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Tears flow after cheers for Farah as sick mother's plight hits home
Brad Walter, Josh Rakic
June 15, 2012
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ROBBIE FARAH had to choke back tears as he paid tribute to his family in an emotional speech after receiving the NSW player's player award after the Blues' win in Origin II.
An exhausted Farah - who made a record 63 tackles and handled the ball 101 times in the Blues' 16-12 victory before learning at full-time his mother Sonia had been taken to hospital and did not attend the match - described the award as the greatest honour of his career.
NSW coach Ricky Stuart, who presented Farah with the game ball autographed by the entire squad, told the post-match gathering at the Blues team hotel that any number of players deserved the award but only one had made 63 tackles.
Blues captain Paul Gallen also praised Farah before the 28-year-old hooker made a short but emotional acceptance speech in which he said he had played for the state, his teammates, past NSW players and to represent his ''loved ones''.
Farah's father and brothers were present, but his mother, who is battling pancreatic cancer, had to abandon plans to attend the match, and watched her son's heroics from her hospital bed.
''I got a bit choked,'' Farah told the Herald last night. ''Ricky presenting me with the game ball back at the function at the team hotel in front of family and friends was a big honour. To get the game ball and the players' player, and for Ricky to present me with that - it's probably one of the biggest honours of my career.
''There's no bigger honour of earning the respect of your teammates, to win that award voted by the players is something I'm very, very proud of. It means a hell of a lot. It's one of my career highlights."
Farah said he intended to back up for Wests Tigers in Sunday's match against Sydney Roosters but this has again raised questions about the scheduling of the NRL season.
''If you had a horse in the Melbourne Cup last night, would you want it to run again on the weekend?'' one long-serving official asked the Herald.
Wests Tigers officials and coaching staff did not want to enter the debate, but Craig Fitzgibbon, who held the previous NSW record of 59 tackles in an Origin match, said the fact Farah had starred in a vital NSW win would help.
''It sounds weird but when you are sore and battered and bruised after a good, hard-fought win like that, it is actually a good feeling,'' Fitzgibbon said. ''The soreness can give you comfort and let you know that you really put in and played well … you really look forward to going back after a win and playing for your club because you know that everyone is proud of you.''
In Farah's case, few were more proud than former Balmain and NSW hooking great Ben Elias, who presented Farah with his jersey last Monday night. ''I said to him, 'This 80 minutes will turn your whole life around, and I reckon you will get man of the match,''' Elias said. ''I said, 'You are either going to get beaten, and you will never get picked again, or you will become a legend and really establish yourself.' I am so happy for him.''
Farah had to overcome criticism of his Origin credentials from former NSW greats Steve Roach and Matthew Johns to stake a long-term claim on the Blues No.9 jersey.
"It's the realisation of a lot of hard work," Farah said. "It's been a fairly big turnaround for me. Eight weeks ago there were a few question marks over me and doubts whether I was up to Origin. But I waited three years for another opportunity, and I didn't want to waste it.
"I was happy with my game in game one, and I wanted to back that up with another good performance last night. Last time in 2009, I played well in the first game and had a disappointing second game. I wanted to make sure this time around I didn't let that happen again."
Brad Walter, Josh Rakic
June 15, 2012
\
\
ROBBIE FARAH had to choke back tears as he paid tribute to his family in an emotional speech after receiving the NSW player's player award after the Blues' win in Origin II.
An exhausted Farah - who made a record 63 tackles and handled the ball 101 times in the Blues' 16-12 victory before learning at full-time his mother Sonia had been taken to hospital and did not attend the match - described the award as the greatest honour of his career.
NSW coach Ricky Stuart, who presented Farah with the game ball autographed by the entire squad, told the post-match gathering at the Blues team hotel that any number of players deserved the award but only one had made 63 tackles.
Blues captain Paul Gallen also praised Farah before the 28-year-old hooker made a short but emotional acceptance speech in which he said he had played for the state, his teammates, past NSW players and to represent his ''loved ones''.
Farah's father and brothers were present, but his mother, who is battling pancreatic cancer, had to abandon plans to attend the match, and watched her son's heroics from her hospital bed.
''I got a bit choked,'' Farah told the Herald last night. ''Ricky presenting me with the game ball back at the function at the team hotel in front of family and friends was a big honour. To get the game ball and the players' player, and for Ricky to present me with that - it's probably one of the biggest honours of my career.
''There's no bigger honour of earning the respect of your teammates, to win that award voted by the players is something I'm very, very proud of. It means a hell of a lot. It's one of my career highlights."
Farah said he intended to back up for Wests Tigers in Sunday's match against Sydney Roosters but this has again raised questions about the scheduling of the NRL season.
''If you had a horse in the Melbourne Cup last night, would you want it to run again on the weekend?'' one long-serving official asked the Herald.
Wests Tigers officials and coaching staff did not want to enter the debate, but Craig Fitzgibbon, who held the previous NSW record of 59 tackles in an Origin match, said the fact Farah had starred in a vital NSW win would help.
''It sounds weird but when you are sore and battered and bruised after a good, hard-fought win like that, it is actually a good feeling,'' Fitzgibbon said. ''The soreness can give you comfort and let you know that you really put in and played well … you really look forward to going back after a win and playing for your club because you know that everyone is proud of you.''
In Farah's case, few were more proud than former Balmain and NSW hooking great Ben Elias, who presented Farah with his jersey last Monday night. ''I said to him, 'This 80 minutes will turn your whole life around, and I reckon you will get man of the match,''' Elias said. ''I said, 'You are either going to get beaten, and you will never get picked again, or you will become a legend and really establish yourself.' I am so happy for him.''
Farah had to overcome criticism of his Origin credentials from former NSW greats Steve Roach and Matthew Johns to stake a long-term claim on the Blues No.9 jersey.
"It's the realisation of a lot of hard work," Farah said. "It's been a fairly big turnaround for me. Eight weeks ago there were a few question marks over me and doubts whether I was up to Origin. But I waited three years for another opportunity, and I didn't want to waste it.
"I was happy with my game in game one, and I wanted to back that up with another good performance last night. Last time in 2009, I played well in the first game and had a disappointing second game. I wanted to make sure this time around I didn't let that happen again."
