The way Matt Ballin has dealt with being told he is no longer required at Manly is almost the polar opposite of the way Robbie Farah has dealt with the same situation.
Obviously Farah is he incumbent starting #9 for the Tigers, while Ballin missed last season- but other than that, the situations are strangely similar, but dealt with in a way that should CLEARLY demonstrate both the correct way for players to react, plus the fact that the "Robbie Farah Situation" is not an isolated "Wests Tigers are the only club cutting players" type event.
Safe to say that Ballin is a 'loyal' Manly player, but when given the news his services were no longer required at the club, neither he or his 'agent' have made a public spectacle of the situation, no news leaks, no slanging match. just a professional attitude, from a guy that makes a living playing football.
Farah is also a guy that makes a living playing football. He's essentially a contractor, able to ply his trade with whoever contracts him to do so. In the real world, contracts are torn up, bought out, or changed quite often. Very rarely do these reneged contracts become media spectacles.
Paul Vautin gave Farah the tip on how to deal with it. In some ways, I thought Benji did too. Now the Tigers are putting a living example of how to deal with it within eyesight of him.
I honestly hope, for his sake, that he takes the tip. He will be paid, by the Tigers or whoever. He won't lose money. Hell, he might even have a chance of playing for a team that competes for a finals place next year with some clubs.
I'm a Tigers fan. I've cheered Robbie Farah since he came into my viewing. I don't get to make the call on who stays or goes. That's the coaches & front office that do that. If the coaches feel that the club needs to move on- for whatever reason- then I will go along with it. I'm not in the player meetings, or at training, or watching video of next weeks opposition. I'm not the guy putting forward game plans & asking guys to deploy them on the field. I'm also not the guy that has access to the financial books, or signs the contracts.
I have to assume that the guys that get these board positions, or coaching positions, get them with the knowledge that not all choices will sit well with supporters.
And knowing that Farah was such a popular player at the Tigers, you have to assume that when the decision to move him on was made, it wasn't done so by pulling names out of a hat.
there's a reason. Whatever it might be.
Farah should look at Matt Ballin & take the tip on how to deal with a decision made, before it ruins his next season, and at his age- potentially his career.
