It appears Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has ramped up his efforts to get Robbie Farah out of the club. And here is another project for Taylor: he needs to keep in sweet with captain Aaron Woods.
We understand the brilliance of James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, but Woods is the player Taylor needs to build a club around.
This column hinted at tension between the skipper and coach recently – more specifically the way it was communicated to Woods that he would be making his comeback from the bench. Taylor has confirmed publicly that Woods wasn't happy at being benched. We were set to bring you the news that Woods and Taylor don't get along – something we have heard several times now – but that has been played down.
Woods is as affable and easygoing a character as you could meet, and he has told this column there are no problems between him and the coach. Woods has always been honest with this column, so we will take him on his word.
Taylor needs Woods on his side.
Taylor would think he is on track to succeed in pushing Farah out. But take it as fact Farah is not flustered. He is not biting back. He will play reserve grade if it comes to that. Farah has kept his views to himself on Taylor's latest attempt to pressure and embarrass him.
As for 2017, Farah has no plans to leave. And would only do so if he has a viable option, as he had with the Roosters last year. He will go if he can be coached by someone who appreciates him. He wants to play in a team that has the potential to win a title. He does not want to go to England, even though there is already strong interest.
Farah has had to sit back and watch his name be dragged through the mud again. It comes back to the media conference Taylor conducted after the loss to the Roosters last Sunday.
Taylor made the "war" public between the pair when he wouldn't confirm Farah was in the side. All week leading into the game with Souths on Friday there was one focus from the media: Farah. Not on any of the players who lost to the Roosters. That's the Roosters minus Mitchell Pearce. And Boyd Cordner.
We should have been asking questions about Taylor's tactics, recruitment and relationship with his assistants and other leading players. Instead it was Farah who had to sneak out of training on Tuesday because there were three camera crews waiting for him. The last thing Farah wanted to do was explain why Taylor didn't assure him of his spot for the game against Souths. How would he know?
And then Taylor held another media conference on Thursday. There were a dozen questions from TV reporters. They all focused in Taylor v Farah and there was barely a positive word from Taylor.
Farah has just kept his head down. He has done what he has been asked.
His agent, Sam Ayoub, is frustrated by the speculation and says he is sick of the agendas.
"This isn't a Robbie Farah issue," Ayoub said. "He has a binding contract. That is acknowledged by all and sundry at the Tigers. He can't be forced out, irrespective of the agendas, let alone be forced out of the country to play anywhere else, be it in Australia or overseas. That is a choice for Robbie, not anyone else.
"My interest is in Robbie. Robbie hasn't driven this, nor has he asked for any of this to be played out the way it has. He has said nothing, he has copped it, maintained his silence, but mostly he has maintained his dignity, something others should adopt.
"He has been focused and committed to the Wests Tigers and he showed again on Friday night what a class person and player he is."
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http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/wests-tigers-coach-jason-taylor-not-out-of-the-woods-just-yet-20160611-gph4ff.html
