Robbie Farah to play his 250th NRL game when South Sydney face Newcastle

ROBBIE Farah’s dream of marking his 250th NRL game at Wests Tigers might be long gone — but the NSW hooker is intent on making it a day to remember with South Sydney.

IT’S the milestone Robbie Farah has been waiting seven months for.

The South Sydney hooker’s 250th NRL match would have been played at Leichhardt Oval on a sunny Sunday afternoon last August for his beloved Wests Tigers if not for a fallout with then-coach Jason Taylor.

While there will be no video tribute and swelling home crowd to welcome the achievement, Farah is still immensely proud to finally reach the milestone when the Rabbitohs tackle the Knights in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

Some 222 days after being left on the sideline at Leichhardt Oval to watch his Tigers beat premiers North Queensland, Farah said he was simply grateful to be doing it for a club that had made him feel welcome.

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“Last year I thought that day would come, but that’s behind me now, and I’ve definitely moved on,’’ Farah said on Wednesday.

“This club has been awesome, and I really feel like a part of the Rabbitohs family. I know they’ve got plans to make it a special milestone for me, and I’m taken aback by that. I’ve only been here a short time, but for them to go out of their way to do that shows the care they’ve got for me.

“Hopefully I can return the favour by going out and playing a good game.’’

Farah’s milestones — his NRL debut and 50th, 100th, 150th and 200th games — all ended up being losses. Even when he became the most-capped Tigers player in history — taking over Chris Heighington’s 201 games — that also failed to go to script.

Maybe the Souths jumper will bring a change of luck for the representative rake.

Farah has settled into his new surroundings. Photo: Gregg Porteous

Farah was back to his brilliant best against Manly last weekend after a debut game nobody at Redfern wanted to remember. Not only did the Tigers smash Souths, but Greg Inglis eventually hobbled off after 50 minutes with a season-ending ACL injury.

Farah said the opening weekend had taken its toll emotionally, and had a “shocker’’ all week at training.

But he was grateful to be given the chance by coach Michael Maguire to focus on football and nothing else, which had allowed him to enjoy the game again.

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Farah said the secret to longevity was hard work, something preached to him from day one by former Tigers assistant and Penrith premiership winner Royce Simmons.

The hooker still completes training extras to this day, which he feels gives him “a physical and mental edge’’.

At 33, Farah remains NSW’s best — and only — No. 9 option for Origin.

“First and foremost I need to be playing good footy to give myself the best chance of being picked, but I’d love to put my hand up again, and the Origin jersey means so much to me,’’ Farah said.