An emotional Robbie Farah has conceded he might have played his last NRL game for Wests Tigers and ridiculed coach Jason Taylor’s reasons for dumping him to reserve grade.
Taylor starred in the Tigers’ 42-24 NSW Cup win over Newtown on Saturday at Leichhardt Oval and was swamped by hundreds of fans on the ground, post-game, who chanted his name and anti-Taylor slogans.
Farah wiped away tears as he faced a throng of media after the match, making a number of pointed comments at Taylor that are sure to only stoke the growing animosity between the pair.
When asked if he thought his NRL career with the Tigers was over, Farah replied: “Possibly, but all the sentimental stuff has gone out the window for me now. Today was just as good as playing 250 at Leichhardt. Today is a day I will never forget.
“I will look back in 10 or 20 years and remember all the people who showed up in support of me, whether I play another game for the Tigers or not.
“I have given my career to this club and, in 20 years’ time, I would like to think the fans will still remember me as a player who has given my all for the club.”
In two weeks, Farah had been due to play his 250th NRL game in the Round 22 clash with North Queensland at Leichhardt.
On Saturday morning, Taylor reiterated his reasons for dumping Farah.
“Robbie is a creative dummy-half and we have a number of creative players in our team,” Taylor said.
“There is only one ball and it is hard to have too many creative players. That is the clearest way I can put it in terms of how of our team runs and how we would like it to run.”
NSW rake Farah rubbished that explanation.
“It is hard when you hear stuff being said about you, false stuff, like what was the word that was used? – ‘cohesion in attack’,” Farah said.
“I have played four games in the last 12 weeks for the Tigers. Three of those have been wins and, in three of those wins, we have scored over 30 points.
“The game that I lost, I got knocked out after 20 minutes. We haven’t scored over 30 points in a game when I haven’t been playing since round two.
“That is the most disappointing thing. I have had the finger of blame pointed at me for the way things have been going. I find that unfair. Our biggest problem is our defence, which is the second worst in the competition.
“Our attack is the least of our problems and I am the least of our problems in attack.”
Farah, who was watched from the sidelines on Saturday by current and former clubmates in Benji Marshall, Aaron Woods, Chris Lawrence and Tim Moltzen, said management was trying to force him from the club.
“I feel I am getting treated differently to some others,” he said.
“I will continue being professional and try and keep my mouth shut and try not to do anything wrong because I think that is what they are trying to get me to do. But I think I am a bit smarter than that.”
Farah, whose contract is worth around $1 million a season, has one more year on his deal with the Tigers.
Birdy
Guest
100% agree Mike. Ive been tigers sjnce the Keith Barnes days. Nothing at all to do with farah's ability its more to do with knowing his place. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that the old wests regime had issues with Sheens and gutlessly used marshall and farah as their mouth piece- Farah just cant see it. I'm eagerly awaiting Tim Sheens' book-
Mike
Guest
As a life long Tigers supporter it pains me to say I think Robbies time is up. Unfortunately it seems like one of those occasions where the player has become bigger than the club. Everyone knows he bagged Tim Sheens at the end of his tenure. He then undermined Mick Potter and got him sacked. And lo and behold early in Taylors term he decides he can't cop Robbie and wants him gone. As has been pointed out it seems Robbie is the problem not the solution. It's not about his ability its about his attitude toward the coaches and the culture that brings to the rest of the playing group. We have had years of soap operas all centred on one player. Time to do the honourable thing Robbie and move on!!
Bob
Guest
Farah is arrogant and rude He is no God and should shut up and listen to his coach if he doesn't he should leave Nobody will ever sign him again He is a trouble maker and acts like a child
Tiger
Guest
And nothing you've said has 'negated' my views. What a ridiculous statement. If anything, your spin has only made me feel more strongly about the poor treatment of someone who has given his all for the club for over a decade.
Tiger
Guest
I have a problem with the way Taylor has treated Robbie because I am a lifelong fan and his treatment has gone against everything we stand for as a club. I feel JT is tearing our club apart. To say the fans are disillusioned (whichever camp they are in) would be an understatement. I still don't understand why you are so dedicated to the cause of defending Taylor's stance. Why do you care so much about it?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Where have I personally said anything negative about Farah? You've said plenty of negative things about Taylor. I've stated a number of facts, or reported claims that negate your views. I have never once offered any opinion of Farah.
Tiger
Guest
I have lost count of the number of anti-Farah posts from you train. Why the relentless vendetta?
Danny
Guest
Spot on Don! I heard him spout those stats and thought they sounded suss and looked into it as well. Every point you have made in this one post should be the end of the discussion. The bloke is a the anchor in an underperforming team and when he is not playing, the young guns get a better chance to rack up the wins (which is the whole point that JT is making). Two more points...... 1) FARAH: “I have played four games in the last 12 weeks for the Tigers". * Based on him earing around $950,000 per season, that works out at about $120,000 for each game that he has played. Real value for money there Robbie! 2) PLAYER/CLUB LOYALTY * anyone who writes anything about "no such thing as club loyalty anymore" and "players should look after themselves" are kidding themselves. Issac Luke forced Souths to release Nathan Peats so he could sign a four year contract extension and then halfway through the next season bailed on the club in search of bigger dollars under the pathetically see through guise of "family matters". Robbie Farah has been a cancer at the Tigers for years and it's great to see a coach with some backbone, and a board not riddled with sycophants backing that coach up. I think the Tigers will make the eight this season but, even if they don't, are destined for bigger and better things in Season 2017-2020 and will be a much happier place without Farah dragging them down.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You're right, Farah's record does speak for itself. He's been a huge influence at the club over a period of poor performance. The Tigers finished 8-16 under Taylor in 2015. They're currently 8-10. In 2014 it was 10-14. In 2013 it was 7-17. In 2012 it was 11-13. In both 2010 & 2011 it was 15-9. Taylor may not be a good coach, but he inherited a basket case club which had not had a winning season since 2011, and had major cap issues, including a hooker being tied up on $900k a year but not capable of performing at that level, due to past administration. His failure to get immediate results can hardly be blamed on his coaching alone. Otherwise Sheens and Potter would have had better results from 2012 onward. Their results were quite similar to Taylor's.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Taylor can't blame Farah for his abysmal and bad coaching record at the West/Tigers, but somehow I think that is what JT is trying to do and use the Farah thing as his main excuse and regeneration for this year. We will see how the West/Tigers pan out this year (but JT don't use the Farah thing as an excuse) if you don't make the 8, it was your decision and the clubs decision and Farah should just give the West/Tigers the ass and never ever look back, his record speaks for its self with the West/Tigers and no one can take that away from him, just like Benji's does and who was that with? West/Tigers of course.
The Barry
Roar Guru
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cowcorner
Roar Pro
I heard a story indirectly from a WT sponsor. Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods were beneficiaries of the sponsorship. One of the conditions was that they go and have an occasional barbeque with the sponsor's good clients. That apparently was too much for Robbie who refused:"Mate, why would I want to go to a barbeque?"
The Barry
Roar Guru
I like the bit where Farah holds an impromptu media conference - rubbishes the coach, rubbishes the decision and claims unfair treatment. But he's going to "continue being professional".
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure opportunity cost is the term you're looking for. A deferred payment has a present value which can be accurately calculated based on the funding rate for the term of the deferment. As somebody else commented, the PV of a sum three years hence isn't much different to the FV with rates as low as they are. When you consider that he only deferred some of the contract, we're not talking much money here and he made the decision to take the deal so I don't see him as Santa Claus
Pete bloor
Guest
You are making an assumption though that the contract doesn't compensate him for that. Also were talking what 1.06^3?
Pete bloor
Guest
Pretty miniscule pay cut at today's rates though.
Mitcher
Guest
If any player in this day and age walks into a club believing that club loyalty exists, they deserve every blind side they get. Players and clubs will do what's best for them. Barring the elusive time machine that's how it will stay.
Mitcher
Guest
Robbie's? Or Don's? Or both?
AA
Guest
Jamie Soward is an example of how a player should handle a situation like this. Robbie Farah is an example of the opposite.
Trebla
Guest
A good lesson to the younger players at the club not to believe in any talk about club loyalty. They should feel freer now talking to other clubs about signing on, confident that the Tigers do not care about long careers and loyalty. Farah embodied the spirit of the club and the fans love him. Surely Taylor could have had him on the bench for the rest of the season, and the club administrators could negotiate with him in a way that allows him his self respect.