G
Guest
Guest
Farah knows return of Buderus makes getting his NSW jersey back tougher, but desire still burns
Michael Chammas
April 20, 2012
\
\
ROBBIE FARAH has a clear message for NSW coach Ricky Stuart: ''I want that jersey back.''
Farah, who still has to pass a cognitive test to play in Sunday's City-Country match in Mudgee after being concussed in Wests Tigers' win against Penrith last week, is still yearning for the chance to redeem himself for the failures of 2009.
The dummy-half was dumped after game two for Michael Ennis and hasn't got a look-in since.
''I'm very hungry to get back,'' he said. ''Having lost my jersey in 2009, that was obviously very disappointing and I never got the chance to redeem myself after that second game. That burning desire has always been inside me to get my jumper back. I want that jersey back. That's why I'm playing this week. I could've easily sat out this game with concussion but I'm not giving them any excuse to say, 'Maybe we shouldn't go with Robbie'.''
Unlike the last couple of seasons, the NSW hooking role is no longer a two-horse race between Farah and Ennis. Danny Buderus and Ryan Hinchcliffe have also catapulted into the reckoning, only adding to the challenge that confronts Farah as he continues his push for a return.
''Buderus coming back doesn't make things easy,'' Farah said. ''But I've spoken to Ricky and I know where things are at the moment. Origin is not picked tomorrow, it's picked in a month's time. Even a good game this Sunday isn't going to guarantee I get picked in Origin.
''I've got to take good form back to club footy and play good consistent footy for the next month. If I can do that I'm sure I'll put enough pressure on the selectors to pick me.''
While his two years in the Origin wilderness have only strengthened his ambition to play against the Maroons, Farah isn't bitter about being overlooked. He said he understood why the selectors went in a different direction the last two years, but is confident he'll give Stuart no reason to be overlooked again this series.
''Last year I wasn't playing good enough at the start of the year, I had that groin injury that held me back,'' Farah said. ''In 2010 it was hard because in '09, when I got dropped for game three, NSW won that third game, so they stuck with the core group for the next series. Last year I was injured and nowhere near my best footy. This year I'm back to 100 per cent, so it's a matter of showing I deserve to get picked.''
Farah was scrutinised after game two in 2009, with many of the opinion he played hindered by a rib cartilage injury. But yesterday he rubbished those claims, defending his decision to take the field.
''I wasn't injured on the night,'' he said. ''Maybe the only thing that affected me was preparation earlier in the week where I couldn't train with the boys. Come game night, I wasn't injured. It was just a matter of circumstances in the game. I thought I played fine, it was just a couple of mistakes that got punished by Queensland on the night.''
A two-week suspension for a dangerous throw charge on St George Illawarra's Ben Hornby, as well as a broken nose, concussion and hand injury, have robbed Farah of the consistency he desires this year.
His latest setback, a concussion suffered trying to tackle Panthers prop Dayne Weston, threatens to rule him out of this Sunday's Origin audition, but he's confident he'll pass the cognitive test required to ensure he can take part in the match.
''You probably get the best gauge of how you're going when you go out and train and I felt pretty good training,'' he said. ''We've still got a few days left so come Sunday I think I'll be fine.''
Michael Chammas
April 20, 2012
\
\
ROBBIE FARAH has a clear message for NSW coach Ricky Stuart: ''I want that jersey back.''
Farah, who still has to pass a cognitive test to play in Sunday's City-Country match in Mudgee after being concussed in Wests Tigers' win against Penrith last week, is still yearning for the chance to redeem himself for the failures of 2009.
The dummy-half was dumped after game two for Michael Ennis and hasn't got a look-in since.
''I'm very hungry to get back,'' he said. ''Having lost my jersey in 2009, that was obviously very disappointing and I never got the chance to redeem myself after that second game. That burning desire has always been inside me to get my jumper back. I want that jersey back. That's why I'm playing this week. I could've easily sat out this game with concussion but I'm not giving them any excuse to say, 'Maybe we shouldn't go with Robbie'.''
Unlike the last couple of seasons, the NSW hooking role is no longer a two-horse race between Farah and Ennis. Danny Buderus and Ryan Hinchcliffe have also catapulted into the reckoning, only adding to the challenge that confronts Farah as he continues his push for a return.
''Buderus coming back doesn't make things easy,'' Farah said. ''But I've spoken to Ricky and I know where things are at the moment. Origin is not picked tomorrow, it's picked in a month's time. Even a good game this Sunday isn't going to guarantee I get picked in Origin.
''I've got to take good form back to club footy and play good consistent footy for the next month. If I can do that I'm sure I'll put enough pressure on the selectors to pick me.''
While his two years in the Origin wilderness have only strengthened his ambition to play against the Maroons, Farah isn't bitter about being overlooked. He said he understood why the selectors went in a different direction the last two years, but is confident he'll give Stuart no reason to be overlooked again this series.
''Last year I wasn't playing good enough at the start of the year, I had that groin injury that held me back,'' Farah said. ''In 2010 it was hard because in '09, when I got dropped for game three, NSW won that third game, so they stuck with the core group for the next series. Last year I was injured and nowhere near my best footy. This year I'm back to 100 per cent, so it's a matter of showing I deserve to get picked.''
Farah was scrutinised after game two in 2009, with many of the opinion he played hindered by a rib cartilage injury. But yesterday he rubbished those claims, defending his decision to take the field.
''I wasn't injured on the night,'' he said. ''Maybe the only thing that affected me was preparation earlier in the week where I couldn't train with the boys. Come game night, I wasn't injured. It was just a matter of circumstances in the game. I thought I played fine, it was just a couple of mistakes that got punished by Queensland on the night.''
A two-week suspension for a dangerous throw charge on St George Illawarra's Ben Hornby, as well as a broken nose, concussion and hand injury, have robbed Farah of the consistency he desires this year.
His latest setback, a concussion suffered trying to tackle Panthers prop Dayne Weston, threatens to rule him out of this Sunday's Origin audition, but he's confident he'll pass the cognitive test required to ensure he can take part in the match.
''You probably get the best gauge of how you're going when you go out and train and I felt pretty good training,'' he said. ''We've still got a few days left so come Sunday I think I'll be fine.''
