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Farah will be ready for Origin III: Elias
Laine Clark
June 18, 2012 - 5:24PM
AAP
A text message from Robbie Farah has convinced NSW that he will not only lift for the State of Origin decider but will surpass his "superhuman" game two effort to honour his late mum.
Farah withdrew from Wests Tigers' NRL clash with Sydney Roosters on Sunday just hours after his mother lost her battle with pancreatic cancer aged 63.
The Wests Tigers captain has been given all the time he needs to grieve with his family.
But ex-NSW captain Ben Elias said a touching message received from Farah and shared with Blues coach Ricky Stuart had assured them the inspirational rake would fire for Origin III - and better his record 63-tackle game two display.
"I just got a text from him an hour ago. It said `it's poetic - 63 years of age, 63 tackles, everyone was for her'," Elias told AAP.
"He will do what his mum would want and that's get on with it.
"She would whack him across the back of the ear if he didn't.
"If you thought that (game two display) was a superhuman effort, this will be bigger."
NSW have also been buoyed by news on Monday that backrower Greg Bird has been cleared to play Origin III despite suffering a strained pectoral muscle in Gold Coast's NRL win over Penrith on Sunday.
Ex-Tigers hooker Elias still has close ties with the NSW camp but has a soft spot for Farah, presenting him with his Blues jersey ahead of game two.
His warmth for the likeable rake only increased after watching Farah play his heart out in game two while thinking his mother was looking on from the stands.
Farah only found out after the game that she had watched her son's heroics from a hospital bed.
"He knew how crook she was but he knew what job he had to do and he went out and did it with distinction - that's a sign of greatness," Elias said of Farah.
"I have spoken to Sticky (Stuart) this morning and he wants him in the side and will give him time to deal with it.
"The Blues are another family to him. We will respect his grieving (period) but everyone expects him to be there."
Elias believed the likes of Bird and Farah would help NSW finally break Queensland's run of six straight Origin series in the July 4 decider in Brisbane.
He compared game three with the 1994 decider when Maroons great Mal Meninga - now the Queensland coach - was denied a fairytale farewell in Brisbane.
Game three on July 4 will farewell another Queensland legend, forward Petero Civoniceva.
"I have spent a lot of time with these kids and they are made of the right stuff - they are ready," Elias said.
"This is like `94 and Mal's farewell. We went up there and beat them.
"This year is the one we want to rub it into their face in front of their home crowd.
"This is what they deserve. This is payback."
Laine Clark
June 18, 2012 - 5:24PM
AAP
A text message from Robbie Farah has convinced NSW that he will not only lift for the State of Origin decider but will surpass his "superhuman" game two effort to honour his late mum.
Farah withdrew from Wests Tigers' NRL clash with Sydney Roosters on Sunday just hours after his mother lost her battle with pancreatic cancer aged 63.
The Wests Tigers captain has been given all the time he needs to grieve with his family.
But ex-NSW captain Ben Elias said a touching message received from Farah and shared with Blues coach Ricky Stuart had assured them the inspirational rake would fire for Origin III - and better his record 63-tackle game two display.
"I just got a text from him an hour ago. It said `it's poetic - 63 years of age, 63 tackles, everyone was for her'," Elias told AAP.
"He will do what his mum would want and that's get on with it.
"She would whack him across the back of the ear if he didn't.
"If you thought that (game two display) was a superhuman effort, this will be bigger."
NSW have also been buoyed by news on Monday that backrower Greg Bird has been cleared to play Origin III despite suffering a strained pectoral muscle in Gold Coast's NRL win over Penrith on Sunday.
Ex-Tigers hooker Elias still has close ties with the NSW camp but has a soft spot for Farah, presenting him with his Blues jersey ahead of game two.
His warmth for the likeable rake only increased after watching Farah play his heart out in game two while thinking his mother was looking on from the stands.
Farah only found out after the game that she had watched her son's heroics from a hospital bed.
"He knew how crook she was but he knew what job he had to do and he went out and did it with distinction - that's a sign of greatness," Elias said of Farah.
"I have spoken to Sticky (Stuart) this morning and he wants him in the side and will give him time to deal with it.
"The Blues are another family to him. We will respect his grieving (period) but everyone expects him to be there."
Elias believed the likes of Bird and Farah would help NSW finally break Queensland's run of six straight Origin series in the July 4 decider in Brisbane.
He compared game three with the 1994 decider when Maroons great Mal Meninga - now the Queensland coach - was denied a fairytale farewell in Brisbane.
Game three on July 4 will farewell another Queensland legend, forward Petero Civoniceva.
"I have spent a lot of time with these kids and they are made of the right stuff - they are ready," Elias said.
"This is like `94 and Mal's farewell. We went up there and beat them.
"This year is the one we want to rub it into their face in front of their home crowd.
"This is what they deserve. This is payback."
