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From the Wests Tigers website:
ROBBIE'S FOUR NATIONS EXPERIENCE
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Wests Tigers captain and hooker Robbie Farah today gives a personal insight into the Four Nations tournament in England.
Farah spoke with Wests Tigers Media Officer Wayne Cousins about training with the Australian team, coach Tim Sheens, and seeing his dream of watching his beloved Liverpool play live in the English Premier League.
WC: Robbie, how has the past week been in terms of training, sightseeing? Who is your room-mate? What have you taken out of training alongside the likes of Inglis, Slater and co?
RF: We arrived in London on the Saturday morning and the coaching staff was nice enough to give us the weekend off to enjoy the city. It was a welcomed rest because the week before we left Australia, we were in camp at Homebush and got absolutely flogged everyday at training! The days off were a good reward and we used it to spend some time together. On the Saturday, we went to Covent Gardens for lunch and a few beers and on Sunday, we took in the all sights. London is a city filled with history and some of the landmarks are truly amazing! We then got stuck back into training for the rest of the week. The players not selected to play in the games are known as "The Emus" so there is more fitness for us during the week to make up for not playing a game on the weekend. Heaps of fun! I’m rooming with my fellow Emu, Cooper Cronk. He sure loves his sleep and we've been getting on well. Training has been intense and to get to train with guys like Darren Lockyer and Greg Inglis is an experience in itself.
WC: What did you make of the draw against the Kiwis and of Australia’s performance? Both sides ripped into each other in a great Test match?
RF: I thought we were lucky to get away with a draw against the Kiwis. We had most of the ball but failed to turn that into points. For some reason, we looked a little out of sorts in attack which was surprising because we looked sharp during the week at training. I think we will be better for the run but its been a while since any of us have played a game so hopefully that game will get the cobwebs out. we'll take the point and move on
WC: How did you rate Benji’s performance and that of the Kiwis?
RF: I thought the Kiwis played well and were very physical. Benji was really good. Defensively he was sound and he didn’t try to overplay his hand with the ball. He came up with a nice pass to put Frank Pritchard over and he led his team around well.
WC: Have you seen a different side to Tim Sheens as the Australian coach, compared to him as your club coach. And how is Royce Simmons going?
RF: Ha ha. Tim is pretty similar here as he is back home…maybe a little bit more serious if that’s possible (ha ha). He has been good. Tim keeps things simple and we've tried to really focus on our preparation and performance rather than worry too much about the opposition. Roycey is always Roycey…tries to be funny but really he isn’t. We always laugh but what he doesn’t know is that we are laughing at him, not with him. He has promised me he'll let me take him shopping while we're over here because I’m sick of his crap polo shirts and ugly brown shoes that he always wears. He must have 10 pairs of them!
WC: A big game against England this week. Gareth Ellis was outstanding against France and will be fired up again.. What does Australia have to do better to beat England? Have there been any friendly text messages between you, Gaz and Benji?
RF: I thought Gaz went real well last week and is a real leader of the Pommy pack. They have a big and strong pack of forwards, so we are going to have to be strong up the middle. Guys like Peacock, Morley, Gaz, and Burgess will be a real handful. If we get the same possession we did against the Kiwis, I think we will be ok. I spoke to Gaz the other day through Face book and I’m sure everyone back home will be pleased to know that he is missing sunny Sydney already! This is good because we can’t wait to have him back at Wests Tigers. I have been in constant contact with Benji too and I saw him after the game on Saturday. I’m staying over here for a week after the tour and Benj might stay with me. We plan to catch up with Benny Galea and Patty Richards while we're here. It will be good to see a couple of the boys from the 05 crew!
WC: Finally Robbie, you are a massive Liverpool fan. How was the Liverpool v Manchester United game. And how special was it for you to be at Anfield.
RF: There are so many words I can come up with to describe it. Unbelievable, surreal, dream come true! I’ve been a Liverpool fan for a long, long time and to actually stand in the Kop holding my scarf up high and singing ‘Alone’ was worth the price of admission in itself (I paid 500 quid for my ticket by the way!).. I had goose bumps all over and even a couple of tears! The whole day was perfect! I got to Liverpool about three hours before kick off and went straight to the pub, singing and drinking with all the Liverpool fans. Then the game was amazing! A 2-0 win to Liverpool and both goals were scored right in front of me. Torres is a freak! I was hugging and kissing people I didn’t even know but because we were all wearing a Liverpool shirt, it felt like we were family!! It truly was one of the best experiences of my life and something I’ll never forget. It still doesn’t feel real that i was actually there but I’ve got it all on video so every time I watch the footage, it will remind me of one of the best and most perfect days of my life!!
ROBBIE'S FOUR NATIONS EXPERIENCE
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Wests Tigers captain and hooker Robbie Farah today gives a personal insight into the Four Nations tournament in England.
Farah spoke with Wests Tigers Media Officer Wayne Cousins about training with the Australian team, coach Tim Sheens, and seeing his dream of watching his beloved Liverpool play live in the English Premier League.
WC: Robbie, how has the past week been in terms of training, sightseeing? Who is your room-mate? What have you taken out of training alongside the likes of Inglis, Slater and co?
RF: We arrived in London on the Saturday morning and the coaching staff was nice enough to give us the weekend off to enjoy the city. It was a welcomed rest because the week before we left Australia, we were in camp at Homebush and got absolutely flogged everyday at training! The days off were a good reward and we used it to spend some time together. On the Saturday, we went to Covent Gardens for lunch and a few beers and on Sunday, we took in the all sights. London is a city filled with history and some of the landmarks are truly amazing! We then got stuck back into training for the rest of the week. The players not selected to play in the games are known as "The Emus" so there is more fitness for us during the week to make up for not playing a game on the weekend. Heaps of fun! I’m rooming with my fellow Emu, Cooper Cronk. He sure loves his sleep and we've been getting on well. Training has been intense and to get to train with guys like Darren Lockyer and Greg Inglis is an experience in itself.
WC: What did you make of the draw against the Kiwis and of Australia’s performance? Both sides ripped into each other in a great Test match?
RF: I thought we were lucky to get away with a draw against the Kiwis. We had most of the ball but failed to turn that into points. For some reason, we looked a little out of sorts in attack which was surprising because we looked sharp during the week at training. I think we will be better for the run but its been a while since any of us have played a game so hopefully that game will get the cobwebs out. we'll take the point and move on
WC: How did you rate Benji’s performance and that of the Kiwis?
RF: I thought the Kiwis played well and were very physical. Benji was really good. Defensively he was sound and he didn’t try to overplay his hand with the ball. He came up with a nice pass to put Frank Pritchard over and he led his team around well.
WC: Have you seen a different side to Tim Sheens as the Australian coach, compared to him as your club coach. And how is Royce Simmons going?
RF: Ha ha. Tim is pretty similar here as he is back home…maybe a little bit more serious if that’s possible (ha ha). He has been good. Tim keeps things simple and we've tried to really focus on our preparation and performance rather than worry too much about the opposition. Roycey is always Roycey…tries to be funny but really he isn’t. We always laugh but what he doesn’t know is that we are laughing at him, not with him. He has promised me he'll let me take him shopping while we're over here because I’m sick of his crap polo shirts and ugly brown shoes that he always wears. He must have 10 pairs of them!
WC: A big game against England this week. Gareth Ellis was outstanding against France and will be fired up again.. What does Australia have to do better to beat England? Have there been any friendly text messages between you, Gaz and Benji?
RF: I thought Gaz went real well last week and is a real leader of the Pommy pack. They have a big and strong pack of forwards, so we are going to have to be strong up the middle. Guys like Peacock, Morley, Gaz, and Burgess will be a real handful. If we get the same possession we did against the Kiwis, I think we will be ok. I spoke to Gaz the other day through Face book and I’m sure everyone back home will be pleased to know that he is missing sunny Sydney already! This is good because we can’t wait to have him back at Wests Tigers. I have been in constant contact with Benji too and I saw him after the game on Saturday. I’m staying over here for a week after the tour and Benj might stay with me. We plan to catch up with Benny Galea and Patty Richards while we're here. It will be good to see a couple of the boys from the 05 crew!
WC: Finally Robbie, you are a massive Liverpool fan. How was the Liverpool v Manchester United game. And how special was it for you to be at Anfield.
RF: There are so many words I can come up with to describe it. Unbelievable, surreal, dream come true! I’ve been a Liverpool fan for a long, long time and to actually stand in the Kop holding my scarf up high and singing ‘Alone’ was worth the price of admission in itself (I paid 500 quid for my ticket by the way!).. I had goose bumps all over and even a couple of tears! The whole day was perfect! I got to Liverpool about three hours before kick off and went straight to the pub, singing and drinking with all the Liverpool fans. Then the game was amazing! A 2-0 win to Liverpool and both goals were scored right in front of me. Torres is a freak! I was hugging and kissing people I didn’t even know but because we were all wearing a Liverpool shirt, it felt like we were family!! It truly was one of the best experiences of my life and something I’ll never forget. It still doesn’t feel real that i was actually there but I’ve got it all on video so every time I watch the footage, it will remind me of one of the best and most perfect days of my life!!
