West Tigers coach Jason Taylor reveals nine jersey is Robbie Farah’s to lose

EXACTLY 115 days ago, Wests Tigers told Robbie Farah to look elsewhere or expect to be dumped to the NSW Cup. Now, Jason Taylor says the No. 9 jersey is Farah’s to lose.

Robbie Farah and Tigers coach Jason Taylor during the Wests Tigers first pre season training session in Leichhardt .Picture Gregg Porteous

EXACTLY 115 days ago, the Wests Tigers told Robbie Farah to look elsewhere or expect to be dumped to the NSW Cup.

On Friday, that threat was finally — and embarrassingly — withdrawn for good as coach Jason Taylor guaranteed Farah would wear the No. 9 jumper in round one next year.

Taylor joined CEO Justin Pascoe at Concord Oval to confirm the appointment of Aaron Woods as the club’s new skipper, and Dene Halatau and Chris Lawrence as Woods’ deputies.

But the talk soon turned to Taylor and his relationship moving forward with Farah.

Nine of the 11 questions fired off were about Farah, including how Taylor could possibly continue to work with the bloke he tried unsuccessfully to punt from the joint venture.

Woods himself later revealed he would have been “filthy’’ had his predecessor captain left, and “a lot of the boys would have been filthy, too’’.

Asked by The Daily Telegraph to confirm reports he had apologised to Farah in front of the playing group, Taylor said: “We went away a couple of weeks ago to Port Stephens and spent some time working on how we want to be perceived as a club and where we want to get to as a group.

“Everybody put the egos at the door and we had some good confidential conversations, and that’s what they are, confidential conversations that will remain that.

“But rest assured there were some really positive outcomes and we’re working well together.’’

It was only confirmed this week Farah would officially see out the final two years of his deal, and become part of a seven-man leadership group.

“There have been a lot of really positive conversations between Robbie and myself over a period of time. We have got to a great result this week, and that’s on the back of a lot of hard work from both of us putting the club first, and working towards the result we’ve got,’’ Taylor said.

“I spoke to Robbie before this press conference and he’s really positive about this, and he’s really excited for Woodsy, Dene and Chris.

“It’s a positive place on the back of a lot of hard work.’’

The recruitment of Matt Ballin has left Taylor with two experienced rakes on his roster. Ballin is racing the clock to be fit for the season opener after under-going knee and ankle surgery.

Robbie Farah and Tigers coach Jason Taylor during a pre-season training session. Picture: Gregg Porteous

But the No. 9 jumper will be Farah’s to lose — and Taylor made it clear Farah would start at hooker.

“Absolutely,’’ he said.

“He’s trained well enough to make that position his own, it’s been his position, and I don’t see any reason why that will change between now and the start of the season.’’

Now Farah was headed nowhere, Woods opened up about how he would have felt had his good mate found a new home.

“I’d be filthy mate,’’ he said.

“I’d hate to have played against him because he’s such a good player. He knows how all the boys play here. He could be a coach when he retires. I play Origin with him, and I know a lot of the boys would have been filthy too (if he left).

“But we don’t have to worry about that now. I’m happy he’s staying. And the way he’s trained he deserves (the No. 9 jumper). Nobody has trained better than him apart from a couple of the younger boys.’’

Originally published as West Tigers coach Jason Taylor reveals nine jersey is Robbie Farah’s to lose