Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah hits back at epic blast from club great Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach

EMBATTLED skipper Robbie Farah has responded to an epic blast from Balmain Tigers great Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach.

Robbie Farah with coach Mick Potter during Wests Tigers rugby league training at Concord Oval, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

ROBBIE Farah has responded to an epic blast from Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, saying the Tigers are “not listening” to the club great and instead concentrating on football.

Blocker went off his rocker last night, criticising Farah’s television interview on The Footy Show, leadership qualities and overbearing influence at the club.

Farah responded at training this morning, claiming the Tigers were blocking out Roach’s rant as they build towards Saturday’s clash against the Cowboys.

Mick Potter with Robbie Farah at Tigers training today. Picture: Brett Costello

Robbie Farah takes the field at Tigers training today. Picture: Brett Costello

“He’s entitled to his opinion. He’s a Balmain Tigers legend. I’m not going to stand here and bag him,” Farah said. “We’re not listening to that and we just want to get on with what we’re trying to do here.

“We know what we’re about as a group here and everyone else can write whatever they want. It hasn’t been nice – everything that’s been written and all the speculation. But we just want to move on. I spoke last night (on The Footy Show) and I don’t want to talk about it again.

“I’d rather be talking about some footy now. Everyone’s a bit over it to be honest, it’s kind of like flogging a dead horse at the moment.”

WATCH FARAH’S INTERVIEW ABOVE.

Farah’s words come after Roach last night risked his job at the Tigers by launching an extraordinary attack on the sulking skipper:

In an explosive interview, a furious and emotion-charged Roach:

* Called for the NRL to send in former legend Wayne Pearce to run and fix the club: “He’s a great leader of men and that’s what’s required right now.”

* Blasted Farah for doing the Footy Show interview without the Tigers’ permission.

* Called on the skipper to move on and get over his feud with Gorden Tallis: “Robbie’s the only bloke that’s keeping all this going.”

* And slammed Channel Nine for using Phil Gould to interview Robbie Farah on last night’s Footy Show.

“Why was Phil Gould, the boss of Penrith, even doing the interview?” Roach said, “Gus would love seeing us in turmoil.

RIFTS, LEAKS, FUTURE: FARAH TELLS ALL

“Could you imagine the drama or the reaction at Penrith if one of his players did the interview without permission from the club.

UNDER FIRE FARAH WILL NOT QUIT TIGERS

“I know he works for Channel Nine but he’s also the general manager of one of our rival clubs in Sydney’s West.

“Does he want to get all our sponsors when they’ve had enough of the s**t that’s going on at the moment?”

Roach is a paid employee of the Wests Tigers as an assistant on Mick Potter’s coaching staff and on the sales team in Tigers marketing.

Still, he’s not afraid to attack the current management and the way they have handled the Robbie Farah/Mick Potter crisis.

There’s no leadership - they should get Wayne Pearce back straight away. At least he’s got some balls.

Steve Roach

“There’s no leadership — they should get Wayne Pearce back straight away,” Roach said.

“Junior’s on the independent commission but he should be running the Tigers.

“I still go to him for advice as do a lot of other people. He’s a great leader of men and that’s what’s required right now. Put him in charge. At least he’s got some balls.

“He should be running the whole show. Right now we need a leader. We need someone who can make hard and tough decisions.”

Steve Roach in action during his playing days

Roach has been stewing over the Tigers crisis for a fortnight. He wanted to say something earlier but restrained himself.

“I’ll probably get in the s**t for saying all this but I don’t care,” he said.

“I’m over it. I’m not just going to sit back and watch my old club get torn apart like this. My guts are churning and it breaks my heart. It’s just a disgrace.

“I’ve tried to be professional and just do what I’ve got to do on the coaching staff but I can’t sit back any longer.”

He also held nothing back when asked for his thoughts on Farah’s recent behaviour.

“Everyone is treading on egg shells around one player (Robbie Farah),” he said.

“Wayne Pearce retired, I retired, so did Paul Sironen, Garry Jack and John Skandalis but the club went on and on.

“It’s bigger than one person. Robbie couldn’t go to a press conference on Monday but went to a paid interview at Channel Nine.

“I don’t understand. Robbie’s the only bloke that’s keeping all this going. Gorden Tallis hasn’t said a word for two weeks.”

Roach says he decided to speak out in the hope the NRL might fast track the board room and management changes that will allow the club to move forward.

And he’s also feeling for the younger players.

Grant Mayer handling of Mick Potter’s role has attracted severe criticism.

“These kids we’ve got, there’s 40 per cent improvement in all of them,” Roach said, “They just want to play football without all the nonsense.

“They turn up to training every day, play on the weekends, and want to become better football players.

“What hope do they have in the current environment? They don’t want to get tied up in politics and boardroom bulls**t.

“Even guys like Aaron Woods. He only wants to play footy. They don’t want a bar of this crap. Just play and enjoy. That’s what rugby league is all about.”

Roach insists he cares only about the future of the club. No more out-of-control egos, no more back-stabbing and no more feuds.

“They’ll probably get up me and give me the arse from my job but someone had to say something,” he said.

“I don’t do it for the money. I do it because I love the club and because I’m sick and tired of faceless people wrecking a great footy club.

“I want to see these kids develop into great players and put the club back into a position we can be proud of.”

Originally published as Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah hits back at epic blast from club great Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach