Bennett's comments would sting: Farah

[Guest]

Bennett's comments would sting: Farah
David Beniuk
August 4, 2011 - 11:49AM

AAP

Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah says comments from St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett that questioned the NRL premiers' hunger will have touched a raw nerve.

Bennett slammed his side after it let a 20-0 lead slip against South Sydney at the Dragons' WIN Stadium fortress last Sunday, saying they needed to find the desire to back up last year's breakthrough grand final victory.

Dragons players have denied the move was designed to fire them up for Friday night's massive clash with the Tigers, which is expected to draw a crowd of 35,000 to the Sydney Football Stadium.

But Farah described the master coach's words as "smart".

"As a footy player, any time that your attitude gets questioned, or your desire, you take that personally," Farah told reporters on Thursday.

"So I think those comments would have hit the mark, definitely."

Bennett's men are desperate to rediscover their mojo after five losses from their past seven games, including the shock 34-24 loss to the Rabbitohs, which has resulted in them dropping outside the top four.

The Tigers have won three straight for the first time in 2011 and will take confidence into Friday night's showdown after last week's 14-12 win over high-flying Manly.

"We're expecting a tough game and they've come off a couple of losses so they'll be pretty fired up, especially after the comments Wayne made after the weekend," Farah said.

"The fact that they've lost two in a row makes them a bit more dangerous."

 

[Guest]

ROBBIE FARAH READY TO FACE FIRED UP DRAGONS
By Wayne Cousins
4/08/2011 4:12:36 PM

Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah says the public spray by Wayne Bennett to his players will have St George-Illawarra Dragons firing at the Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow night.

Following their shock loss to South Sydney after leading 20-0, Bennett questioned his side’s hunger and desire to win back-to-back premierships.

Farah knows only too well what to expect from the Dragons in a match set to be played in front of more than 30,000 fans.

“They have been the benchmark for a couple of years. We are expecting a tough game and they have come off a couple of losses. They will be pretty fired up especially after the comments Wayne made after the weekend,’’ Farah said.

“The fact they have lost two in a row will make them a little bit more dangerous.

“As a footy player, any time your attitude gets questioned or your desire, you take it personally. Those comments would have hit the mark.”

Farah didn’t believe talk that the Dragons had lost some of their aura.

“Every team has their slumps. A few weeks ago, the knives were out on us saying our season was over but we seem to have found a bit of consistency in the last few weeks,’’ Farah said.

“It doesn’t take much to get that back. The Dragons are a quality side and I don’t think they have lost their aura or too much confidence in any way.”

Farah said his side must start better after giving Manly a 12-0 start last Friday night before seven minutes of some Benji Marshall magic got the Wests Tigers home.

“We know what we are capable and I don’t think tomorrow night is going to be the be all or end all. It is a good challenge for us, especially for the fact that we are on the edge of the eight. With every win, it will consolidate our spot in the eight and hopefully move us higher up the ladder,’’ he said.

“There is a bit of a gap now. We are eighth at the moment but fifth and sixth are getting away from us. We have to win every game possible to try and finish as high up as we can.

“Last week our first half still wasn’t where we want it to be. You don’t want to give good sides a 12 point lead every week. You find it very hard to win games like that but luckily enough last week we were good enough to do it.

“We don’t want to be giving the Dragons a 12 point lead tomorrow or the team after that. We are still striving for that 80 minutes performance. Every team strives for that every week.”