It's been seven days since drama erupted at Wests Tigers over the future of coach Mick Potter and his relationship with captain Robbie Farah. Potter opened up on the most difficult week of his career ahead of Monday night's vital clash with Melbourne.
**My relationship with Robbie Farah**
"We're fine. We have always been fine," Potter said. "You guys have said we had a confrontation but there's been no confrontation at all. I have been understanding of the situation. He's been hammered a little bit. He is pretty emotional. Or he was pretty emotional and upset about his treatment. And I can understand that. But my job is to get him to play footy and to get him in the right frame of mind to play his best because he is one of our best players. I want him on the field playing his best."
**Farah wants out?**
Potter admits Farah was unhappy but never asked to be released from his contract.
When asked if there had been a formal releases request, the coach replied: "No mate, no. He was just disappointed at all that went on. He is a passionate guy and wears his heart on his sleeve. The emotion gets the better of him sometimes." Asked whether Farah 'had Potter's back', the coach said: "I don't think he has used those words but he supports me."
**Missing training**
Farah caused a stir when he missed an important training session in the lead-up to Monday night's game. But Potter has no issues over his captain's absence and revealed Farah had spoken to the players to express his remorse.
Potter said: "Robbie addressed them individually as well as a group. He apologised to them, just because he felt he let them down for that particular day at training. We just cut him a bit of slack there."
**The media heat**
"It has probably been a tough week but I understand you guys (the media) have to write about stuff and talk about stuff. I'd rather it not be that. We don't want any excuses, there are no excuses. We are out there to perform, that's our job. We played rugby league and I coach the team. That won't be an acceptable excuse, to say that there's been some bad press."
**Uncertain future**
Potter remains unsigned beyond this season. His fate appears to be rest on whether he can guide the Tigers to the top eight, although he does admit he is not universally liked among the players.
"It's a contracted life, that's what it is. Potentially my contract ends at the end of October and I understand that," he said. "I am going to try and do everything I can to get that extended.
"Everyone has an opinion but my job is to get the players to perform. I think I have been doing that, I have a reasonable job of doing that. I'd like to continue to do that. I can't please everyone in a club where you've got 30-odd players because everyone wants to play first grade. Perhaps my methods sometimes aggravate people. But that is in every single club. I am sure that happens."
**I'm not walking away**
The Tigers coach declared: "I'm not a quitter. I'll fight right until the end.
"I'd like to think that is the mentality the whole club has got."
**My relationship with Robbie Farah**
"We're fine. We have always been fine," Potter said. "You guys have said we had a confrontation but there's been no confrontation at all. I have been understanding of the situation. He's been hammered a little bit. He is pretty emotional. Or he was pretty emotional and upset about his treatment. And I can understand that. But my job is to get him to play footy and to get him in the right frame of mind to play his best because he is one of our best players. I want him on the field playing his best."
**Farah wants out?**
Potter admits Farah was unhappy but never asked to be released from his contract.
When asked if there had been a formal releases request, the coach replied: "No mate, no. He was just disappointed at all that went on. He is a passionate guy and wears his heart on his sleeve. The emotion gets the better of him sometimes." Asked whether Farah 'had Potter's back', the coach said: "I don't think he has used those words but he supports me."
**Missing training**
Farah caused a stir when he missed an important training session in the lead-up to Monday night's game. But Potter has no issues over his captain's absence and revealed Farah had spoken to the players to express his remorse.
Potter said: "Robbie addressed them individually as well as a group. He apologised to them, just because he felt he let them down for that particular day at training. We just cut him a bit of slack there."
**The media heat**
"It has probably been a tough week but I understand you guys (the media) have to write about stuff and talk about stuff. I'd rather it not be that. We don't want any excuses, there are no excuses. We are out there to perform, that's our job. We played rugby league and I coach the team. That won't be an acceptable excuse, to say that there's been some bad press."
**Uncertain future**
Potter remains unsigned beyond this season. His fate appears to be rest on whether he can guide the Tigers to the top eight, although he does admit he is not universally liked among the players.
"It's a contracted life, that's what it is. Potentially my contract ends at the end of October and I understand that," he said. "I am going to try and do everything I can to get that extended.
"Everyone has an opinion but my job is to get the players to perform. I think I have been doing that, I have a reasonable job of doing that. I'd like to continue to do that. I can't please everyone in a club where you've got 30-odd players because everyone wants to play first grade. Perhaps my methods sometimes aggravate people. But that is in every single club. I am sure that happens."
**I'm not walking away**
The Tigers coach declared: "I'm not a quitter. I'll fight right until the end.
"I'd like to think that is the mentality the whole club has got."
