Farah to beat Smith

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Sydney Sunday newspapers have suggest that Robbie Farah will replace Cameron Smith as the Australian hooker in the upcoming ANZAC test:

IN A double bombshell, Australian selectors are expected to announce tonight that besieged Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith has been overlooked for the Test team and Brisbane's Israel Folau has been punished for negotiating with the AFL and rugby union.

Smith is set to be overthrown as Australia's Test hooker by Wests Tigers Robbie Farah who, ironically, will play halfback in today's christening of his club's new-look home ground at Campbelltown.

Smith is said to have been inspirational in keeping his team together in the wake of the Storm rorting scandal but his is not expected to be enough for him to retain his place in the Kangaroos team that he helped guide to victory in last year's Four Nations tournament.

However, it should not be perceived as a punishment for the Storm's salary cap dramas as teammates Billy Slater, Greg Inglis and Cooper Cronk are all expected to be named in the 17-man squad.

Farah, whose club coach Tim Sheens is in charge of the Australian team, has enjoyed a strong start to the season and is said to have proven he was entitled to the job after a points victory over Bulldogs rival Michael Ennis last week. It not only gave him an edge in the race for a NSW jumper but left an impression on national selectors.

Smith has missed out to a player in great form. Folau, though, is expected to be severely punished for negotiating with the AFL and rugby union by being left out of the national team to play New Zealand in Melbourne.
[Source](http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/folau-out-and-farah-gets-nod-over-smith-20100501-u04q.html)
 
Interesting. Can't believe they won't give it to Smith though. Usually if he is fit then he gets the 9 for Australia.
 
What the hell? This can't be right…

Don't get me wrong Farah is a good player but he's not as good as Smith atm. All I can say is if he is chosen he better have a blinder otherwise all the talk will be he only got chosen cause Sheens is the coach (which is probably the reason anyway).
 
Cant be right, there must be more to it, I did just read in SMH that the NRL believe Smith was aware that if he didnt receive the full amount of his 3rd party deal with Fox Sports that the Storm would pay the rest. But it says in this article that the Salary Cap has nothing to do with it.

If there really isnt an issue with the Storm players in regards to the cap and Smith gets dropped, then even as a Tigers fan I think thats BS favoritism by Sheens to Farah.
 
With Thurston getting injured tonight, they might be opting for a Prince and Farah combination. Though many will be surprised if Farah gets selected over Smith.
 
Big call to dump Smith and hand the 9 over to Robbie. Great news for Robbe if true, but Smith hasn't been poor enough to lose his test spot, at least I don't think he has.
 
I don't understand why Tigers supporters would argue against Robbie as the national hooker. How many of you would swap him for Cameron Smith? He and Isaac Luke (a Newzealander) are the form No 9s in the NRL.
 
@Jazza said:
Cant be right, there must be more to it, I did just read in SMH that the NRL believe Smith was aware that if he didnt receive the full amount of his 3rd party deal with Fox Sports that the Storm would pay the rest. But it says in this article that the Salary Cap has nothing to do with it.

If there really isnt an issue with the Storm players in regards to the cap and Smith gets dropped, then even as a Tigers fan I think thats BS favoritism by Sheens to Farah.

I agree has to be more going on than we are aware of.
maybe smith has told selectors on the quiet he is not available to be picked.
could be family issues, who knows.
would not be suprised to see both robbie and ennis in the squad
we will have to wait for team to be announced tonight
 
If this happens, I'd be over the moon. However, I would feel that Farah got the nod more because Smith was being punished.
 
Smith hasn't been in the best form this year, he has made a lot of errors but even his average form is very good. This sounds like a gee up to me, but it should confirm Farah is going to get picked as a bench player tonight.
 
@Paris Cobbs said:
I don't understand why Tigers supporters would argue against Robbie as the national hooker. How many of you would swap him for Cameron Smith? He and Isaac Luke (a Newzealander) are the form No 9s in the NRL.

Love your passion but you are looking through Black & Gold Glasses.

I wouldnt swap Robbie, but he doesnt come close to Smith. This article is a gee up. Falou was never gona get that centre spot over Jennings…

Lets hope Robbie hasnt read this rubbish and puts the horse before the cart!!!
 
Its a one off teat. Incumbents will get the nod if they are fit and have 'some' form.

If Sheens is pushing for changes, it will be based on last years tour. Tim wanted Smith, Cronk & Lockyer for the Four Nations Final, but was over-ruled. With Thurston injured, now he will get his 9,7,6, and Robbie is a greater chance now of being on the bench…
 
Don't see it eventuating but those scumbag cheating Mexicans deserve every bad thing possible to happen to them
 
Its about time we got some favours regarding rep footy! Remember in 05 when we had rep quality players in our team and we were overlooked? Good work Robbie!
 
@smeghead said:
Don't see it eventuating but those scumbag cheating Mexicans deserve every bad thing possible to happen to them

X 2…

I wonder if Bonuses are built into the Storms contracts for rep games Etc,,,,,Hmmm

Also how can the NRL justify paying these players their fee for the Test Match....City/country...Origin etc....You have been rorting the Cap for years but here's another25K........hipocracy.... :laughing:
 
Dont really even agree with this decision, although I love Farah I dont think he is the player that Cam Smith is. To me, I think that if this is true there must be some sort of agenda against Smith.. Either that or Sheens is now making the wrong selections for another team.
 
When it comes to 'fairness' and all the rest, I don't care. If Robbie gets it, that's great. He's worked hard his entire career - a freebie in a bordering-on-the-pointless test match is something he should be allowed. Good luck to him.
 
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