Robbie Farah quits as Tigers captain, player welfare slammed by report

ROBBIE Farah has quit as Tigers captain ahead of a damning report into the state of player welfare at the club, putting further pressure on coach Jason Taylor.

Tigers coach Jason Taylor looks at Robbie Farah during warm up for the NRL game between the Wests Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors at Campbelltown Stadium , Campbelltown.Picture Gregg Porteous

Robbie Farah quit as Wests Tigers captain ahead of a damning report into the state of player welfare at the club that puts further pressure on coach Jason Taylor’s shaky position.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal an independent report commissioned by the NRL Players Association has found alarming evidence of the abuse of players’ rights and conditions.

Explosive allegations in the soon-to-be-released document will reveal 85% of the players interviewed complained of unacceptable conditions at the club.

Sydney barrister Julieanne Levick has been handling the investigation on behalf of the players union.

“It doesn’t look too favourably for the club in terms of their treatment of the players from a welfare perspective,” Levick said.

“There is some horrible stuff going on out there.

Robbie Farah during a Tigers training at Campbelltown Stadium.

“We only have the preliminary results at this stage which are alarming to say the least.

“All I can say is you’ve got to wonder who this Jason Taylor is.”

Levick has no connections with rugby league and was hired because of her independent position.

From the evidence gathered, the barrister is particularly critical of the way Farah has been treated since the day Taylor threatened to drop him to NSW Cup for 2016.

“Robbie has been a trooper for the club for many years,” she said, “They owe him a greater level of respect than what has been shown.

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“It’s an absolute abomination in my view. The interviews have shown he is highly regarded by all the players at the club. He has got integrity plus.”

Farah’s manager Sam Ayoub emailed the Wests Tigers on Saturday to reveal Farah was stepping aside after seven years as captain because of his fractured relationship with Taylor.

Test and Origin front-rower Aaron Woods is expected to take over the captaincy when the team returns to training tomorrow to begin their off-season preparations.

Farah made his decision to stand down as Wests Tigers skipper long before the club signed Matt Ballin from the Manly Sea Eagles.

He feels it is the best way for the club to move forward after months of speculation over his future at the club and his relationship with coach Jason Taylor.

Levick challenged Taylor’s claims of issues with Farah’s behaviour.

“Has there been one breech notice issued?” she said, “No there has not.

“If they perceived there was a problem with his behaviour have they done anything to try to rectify it from a welfare perspective? Again the answer is no.

“You’ve got to wonder where these veiled allegations of misconduct come from.”

So far the Wests Tigers board has been rock-solid in its support of Taylor.

However there is every chance the report will force them into action considering the overwhelming percentage of players who are unhappy.

If not, the NRL is likely to step in to at least ensure the players’ conditions and entitlements are being met.

The Sunday Telegraph spoke to Taylor about the report on Friday.

He declined to comment and suggested we contact chief executive Justin Pascoe.

Pascoe did not return our calls.

The new Wests Tigers CEO and former Panthers football manager is a close friend of the now unemployed Ivan Cleary who looms as an obvious target for the club.

Players Union chairman Clint Newton was reluctant to comment until the report had been finalised.

“We’re always in contact with our players and if concerns are raised, we follow them up,” he said.

“Our main objective is always to ensure clubs are acting in the best interests of the players.

“That needs to be constantly monitored to make sure the clubs are adhering to the policies and procedures that are expected of them.”

Originally published as Robbie Farah quits as Tigers captain, player welfare slammed by report