Herbie Farnworth joins ‘mind coach’ Joe Wehbe’s management stable

The code’s biggest names, such as Daly Cherry-Evans and James Tedesco, swear by his methods, now Herbie Farnworth has turned to a mind coach.

Herbie Farnworth has revealed how turning to a mystery “football whisperer” who mentors Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and Roosters superstar James Tedesco has inspired his red-hot form for the Broncos.

Farnworth has been Brisbane’s standout player in the early stages of the 2022 premiership. He is the NRL’s equal leading tryscorer with four tries from three games. He has amassed 13 tackle busts, and run for a whopping 262 metres to spearhead Brisbane’s gutsy 16-10 defeat of the Bulldogs in round two.

Now, as the off-contract Broncos centre prepares for Saturday’s showdown with the Warriors at Redcliffe, a curious figure in Farnworth’s form burst has emerged in his new manager Joe Wehbe.

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Peak-performance coach Joe Wehbe (left) briefly worked with the Broncos in 2016 and has added Brisbane young gun Herbie Farnworth to his stable.

The self-styled Wehbe is considered many things — mind coach, energy reader, quasi-psychologist and life mentor — but some of the code’s biggest names, such as Cherry-Evans and Tedesco, swear by his methods.

Wehbe worked as a “peak-performance coach” for the Kiwis during Stephen Kearney’s stint as New Zealand Test coach. In 2016, while working as a Broncos assistant, Kearney convinced Brisbane super coach Bennett to invite the football whisperer to Red Hill.

Wehbe featured in the dressing room after Broncos games. At training, he ran alongside Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford, famously shouting: “Trust the ball! Trust the ball!”

It all seems like mumbo jumbo — Wehbe disappeared from the Broncos as quickly as he arrived — but Tedesco is a convert. Before every Roosters game, the NSW Origin fullback will not be at ease until he prepares mentally with a one-on-one session with Wehbe.

Farnworth has seen the light. He has also joined Tedesco and Cherry-Evans in Wehbe’s management stable and his scintillating displays for the Broncos suggests the football whisperer is working his magic.

“There are a lot of benefits that come from working with Joe,” Farnworth told News Corp.

“One of those is that he is very good mentally and he knows how your brain works.

“I have only just signed with Joe and started working with him, but everything he has done so far shows me that he has a great knowledge of the game and he knows how to simplify things and bring everything back to basics.

“He works on clearing your mind and working on instinct.”

Wehbe, who once made Parramatta players sidestep trees while blindfolded, has put Farnworth in touch with Cherry-Evans, who sung the praises of his NRL mind coach.

Since the England-born Farnworth arrived at the Broncos in 2019, he has relied on his uncle, legendary Wigan scout Brian Foley, to manage his contractual affairs.

But when Farnworth ramp-up negotiations with the Broncos following the Warriors clash, Wehbe will be another ally to help broker the most important deal of the 22-year-old’s career to date.

The off-contract Farnworth has been Brisbane’s best player in the opening three rounds.

“I am still working with Brian and we are a great team, but at the moment he is back in England so I also had to look for someone who is here and can go and meet with clubs,” Farnworth said.

“I don’t know Tedesco but I agree with what he has previously said about Joe.

“I have spoken to Daly (Cherry-Evans) a few times and he talks so highly of Joe and how trustworthy he is, so he must be doing something right to have the captains of the Blues and Maroons on his books.”

If Farnworth maintains his form, he will be a certainty to make his England debut at this year’s World Cup on home soil. The 103kg flyer was a shock omission from an England training squad last year, but after candid talks with coach Shaun Wane, Farnworth responded by being named the Broncos’ best back in 2021.

“I was left out but I have lifted my game since then,” he said.

“There was a breakdown at my end but I have spoken to Shaun since and I think we have sorted things out now.

“Both of us are really keen for this World Cup and I think England is going to go really well under Shaun. From the meetings I have had his knowledge of the game is very good and I am keen to work with him.

“Wigan was where I first played rugby league so it would be special to play there but I’ve got to get in the side first.

“It’s a long way off, but it would be pretty cool to play for England.”