Robbie Farah..Discussion Thread.....
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Robbie Farah Roosters: Tricolours make a move for star hooker
November 21, 2015 3:23pm
James HooperThe Daily Telegraph
NSW STATE of Origin hooker Robbie Farah held a secret meeting with Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson last week as the Tricolours manoeuvre to try and orchestrate one of rugby league’s great swindles. Two months after Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor attempted to kick Farah out of the club, the Roosters have emerged as a hot favourite for the creative No.9 considered among the best hookers in the NRL.
St George Illawarra, Newcastle and Penrith were also competing for Farah’s services but provided the Blues hooker can negotiate a release from Wests then the Roosters deal is in position to be rubber-stamped.
In a bizarre development, the Tigers have had a late change-of-heart with new chief executive Justin Pascoe informing Farah the club now wants to retain his services despite Taylor attempting to torpedo him out. The surprise move occurred after Farah’s agent Sam Ayoub formally requested a release from the club on Friday.
The Sydney Roosters were in damage control after news of the possible switch broke, with coach Trent Robinson yet to speak to incumbent hooker Jake Friend. Friend is so highly viewed in the game, he is considered the most likely Queensland Origin and Australian successor to champion rake Cameron Smith when the Melbourne Storm No.9 retires. In a further complication, Friend is also co-captain of the club with Mitchell Pearce.
The Sunday Telegraph understands the Roosters playing roster was unaware of the Farah development with coach Robinson and powerful chairman Nick Politis forced into smoothing the waters on Friday. Whether the deal can be delivered now will depend on Politis, Robinson and the Tigers being able to negotiate a fair and reasonable release. The Tigers will need to pay a significant amount of Farah’s $900,000 contract for next season, with coach Taylor publicly declaring the hooker would be paid in full provided he could find a new club.
November 21, 2015 3:23pm
James HooperThe Daily Telegraph
NSW STATE of Origin hooker Robbie Farah held a secret meeting with Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson last week as the Tricolours manoeuvre to try and orchestrate one of rugby league’s great swindles. Two months after Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor attempted to kick Farah out of the club, the Roosters have emerged as a hot favourite for the creative No.9 considered among the best hookers in the NRL.
St George Illawarra, Newcastle and Penrith were also competing for Farah’s services but provided the Blues hooker can negotiate a release from Wests then the Roosters deal is in position to be rubber-stamped.
In a bizarre development, the Tigers have had a late change-of-heart with new chief executive Justin Pascoe informing Farah the club now wants to retain his services despite Taylor attempting to torpedo him out. The surprise move occurred after Farah’s agent Sam Ayoub formally requested a release from the club on Friday.
The Sydney Roosters were in damage control after news of the possible switch broke, with coach Trent Robinson yet to speak to incumbent hooker Jake Friend. Friend is so highly viewed in the game, he is considered the most likely Queensland Origin and Australian successor to champion rake Cameron Smith when the Melbourne Storm No.9 retires. In a further complication, Friend is also co-captain of the club with Mitchell Pearce.
The Sunday Telegraph understands the Roosters playing roster was unaware of the Farah development with coach Robinson and powerful chairman Nick Politis forced into smoothing the waters on Friday. Whether the deal can be delivered now will depend on Politis, Robinson and the Tigers being able to negotiate a fair and reasonable release. The Tigers will need to pay a significant amount of Farah’s $900,000 contract for next season, with coach Taylor publicly declaring the hooker would be paid in full provided he could find a new club.
Hooper must have been feeling a little left out….
Byron_Bay_Fan
New member
Without useless Farah now I am sure now that the Tigers can tear the Roosters apart -especially with Farah in their team.
diedpretty
Well-known member
@Geo. said:
Yes Geo I agree. I have been waiting for a number of weeks for something to happen - this thread was stagnating, the bickering was becoming personal among members rather than blame been focused directly n JT or Robbie. And now like breath of fresh air everyone is again focused on the task at hand. What makes it even more intriguing is the building hatred for Pascoes and the boards handling of this affair. This new twist has deepened the existing plots. I'm hoping as this develops we will see a lot more unsubstantiated rumours of which of the six clubs Robbie is going to. Has Ivan Cleary actually been signed up from April now that Robbie has gone? Did Benny Elias see this coming and jumped in early to get some free coverage about his nephew before it was lost in the wash? Has Nick Politis been stockpiling brown paper bags so he can sign Robbie on TPAs alone? Will Heighno sign with the Dragons and try to reunite the old boys club?
I had been seriously thinking of going back to my day time soaps but my interest in this saga has been rejuvenated. 250 pages you say - I say lets go for 350 before Xmas.
supercoach
Well-known member
This has been one big power game between Farah's management and the club from day one. Okay the club fired the first shot,but since than been a bitter power struggle with neither party willing to back down.
It a shame because every day this drags on the club is being damaged more.I suppose it now all about how much of the contract we are willing to pay,but from where I sit the club has to wrap this up now one way or the other
It a shame because every day this drags on the club is being damaged more.I suppose it now all about how much of the contract we are willing to pay,but from where I sit the club has to wrap this up now one way or the other
gallagher
Well-known member
@supercoach said:
I dunno supercoach. Now that farah has asked for a release with a full payout i think they've taken a bit of heat off the club. I agree that a speedy solution is best but farah needs a club now. The club doesn't need him though.
Pawsandclaws
New member
Exactly Gallagher. And that's what the club should resolve this promptly by paying him out his full contract. Then Ayoub can negotiate on behalf of his client with other clubs.
gallagher
Well-known member
@Oxygen said:
Farah offered an extended contract from us?
It gets better. SMH article below.
On the night Robbie Farah made the agonising decision to request a release from Wests Tigers, he turned to Nick Di Girolamo for advice.
Farah, former Tigers chairman Di Girolamo and playmakers Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses were spotted deep in conversation at the Hunters Hill Hotel on Friday night as the NSW hooker considered his exit strategy.
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Farah and Di Girolamo forged a tight bond during their time at the club and the former Tigers powerbroker is considered a confidante and mentor. Just days after coach Jason Taylor publicly stated Farah would be considered for first-grade selection for the opening match of the new season, the veteran rake was entertaining the prospect of playing against the only side he had ever represented.
"Robbie bleeds black and gold, obviously, it's a difficult time for him," Di Girolamo told Fairfax Media.
"He's a Tiger junior who played for the club for 13 years. One of his greatest concerns is letting down his fans. That's where the human element comes into it. But what do you do when you're told 'we don't want you any more?'
"It's pretty hard to get kicked in the guts and be reminded of it every day. At the end of the day, from what I can glean, him asking for a release is like succumbing to the club's wishes. What it shouldn't be portrayed as is him abandoning Wests Tigers.
"The coach has made it crystal clear [he's unwanted] and he's been trying to hold firm. No other person would have lasted this long, they would have gone when the coach told them to go.
"He has been conducting himself with dignity and respect and my advice to him was to continue to do so."
That Moses and Brooks, the men considered the future of the Tigers, were also at the "Triple H" adds intrigue. The halves are locked in for the upcoming season but their contract has an option in their favour for the following year. Farah's departure was viewed as a means to free up salary cap space to ensure Moses and Brooks stayed put, but their long-term futures remain clouded.
The pair have been given permission to delay a decision on whether to take up the option - which would net them a $600,000 pay day each for 2017 - until next June. Rival clubs are already circling, with the Raiders and Panthers monitoring Moses' availability with particular interest.
The Roosters are now the favourites to snare Farah once his management comes to terms with the Tigers. Farah's first clash against his former club will be hyped as one of the biggest grudge matches in rugby league history.
"You're a boy and your greatest aspiration is to run onto Leichhardt Oval and now you have to go to the away sheds. That would be very difficult for him," Di Girolamo said.
"There would be mixed emotions, too, as to how the fans react.
"The public embarrassment and humiliation is what is really troubling, that's the human element to it. You're the incumbent No.9 for the Blues, Loz [NSW coach Laurie Daley] comes out and says that if he is playing at Henson Park he'll still get picked, but the coach says he's not part of our culture. He is the culture."
On the night Robbie Farah made the agonising decision to request a release from Wests Tigers, he turned to Nick Di Girolamo for advice.
Farah, former Tigers chairman Di Girolamo and playmakers Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses were spotted deep in conversation at the Hunters Hill Hotel on Friday night as the NSW hooker considered his exit strategy.
\
\
Farah and Di Girolamo forged a tight bond during their time at the club and the former Tigers powerbroker is considered a confidante and mentor. Just days after coach Jason Taylor publicly stated Farah would be considered for first-grade selection for the opening match of the new season, the veteran rake was entertaining the prospect of playing against the only side he had ever represented.
"Robbie bleeds black and gold, obviously, it's a difficult time for him," Di Girolamo told Fairfax Media.
"He's a Tiger junior who played for the club for 13 years. One of his greatest concerns is letting down his fans. That's where the human element comes into it. But what do you do when you're told 'we don't want you any more?'
"It's pretty hard to get kicked in the guts and be reminded of it every day. At the end of the day, from what I can glean, him asking for a release is like succumbing to the club's wishes. What it shouldn't be portrayed as is him abandoning Wests Tigers.
"The coach has made it crystal clear [he's unwanted] and he's been trying to hold firm. No other person would have lasted this long, they would have gone when the coach told them to go.
"He has been conducting himself with dignity and respect and my advice to him was to continue to do so."
That Moses and Brooks, the men considered the future of the Tigers, were also at the "Triple H" adds intrigue. The halves are locked in for the upcoming season but their contract has an option in their favour for the following year. Farah's departure was viewed as a means to free up salary cap space to ensure Moses and Brooks stayed put, but their long-term futures remain clouded.
The pair have been given permission to delay a decision on whether to take up the option - which would net them a $600,000 pay day each for 2017 - until next June. Rival clubs are already circling, with the Raiders and Panthers monitoring Moses' availability with particular interest.
The Roosters are now the favourites to snare Farah once his management comes to terms with the Tigers. Farah's first clash against his former club will be hyped as one of the biggest grudge matches in rugby league history.
"You're a boy and your greatest aspiration is to run onto Leichhardt Oval and now you have to go to the away sheds. That would be very difficult for him," Di Girolamo said.
"There would be mixed emotions, too, as to how the fans react.
"The public embarrassment and humiliation is what is really troubling, that's the human element to it. You're the incumbent No.9 for the Blues, Loz [NSW coach Laurie Daley] comes out and says that if he is playing at Henson Park he'll still get picked, but the coach says he's not part of our culture. He is the culture."
gallagher
Well-known member
@Oxygen said:
Sounds too crazy to believe. News ltd trash I'd say
Pawsandclaws
New member
@Oxygen said:
Yes, Gallagher has offered Robbie a carpentry apprenticeship after his 2 year contract is up.
TigerOfBankstown
New member
@gallagher said:
Daily telegraph is reporting that Pascoe is offering a Rob a new 4 year deal. The gloves have surely come off now.. Must be some legal smokescreen..
TigerOfBankstown
New member
@TigerOfBankstown said:
Here's the url
http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/wests-tigers-forced-into-embarrassing-11th-hour-backflip-that-may-see-farah-become-one-club-player/story-fni2flhh-1227618058560
diedpretty
Well-known member
This just keeps getting better and better. I don't want the season to start and ruin this drama.
Robbie hanging with Nick…I wonder who bought the Grange,,,
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nick-di-girolamo-the-man-whose-gift-of-grange-brought-down-barry-ofarrell-20140416-36rnd.html
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nick-di-girolamo-the-man-whose-gift-of-grange-brought-down-barry-ofarrell-20140416-36rnd.html
gallagher
Well-known member
Can't read it mate
Not a news subscriber but this is getting really weird.
Not a news subscriber but this is getting really weird.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Its all smoke and mirrors to absolve themselves of paying as minimal amount of his contract as they have to. Robbie and his camp have been playing games for months and the club have sat back and bide their time. Now its their turn, and it seems like a very clever ploy.
Even if they didn't have to pay him a cent because he's asking for a release, wouldn't his salary be included in the cap anyway?
Even if they didn't have to pay him a cent because he's asking for a release, wouldn't his salary be included in the cap anyway?
