Wests Tigers could be forced to pay Robbie Farah $1.7 million to play elsewhere

WESTS Tigers face the prospect of paying star hooker Robbie Farah a staggering $1.7 million over the next two seasons — to play at another NRL club.

Pictured is Robbie Farah with NSW Blues team mates on a boat in Pyrmont today for a team bonding cruise in Sydney Harbour. Picture: Tim Hunter.

WESTS Tigers face the prospect of paying star hooker Robbie Farah a staggering $1.7 million over the next two seasons — to play at another NRL club.

After a meeting on Sunday, the Tigers are still baulking at paying the bulk of Farah’s salary to play elsewhere.

Farah, who has two years remaining on his reported $950,000-a-season deal, is attracting offers of around $100,000 for 2016 because most clubs are already right at their salary cap ceiling.

That would mean the Tigers would have to pay $850,000 a season for 2016 and 2017 for Farah to play at a rival club — and that would come under their salary cap.

He won’t even be a Tiger but Farah would be the highest paid player on the Wests Tigers roster playing.

The Tigers would be highly reluctant to pay such a hefty figure for Farah to play elsewhere. They may now elect to retain Farah.

The Roosters are understood to have discussed a base salary deal for Farah worth about $100,000 a season. There was talk of other clubs having loosely discussed offers, while some may be able to find about $200,000 for him.

Insiders suggest the Tigers would need a club to pay at least $300,000 a season for the NSW hooker to be granted a release from his deal.

“Wests Tigers would be stark raving mad to pay $1.7 million for a player to play at another club,” one club CEO, who did not wish to be named, said.

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Contract figures were discussed on Sunday at an 11am meeting between Farah and Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe. There was talk that two board members also attended the meeting.

The Sydney Roosters have been strongly linked to Farah but the deal is still a fair way off being finalised. Much will depend on whether powerful chairman Nick Politis chases Farah with vigour.

The ongoing Farah saga is tearing the Tigers apart.

And they need to ensure any move doesn’t offend current hooker and co-captain Jake Friend, who is likely to replace Cameron Smith as Queensland No. 9 when he retires.

Farah continues to train with the Tigers in a professional manner but friends say his enthusiasm levels are understandably low.

Sunday’s meeting made some small progress with talks described as “ongoing.”

Pascoe only said through text: “All contractual discussions with Robbie and his management and the club will be kept confidential out of respect for all parties.”

There are even suggestions the Tigers’ roster is fragmented between those that support Farah and others who back current coach Jason Taylor. Young players at the club are bewildered at the politics affecting the playing group.

Farah wants every cent he’s entitled to of his rich deal with the Tigers, who seem to have painted themselves into a difficult corner.

He wants to play with a Sydney club next season, have a final year in the NSW State of Origin side before a probable move to England’s Super League.

Originally published as Wests Tigers could be forced to pay Robbie Farah $1.7 million to play elsewhere