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FARAH SAYS TEAM'S MENTALITY HAS CHANGED
By Wayne Cousins
8/07/2010 5:39:29 PM
Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah says the team will continue to play grinding football if it means securing two vital competition points in their bid to grab a finals berth.
Speaking on the eve of the round 18 blockbuster against the Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tomorrow night, Farah says the team is now more experienced in grinding the wins out instead of relying solely on their attacking flair.
“We are definitely a lot better this year than we have been in previous years. At times we haven’t been too pretty in what we have been doing but we have been getting away with the wins,’’ Farah said.
“I guess that is a sign of a good side as well. Hopefully we can start playing some good footy and can be even better.
“It does help when you have kind of got that cushion behind you in that you have won a few games already and you don’t have that pressure or burden of trying to win games to stay in reach of the eight.
“It is a different scenario and one that we are enjoying.
“We are more experienced and our mentality has changed. It has been documented that we haven’t been pretty of late.
“Some parts of our wins have been quite ugly to be honest but we are prepared to do that now whereas in the past, we have tried to win on the back of our attacking flair.
“At the moment, our attack hasn’t been the best part of our game but we have been hanging in there through our defence.
“We have to be better than what we have been in the last month. We have gradually got to improve going into the semis if we are going to be a chance this year.”
With Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast sitting on 22 points in third and fourth place respectively on the Telstra Premiership ladder, Farah is hoping a large crowd will be on hand to get behind the home team.
“It is a big game especially coming down towards the business end of the season. It is a crucial game but we are at Campbelltown, so hopefully that will be an advantage for us,’’ Farah said.
“Every game is important now in the run into the semi-finals. Every two points you can pick up, you deny the opposition two points as well.
“It is a pretty important game but in no means is it make or break. We are sitting in a pretty good position and every win you do get at this time of the year, it does make you a little bit more comfortable. A win would really cement our position in the top four.”
Farah said his forwards must stop the momentum of the Titans pack to help stop their captain and half-back Scott Prince. He added he was looking forward to taking on his former Tigers team-mates in Prince and forward Anthony Laffranchi.
“It is always good fun coming up against Princey and ‘Boof’ Laffranchi . They are two very close mates and it is always a good challenge,’’ Farah said.
“We know what they can do but it is another thing trying to stop it.
“Across the park we have to be good. Our forwards have to stop their momentum up the middle and if we can do that, then we will get a good look at what Princey is going to do.”
Farah admitted he and his team-mates were not going to use the disappointment of not being picked in the NSW side as extra motivation. Farah, lock Chris Heighington, prop Keith Galloway and centre Chris Lawrence were all touted as possible NSW players throughout the series.
Lawrence was the only Wests Tigers player called up to the Blues team after a late inclusion on Monday night as 18th man for Origin 3.
“The rep season is gone now. There is nothing we can do about it. There is point dwelling on it,’’ Farah insisted.
“ All we can do now is focus on our run into the semis and I’m sure come the first weekend in October, if we are lifting up that NRL trophy, I wouldn’t give two hoots or would the other guys about missing out on Origin this year.”
Gates open at 4.45pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in time for the Toyota Cup match kicking off at 5.20pm.
The NRL match kicks-off at 7.35pm.
By Wayne Cousins
8/07/2010 5:39:29 PM
Wests Tigers Captain Robbie Farah says the team will continue to play grinding football if it means securing two vital competition points in their bid to grab a finals berth.
Speaking on the eve of the round 18 blockbuster against the Gold Coast Titans at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tomorrow night, Farah says the team is now more experienced in grinding the wins out instead of relying solely on their attacking flair.
“We are definitely a lot better this year than we have been in previous years. At times we haven’t been too pretty in what we have been doing but we have been getting away with the wins,’’ Farah said.
“I guess that is a sign of a good side as well. Hopefully we can start playing some good footy and can be even better.
“It does help when you have kind of got that cushion behind you in that you have won a few games already and you don’t have that pressure or burden of trying to win games to stay in reach of the eight.
“It is a different scenario and one that we are enjoying.
“We are more experienced and our mentality has changed. It has been documented that we haven’t been pretty of late.
“Some parts of our wins have been quite ugly to be honest but we are prepared to do that now whereas in the past, we have tried to win on the back of our attacking flair.
“At the moment, our attack hasn’t been the best part of our game but we have been hanging in there through our defence.
“We have to be better than what we have been in the last month. We have gradually got to improve going into the semis if we are going to be a chance this year.”
With Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast sitting on 22 points in third and fourth place respectively on the Telstra Premiership ladder, Farah is hoping a large crowd will be on hand to get behind the home team.
“It is a big game especially coming down towards the business end of the season. It is a crucial game but we are at Campbelltown, so hopefully that will be an advantage for us,’’ Farah said.
“Every game is important now in the run into the semi-finals. Every two points you can pick up, you deny the opposition two points as well.
“It is a pretty important game but in no means is it make or break. We are sitting in a pretty good position and every win you do get at this time of the year, it does make you a little bit more comfortable. A win would really cement our position in the top four.”
Farah said his forwards must stop the momentum of the Titans pack to help stop their captain and half-back Scott Prince. He added he was looking forward to taking on his former Tigers team-mates in Prince and forward Anthony Laffranchi.
“It is always good fun coming up against Princey and ‘Boof’ Laffranchi . They are two very close mates and it is always a good challenge,’’ Farah said.
“We know what they can do but it is another thing trying to stop it.
“Across the park we have to be good. Our forwards have to stop their momentum up the middle and if we can do that, then we will get a good look at what Princey is going to do.”
Farah admitted he and his team-mates were not going to use the disappointment of not being picked in the NSW side as extra motivation. Farah, lock Chris Heighington, prop Keith Galloway and centre Chris Lawrence were all touted as possible NSW players throughout the series.
Lawrence was the only Wests Tigers player called up to the Blues team after a late inclusion on Monday night as 18th man for Origin 3.
“The rep season is gone now. There is nothing we can do about it. There is point dwelling on it,’’ Farah insisted.
“ All we can do now is focus on our run into the semis and I’m sure come the first weekend in October, if we are lifting up that NRL trophy, I wouldn’t give two hoots or would the other guys about missing out on Origin this year.”
Gates open at 4.45pm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in time for the Toyota Cup match kicking off at 5.20pm.
The NRL match kicks-off at 7.35pm.
