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St George Illawarra have emerged as the favourites to sign unwanted Tigers captain Robbie Farah in a move that would reunite him with long-time teammate Benji Marshall.
Fairfax Media can reveal Farah could be swapping one joint-venture club for another, as the Dragons have identified him as an experienced head capable of helping them take the next step after an unexpected finals appearance.
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On the move: Will Robbie Farah breathe fire for the Dragons next year?
On the move: Will Robbie Farah breathe fire for the Dragons next year?Photo: Mark Kolbe
Farah remains contracted to the Tigers for the next two years, taking up the best part of $2 million in salary cap space over the period.
The NSW hooker has privately indicated he will dig in his heels unless he can find a Sydney club that is a genuine premiership contender.
The Dragons could well match that criterion after coach Paul McGregor did a remarkable job in his first full year at the helm. Most pundits predicted the Red V would be spoon contenders, but it took a field goal by Canterbury playmaker Josh Reynolds in extra time to boot them out of the first week of the finals.
Tigers coach Jason Taylor won't be budging on Farah, meaning he will be playing in the NSW Cup if he isn't prepared to move on.
The Tigers are prepared to pay a big chunk of the 31-year-old's freight, which would allow the Dragons to pick him up at a reasonable price. The Tigers have faith in young rake Mania Cherrington, who has made the most of his opportunities in the top grade.
They also have high hopes for youngster Jacob Liddle, an Australian Schoolboys representative recruited from the Central Coast region. However, the pair will need an experienced dummy half to mentor them if the Farah-Dragons deal were to happen, which could open the door for a player swap.
Craig Garvey has already been linked to a potential swap with Canberra's Josh McCrone, leaving Mitch Rein as the most likely candidate to head to Concord. The Dragons have already opted not to re-sign Heath L'Estrange but he will be replaced by Warrriors back-up Siliva Havili, who signed for two years.
If it all comes off, that would reunite Farah with Marshall, the stars of the Tigers' 2005 premiership triumph. The pair always believed they would finish as one-club men but the combination of heavily back-ended deals, coupled with strained relationships with the Tigers coaches at the time, will likely see Farah follow Marshall in being forced out.
Farah is holidaying in Bali after picking up the Tru Blues gong at the NSWRL awards night, ironically awarded to the player that most epitomises the culture the Origin side is attempting to foster. While some Tigers supporters are disappointed by the treatment of Farah, fewer than 30 showed up to a protest at the club's Concord Oval headquarters on Tuesday.
NSW coach Laurie Daley has indicated Farah would still be considered for next season's Origin campaign even if he was playing reserve grade. Last week, Farah said he was unsure of his future.
"There is clarity – I have a two-year contract," Farah said. "Everyone is asking me and the honest answer is I haven't given it much thought. It was a pretty crazy end to the season and I am at a stage where I want to get away and not think about footy for a while.
"Everything will sort itself out, but for the moment I haven't really involved myself in any of that. I am not in a rush to come up with a call. I am pretty sure I know where I stand. I just have to make a call.
Copyright © 2015 Fairfax Media The Sydney Morning Herald
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