Jason Taylor plays down Robbie Farah feud ahead of Tigers-Rabbitohs clash

IT’S been 18 months in the making but the Robbie Farah and Jason Taylor feud is finally set to play out at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

Robbie Farah and coach Jason Taylor will add extra fire to Wests v Souths. Photo: Gregg Porteous

IT’S been 18 months in the making but the final act of Robbie Farah’s feud with Jason Taylor is finally set to play out.

After accusations of back stabbing and countless back-page stories, Farah and Taylor will come up against each other when South Sydney met the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.

For Farah, now in entrenched in cardinal and myrtle, the clash is a chance to prove to the Tigers he is far from a spent force.

Taylor, though, tried to distance himself from the pair’s fractured relationship on Thursday. The Tigers mentor made it clear he held no bad blood against Farah, wishing him well and predicting he’ll exceed at Redfern.

NRL LATE MAIL: TIGERS’ ROOKIE GAMBLE

“I thought he played really strongly in the Charity Shield and it looks like the change has been good for him and I’m sure he is going to play well,” Taylor said.

“I’m sure he is going to have a good season, so good luck (to him). He is a big threat.”

Farah was given a lifeline by Souths and recently said he’d moved on from his feud with Taylor.

However, he made it clear there was lingering resentment by refusing to answer questions about his former coach and labelling the Tigers a ‘toxic’ environment.

For all this bitterness, Taylor said he wasn’t expecting Friday’s blockbuster to have any extra feeling, saying the lure of two points was enough for his players.

Could the Broncos ‘win’ their first wooden spoon? Check out the League Central podcast.

“I don’t think that anyone gets more fired up for one game, in particular in round one,” he said.

“Everyone has had a big pre-season, so every player out on that field will be giving everything they’ve got.”

Taylor preferred to focus on the progress of his young team, believing they are on track to qualify for the finals.

“The group is maturing and we are able to handle more, so that’s a great sign for us,” he said.

“We haven’t chucked anything out and started again in any area. We’ve been developing our style over time.

“Now coming into our third year, it means we should be understanding that even better than what we have in the past and playing with more cohesion. I’m really excited about the way the team can perform.”

A win for the Tigers is more important for Taylor than beating Farah. Photo: Gregg Porteous

Taylor confirmed star halves Luke Brooks (hamstring) and Mitch Moses (ankle) as certain starters. Star recruit Jamal Idris will also play despite nursing a niggling knee injury.

“It’s fair to say Jamal isn’t at a level of fitness that is perfect and we’ve got some work to do,” Taylor said.

“He is ready to start the season, so you’ll see him hit his straps a few rounds in I’d imagine. But Jamal has done a great job and I think he can really change our team.

“Size is something we probably haven’t had in the outside backs in the last few years and it can really make a difference.”