NRL 2024: Robbie Farah to be dropped from Wests Tigers coaching role | Sport Confidential
Sport Confidential reveals why the Wests Tigers are set to drop Robbie Farah from their coaching staff, and the surprise clause in Jason Ryles’ new deal with the Eels.
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Tigers boss Shane Richardson says the club will hit the market in order to find an assistant coach to replace departing club legend Robbie Farah.
Farah and coach Benji Marshall have made the decision for Farah to leave the club at the end of the season. He joined the Tigers coaching staff last year under Tim Sheens after a decorated playing career. He stayed in the job this year with Marshall as head coach.
“Benji rang me last night and told me he had a conversation with Robbie,” Richardson said.
“They agreed that Robbie won’t be there next year but he will continue until the end of the year. We now have plenty of time to sit down and look at our options. We’ll go to the market and find the best option we can for next year.”
Well-credentialed coach John Morris will remain on Marshall’s staff next season with the Tigers hopeful of adding some more coaching experience to help Marshall in his second season.
THE SECRET DEAL RYLES HAS MADE WITH THE STORM
Jason Ryles will join Parramatta next week on the understanding that he won’t touch Melbourne Storm coaching staff or players for at least the next 12 months.
Ryles will officially take over from Trent Barrett as head coach at the end of the season but until then, he will devote his time to piecing together his coaching staff and working on a reshape of the roster.
Already Ryan Matterson and Maika Sivo have been told they are free to leave if they can find deals elsewhere while re-signing Blaize Talagi is a priority for the incoming coach.
Melbourne players and staff, however, won’t be part of his immediate future. Sport Confidential understands that under the terms of his release from the Storm, Ryles agreed to a clause that prevented him poaching any members of the club’s coaching staff for the next 12 months.
It is also understood that he has a gentlemen’s agreement in place to steer clear of Storm players for the same period of time.
The likes of Reimis Smith and Tepai Moeroa are off contract at the end of this season and now out of Ryles’ reach. The Storm also have a host of players up for grabs on November 1 when they enter the final year of their deals – Jonah Pezet, Josh King, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Trent Loiero are all off contract at the end of next year while Harry Grant has an option in his contract for 2026.
All will be off limits to Ryles and Parramatta come November 1.
TOWNSEND, GALLEN MAKE PEACE AFTER BITTER FALLING OUT
Chad Townsend has reached out to his former Cronulla captain Paul Gallen in a bid to put to bed any lingering animosity between the premiership winning players.
Gallen caused a stir when he went on 2GB’s Continuous Call Team and said the pair “don’t get on”.
But Townsend has spoken with Gallen privately and the Cowboys halfback insisted there was no issue between them.
“Gal and I have spoken over the phone about a week and a half ago,” Townsend said. “We have shared some great moments together. We had a good chat and have both well and truly moved on.”
It was revealed that the pair fell out following comments Gallen made about the Cowboys with Townsend refusing to do a post-game interview with his ex-skipper.
LUAI RUBS SALT INTO QUEENSLAND WOUNDS
Jarome Luai has rubbed salt into the gaping wounds of Queensland, celebrating the Blues’ State of Origin series win by posting a picture of himself outside the Caxton Hotel with the tagline: “Goodnight.”
Luai was one of the stars of NSW’s series-clinching victory at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, setting up the matchwinning try for Bradman Best in the second half of an Origin classic.
The Penrith No.6 hasn’t had a lot of success at Suncorp Stadium and he wasn’t going to let slip the opportunity to enjoy one of the most satisfying moments of his career.
Luai posted the image just after midnight, although it is understood the photo was taken earlier in the week when the Blues had a team dinner out at Caxton Street.
It’s not the first time Luai has taken to social media after an Origin game at Suncorp Stadium – last year he posted an inflammatory message to social media trolls after the Blues were thrashed in Brisbane.
“Chill, All you idiots have work tomorrow morning,” Luai wrote last year.
This time, he was far less inflammatory although he added a blue heart emoji just to remind the Maroons of the Blues’ victory.
FLAGS DOWN FOR MAROONS LEGEND
There will be no Queensland flag flying over the home of Mark Coyne this year following the Maroons’ defeat. The Queensland Origin legend has made a habit of raising the Queensland flag at his Sutherland Shire home whenever they win a series. He does it – not only out of his love for the Maroons – but to agitate his next door neighbour … the one and only Phil Gould.
FLASHBACK
Brian Smith dominated headlines on this day 15 years ago when he walked out of the Knights with a year to go on his contract to sign a mega-deal with the Roosters. Newcastle granted Smith permission to leave to take up a four-year contract at the Roosters. Smith eventually left the Knights before the end of the 2009 season with Rick Stone taking control.
HASLER PREPARES FOR HOSTILE RECEPTION FROM MANLY HIERARCHY
Things have certainly changed at Manly since Des Hasler left the club in bitter circumstances. While the fans aren’t expected to give the Sea Eagles legend a hard time upon his return on Sunday, Hasler could expect a frosty reception from Manly’s hierarchy should he crosspaths with any officialdom. Hasler is continuing to pursue legal action against his former club with Manly preparing for a $1.5 million pay out should they lose.
While the split looks set to be dragged out through the courts, there has been shift of what has occurred within the club since Hasler was sacked at the end of the 2022 season.
According to those in the know at Manly a few of the changes have been described to this column as a different sound and vibe around the club.
“Players are now able to play music in the gym,” the Sea Eagles insider side. “They weren’t able to do that before. They are also able to play golf and surf which was frowned upon.
“The dressing sheds used to be a no-go zone under Des’s watch for officials. Now they are welcomed.
“Press conferences are notably longer giving the club a better relationship with the media while there is a touch more teamwork within the football department.”
Hasler’s Titans head to Manly on Sunday for the first time since he joined the club earlier this year.
Manly offered Hasler a $565,000 settlement to go away quietly but he rejected the olive branch, instead opting to bring in the legal big guns to take on the Sea Eagles with millions now potentially at stake.
CANTERBURY PUP SET FOR REWARD
Canterbury rookie Lipoi Hopoi has been one of the success stories of the season and he is set to be rewarded with a new two-year deal.
It has been a remarkable rise for the Canterbury junior who made the decision not to return to Canterbury in the new year and quit the game fearing he was not good enough to cut it in the NRL. When he made his return – only after a crisis meeting at his home with Phil Gould and fellow Canterbury officials – he did so via the third-tier Ron Massey Cup but now he is a regular first grade player.
He is on just a $1200 train and trial contract this season but his form has been rewarded with a two-year deal.
Hopoi has missed just one game since making his NRL debut in round 13.
PANTHERS CUB GOES UNDER THE KNIFE
Penrith rising star Jesse McLean has undergone surgery to repair a damaged collarbone which will sideline him until the finals. McLean was injured during a NSW Cup clash last week and has needed an operation to fix the issue. The 20-year-old has played two games this season.
MADGE SHUTSDOWN MAROONS MYTH
NSW coach Michael Maguire has launched one last grenade across the Queensland border, describing claims that the Maroons have more passion for State of Origin as a myth.
Maguire, savouring one of the great coaching performances of his career after the Blues clinched the Origin series at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, has seemingly taken great delight in needling the Maroons over the course of the series.
He wasn’t ready to let up as he and his players landed in Sydney with the Origin shield in their keeping. Asked what he was most proud about their series win, Maguire said: “Most proud of is probably the connection I have seen not just the playing group but the staff and old boys.
“Everyone continually say that the people up north have more passion, they have more this, they have more that. I have seen live that it is alive and well down here.
“It is a myth. I think we have a way to go to continually create what we are feeling right now. People are passionate about the sport but what I have been shown from hundreds of the old boys who have played, it has been an enjoyable piece to be part of.
“We got the result for them. I have many a text from past players. It goes to show what it means to them.”
Maguire made it his mission to galvanise the support for former players, regularly inviting them to dinner and talks with the team.
He made sure the current players were well versed in the history of the Blues and the great wins of the past, most notably the 1985 side that was led by Steve Mortimer.
“There is a lot at stake, you are representing all your people,” Maguire said.
“That is inside the players. It was good to see our players show that.”
MULTI-MILLIONAIRE WHO LOOKED AFTER THE BLUES REVEALED
NSW coach Michael Maguire has revealed the secret role Sanity Entertainment boss Ray Itaoui played in the Blues’ State of Origin series success.
With Maguire’s squad licking their wounds after defeat in the opening game of the series, Itaoui helped lift their spirits when they first arrived in camp for game two by hosting a dinner for the team at his $50 million harbourside home.
Itaoui, a self-made millionaire and Parramatta supporter, shared his remarkable story with the playing group and helped inspire the turnaround that led NSW to overcome defeat in Origin I to win the series.
“I believe it was huge for our preparation,” Maguire said.
“Ray spoke about a lot of things – family, adversity. Players could look around and see things don’t have to be a certain way if you don’t want them to be.
“That night ignited the campaign and put them in the right frame of mind for what they had to face.”
The Blues were taken to the dinner on navy boats organised by another Maguire confidante, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. They were then treated to a concert by former NSW forward Dale Finucane at the Itaoui’s home, which has some of the best views in Sydney of the city’s famous harbour.
“Ray is a mate,” Maguire said.
“He just said if you ever need any help, just let me know. I went to his place and had a coffee. I said imagine if the team could come to your house. He said why don’t you.”
ORIGIN HERO’S BROKEN NECK FEARS
Angus Crichton reeled away from a tackle on Reece Walsh in the opening minutes of State of Origin fearing he had broken his neck. By night’s end, that very same neck had the Wally Lewis draped around it.
Crichton was forced from the field for a head injury assessment only three minutes into the Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium after a tackle gone wrong on Walsh that left him feeling shooting pains.
“I almost broke my neck,” Crichton said.
“It was pretty sore. My head was fine, and I didn’t have a concussion at all, but I crunched my neck pretty badly. At the time I thought I had properly injured it.
“I came in and did all the tests, got some Deep Heat in there, and I was all right. I had to nurse it through the rest of the game. I was happy to get through the rest of the game.
“I felt shooting pain in my neck, which is never a good sign. But there was no way I was missing out on that game.
“I was pissed off because, without sounding arrogant, I felt like I was in a mood a bit, and ready to go. I was keen to attack that game. I was pissed off I had to go off. It was good to come back out and finish it off.
“My job was to try and get at ‘Cherry’ (Daly Cherry-Evans), and quick play-the-balls around those guys. I have a lot of respect for that bloke, I played Aussies with him, he’s a champion player and bloke, but it’s nice to finally get one over him.”
Crichton’s comeback has been one of the stories of the season but it reached fresh heights on Wednesday night as he was rewarded with the Wally Lewis medal.
Crichton paid tribute to his partner Chloe Esegbona as he celebrated in the Blues dressing rooms.
“She’s been my rock,” Crichton said.
“It’s the first time I’ve been with someone who has helped me become the best version of myself.
“She’s been amazing. It’s been a breath of fresh air for me, and a big reason for my success.
“The first game she came to was the World Cup final [in 2022] … she’s gone from there, to reserve grade at Henson Park, she’s stuck by me through it all. She’s a very, very special person.”
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