Ballin is all class something we lack, he is obviously aware of the impact his signing would have on Farah. Its also a good illustration on two similar club champions handling a situation vastly differently.
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Most of the article below on the DT.
WHILE the rest of the country were busy dialling in bets on the Melbourne Cup, Matt Ballin felt it more important to phone someone other than his favourite bookie.
Indicating that perhaps the Cup may not be the race that stops the nation, Ballin missed Tuesday’s drama in order to make the awkward, but icebreaking, call to the man he could potentially replace as the Wests Tigers hooker next year, Robbie Farah.
Ballin has revealed how his own shock and disappointment of being shown the door after 11 years at the Sea Eagles led to him calling Farah before the Tigers announced that he had agreed to a two-year deal from 2016 on Tuesday afternoon.
“I would’ve liked to have talked to him (Farah) a lot earlier, but it just wasn’t possible,’’ Ballin said. “So I called him before the Tigers announced (on Tuesday). We had a really good chat.
“I just thought he deserved the respect from me to call him and, I guess, let him say what he needed to say to me and so then we could talk about the situation.
“It didn't make it any easier for him, but I’ve been through the same thing over here (Manly) and I just said, ‘I know how you feel’.
“He was really good and he said he knew it was nothing personal or my fault, it’s just the way footy is these days. He said that he only has respect for me as well, so I thought it was a really good conversation. I needed to have it
“He’s a State of Origin hooker and a very skilful, knowledgeable player and a leader of the Tigers so I plan to learn off him and work with him in whatever capacity that is. I think we can do some good things together.’’