The Wests Tigers have today confirmed that Robbie Farah will return to the club effective immediately to aid the side’s finals push.
Farah was contracted to the South Sydney Rabbitohs for two years and played a key role in their recent victories over the Cronulla Sharks and Gold Coast Titans during the Origin period.
Outside of that, however, the former NSW Blues hooker has been restricted to playing for South Sydney’s NSW Cup team, the North Sydney Bears.
The Rabbitohs are genuine premiership contenders this season, currently sitting second on the premiership ladder and do not have a first-grade quality back-up hooker available if current rake Damien Cook went down injured.
However, it is understood that Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold promised Farah he could leave the club this year if an opportunity came up at another NRL side.
In a statement released on the Wests Tigers website, coach Ivan Cleary said that he was looking forward to having Farah back at the team he spent so much time at before moving to Souths.
“I look forward to welcoming Robbie back home to Wests Tigers this week,” said Cleary.
“Robbie brings a wealth of experience back to the club in a position where we feel we need some additional support at this stage of the season.
“All of my discussions with Robbie have been very positive, he understands the direction that the club is heading in, and how he can help contribute to that.”
Farah, who played 247 first-grade games for the Tigers before leaving at the end of 2016, will begin training this week and is available for selection in the club’s match against the Titans after rep weekend.
The Tigers currently sit in 10th position on the NRL ladder, four points adrift of the eighth-placed Broncos.
The acquisition of Farah is a massive boost for the club given that they have struggled to nail down a regular starting hooker in 2018, with Elijah Taylor, Matt McIllwrick and Jacob Liddle all featuring in the No. 9 jersey this year.
Rozco
Guest
Yes he was a moron. Board should have stood up for Robbie, now they have him back !!
Big daddy
Guest
It's a fake with an "R" .
BA Sports
Roar Guru
It is only for the remainder of the year isn't it? That isn't telling Liddle he isn't good enough, just - you're not ready. Liddle is a great talent, but he hasn't been able to show it consistently/stay on the park consistently. McIllwrick has played 4 games this year, and hasn't looked dangerous at all in any of them - Has run for a total of just 83m in 4 games and has not even broken a single tackle . Farah has played half the number of games, run for 99m and busted half a dozen tackles and made a line break. He simply isn't as good as Farah.
Big daddy
Guest
While we're at it why not bring back Beau and also bring back Scotty prince out of retirement. By bringing back the virus your telling mcilwrick and liddle "your not good enough" And the board doing a back flip tells you what sort of loyalty they have.
jacko
Guest
Dutski the tigers have a coach who specailises in finishing each season in 9th-12 position......maybe he is selecting his players so he can continue this extrordinary run
Dutski
Roar Guru
Someone enlighten me. McIlwrick is playing good footy and it’s widely acknowledged that when Taylor goes to dummy half it’s a backward step. So why doesn’t McIlwrick just get more minutes? It’s all academic now as he’s being bumped down the pecking order, but you can hardly fault the guy for not nailing down a spot - the guy gets him off despite playing good footy. I just don’t get it.
Birdy
Guest
Nothing to do with Farah's skill set but in his last season with West's he wanted to run the whole show, almost to the point that we wondered why Moses and Brooks had such big wraps. Brooks is now having his best season . Tigers may have the fewest tries in the comp but are near the best in defence. The attack will improve with Farah adding another dimension without smothering his halves, if that is better wording.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
"Let the halves do their job"...What job is that? Leading the Tigers to the second fewest tries in the competition? He has to be allowed to play. He has played 270+ first grade games, 16 Origin games and 12 Tests - winning a comp somewhere in the middle of all of that. Just let the guy play what is in front of him.
Birdy
Guest
I think Farah's instructions will be , dummy half, defence and let the halves do their job.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Another word for the hooker position in rugby league. Rake, hooker, No. 9 etc. This is from Wikipedia and explains it: During scrums the hooker plays in the front row, and the position's name comes from their role of 'hooking' or 'raking' the ball back with the foot. For this reason the hooker is sometimes referred to as the rake.
RoryStorm
Guest
Mr X. Could you please enlighten me. What exactly is a "rake"?
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Yep. Seibold did make a promise to Farah though but it is a massive call for the reasons that you stated BA. Could turn the comp upside down if Cook gets injured.
Nat
Roar Guru
This is a big call from the WT board. Maybe a stint in the reserves has given Farrah some perspective as it did Benji but his attack has been less then special for quite while now. Although, considering their defensive effort against the Raiders, he will improve that area.
Birdy
Guest
I was glad to see both Farah and Marshall go. Even though I believe they were used by a gutless board as far back as the Sheen days, they were out of control. Benji has come back with a bang showing true maturity allowing, I believe a chance for Farah's return. Now let's move into the 8 where we belong and celebrate Farah's 250.
Deano70
Guest
Farah will make a difference and will possibly escort the tigers into the lower half of the 8. The service from ElijahTaylor has been abysmal, every second or third pass over the head of the half, it has cost us tries. Tigers need an 80 minute hooker, I’m sure that next season that will be Jake Liddle but right now Farah will be awesome. Can’t wait for Robbie’s 250th welcome back Robbie!!
Big daddy
Guest
Maybe robbie had the same effect on south's as he did at the tigers and were glad to get rid of him. Wouldn't touch him with a barge pole. Just think of the effect it has on a young guy like liddle Probably can't wait to get out of their. Tigers not looking to future , just a short term fix.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
This is really a bizarre move by the Rabbitohs. They are a chance to win the comp. If Cook went down, it would hurt them but with Farah they still would have had one of the best half dozen hookers in the comp and still been a chance. Now...? If Cook goes down - and lets face it a running hooker and not the biggest guy to ever play the game has to carry some inherent risk - the option is... Billy Brittain? If I was Damien Cook I would be up'ing my insurance premium because Murphys Law suggests now that the Bunnies have no viable back up, something will go wrong...
Paul
Roar Guru
Ivan Cleary is a very different proposition than Jason Taylor so hopefully Robbie doesn't try and test him out. I don't think he's the missing piece for the Tigers to make the finals, but he could help lift the team which seems down at present. It's also an interesting move by the Bunnies. Farah is never going to replace Cook, but not having a back up if Cook's injured or suspended is an interesting move from a finals side. They most be pretty confident they have both the man and the position covered
Chivasdude
Guest
Welcome back Robbie. We can use an experienced #9 and, make no mistake, Farah proved in his 2 games with Souths that he still has it. This will tighten our defense up the middle and, like with Benji, the youngsters will benefit from his presence in the same way Damian Cook says he did. And call me sentimental, but Robbie and Benji deserve to go out together as Tigers.
tim
Guest
Blaming him twice, apparently. Seems right.