Robbie Farah staying at Tigers as contract stand-off comes to an end
November 30, 2015 11:00pm
Dean Ritchie ExclusiveThe Daily Telegraph
STAR hooker Robbie Farah will officially play out his NRL career at Wests Tigers.
The stunning development will be formally announced by Wests Tigers management in the next 24 to 48 hours.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the club will issue a media statement confirming Farah will now fulfill the final two years of his contract at Concord.
The cease fire ends an ugly three-month standoff between Farah and the club.
The Tigers initially told the star hooker he was free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs.
The saga has threatened to rip the Tigers apart and made the club a laughing stock
Coach Jason Taylor and Robbie Farah at a pre-season camp at Nelson Bay. Picture by Peter Lorimer.
But the revelation that Farah will stay will delight fans and members.
Wests Tigers will now pay Farah his $1.9 million contract money for seasons 2016 and 2017.
The Daily Telegraph understands Wests Tigers will also apologise to fans and members for their treatment during the Farah drama.
There won’t be any official apology to Farah.
Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe was contacted on Monday night by The Daily Telegraph but declied to comment.
LISTEN: Dean Ritchie with the latest on Robbie Farah remaining at the Tigers
Farah asked for a release to join another club only last week.
Any interest the Sydney Roosters had in Farah subsided though with relevations incumbent hooker and co-captain Jake Friend was unsettled at the club’s approach to Farah.
Pascoe has worked overtime in the past month to rectify the differences between the club and Farah. It was a saga Pascoe inherited — not initiated.
Farah will now have to battle away to win his place in Wests Tigers team to start next season. After earlier telling Farah he would play reserve grade next season, the Tigers bought Manly hooker Matt Ballin last month
It remains to be seen how Farah’s retention will affect head coach Jason Taylor.
Taylor and Farah have been at loggerheads since the coach told his then captain to move on from the embattled club.
The pair will simply be forced to tolerate one another.
Farah, 31, will now end his successful career at Wests Tigers as a one-club NRL legend.
At 33, when his contract expires, Farah will either retire or play a final season in England’s Super League.
Farah wanted to remain in the NRL at least next season to have one final crack at playing State of Origin for NSW.
Throughout the entire drama, Blues coach Laurie Daley stood staunchly beside Farah.
The Farah-Tigers situation split the club, some players almost being pushed to support either Farah or Taylor.
Farah stood down as captain last month. It would appear Wests Tigers can now finally move forward, leaving the entire Farah controversy for the history books.
