him starting have come against the bunnies who are useless this year. Explain to me how the easier games have been when he has been out? And by the way results does not just refer to win/loss it is how we have played
Tiger
Guest
All you've done is write off RF at every opportunity- real objective!!
Tiger
Guest
Easier games when he's been out
Tiger
Guest
Yes I am saying Tallis got Potter sacked. He's the one who started the media storm. And it hasn't been the same problems with all 3 coaches. They've all been unique situations.
Davico
Guest
Farah has been loyal to the club because the old board paid him about twice what he was ever worth and let he walk all over previous coaches. If Robbie want's to coach apply for the role or shut your mouth and do what the coach says is best for the team.
Davico
Guest
As far as I am aware his contract is being honored and nowhere in said contract would it say that he is guaranteed to flay 1st grade or make it to 250 games. By the way JT is on a hell of a lot less than RF and has far more to lose in this situation.Take the blinkers off we are not in the 8 and have a better record without RF than with this season.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
How did Tallis get Potter sacked? All Farah had to do to quash that story in July when his comments were brought to light by Tallis (and the Tigers were going quite well) was come out with something along the lines of "it was last year when I said that, I didn't see the plan Mick had for the team long term, he has our team improving blah blah blah" and things probably would've been fine.
sham
Guest
True maybe they both have to compromise - maybe Robbie changes his style a bit and still plays. If they fight a battle they could both lose.
Davico
Guest
So how do you explain the results when he is in the side vs out?? And by the way I have probably been a Tigers fan since before you were born!
Davico
Guest
Tallis got Potter sacked??? Wow are you robbie Farah????? I am honestly asking that!!
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The real question to me is, who the heck would want to coach the Tigers if Taylor got punted. Realistically he probably wanted the job because it was his only chance of coaching in the top grade again, but for coaches not in a compromised position it's hard to see why they'd want to take on the job.
sham
Guest
Those supporting Farah must love punting coaches. Lets say they punt Taylor to allow Farah to continue his slow service at dummy half what then? That would be three coaches in a row that Robbie has had punted. Maybe he would then go for four. No half decent coach would go to the tigers if Farah stays in charge. No other side fears Farah - he no longer poses much of a threat.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't. But to be objective you have to put yourself in both people's shoes. You can only see it from the angle that Farah is a club legend and deserves to have the team be built around him, you don't see to consider it his current form warrants that. You're only considering past deeds.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Taylor's only interest in this is the team performing well. That happens his coaching reputation rises. Farah has the interest of the team doing well. But that has no impact on his future. He has an interest in getting paid as much as he can, that does impact is future. Both Farah's interests do conflict.