New coach Michael Maguire could be forced to cull big name Tiger
Michael Maguire could be forced to immediately shed someone from his roster if Wests Tigers fail to overturn sanctions involving a contentious ambassadorial role for Robbie Farah.
Incoming Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire could be forced to immediately cut a player from his roster if the club fails to overturn sanctions involving a contentious $639,000 deal for veteran No.9 Robbie Farah.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Tigers officials have already discussed the unpalatable prospect of having to alter a 30-man squad boasting several key signings over the past 12 months — among them Josh Reynolds, Moses Mbye, Benji Marshall, Farah and reigning Roosters premier Ryan Matterson.
It comes after NRL boss Todd Greenberg handed down a set of bombshell sanctions following an alleged salary cap breach involving an ambassadorial role for Farah in retirement.
That deal, however, has never been paid to, or even accepted by, the ageing club favourite.
Yet because the offer was never revealed to the NRL, Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe is now being threatened with deregistration while the club has been fined $750,000 and also had $639,000 — the exact amount of the Farah proposition — removed from its salary cap for next year.
There is no suggestion Farah has done anything wrong.
While the Tigers are traditionally a club that rarely spends up to the full cap amount, which next year stands at $9.6 million, there is still a possibility they will have to make roster changes if the sanctions stand.
Speaking on Wednesday however, Tigers chair Marina Go said the club would “vigorously” defend against the allegations of salary cap cheating.
It is understood Pascoe, who is now suspended, will also consider legal action in a bid to keep his job.
“We’re shocked and disappointed,” Go said of the sanctions. “We don’t accept the allegations at all suggesting the club has breached the rules.”
While the ruling was a shock to Tigers officialdom, and all of League Land, the penalties only arrived after a two-month investigation by the NRL.
The Tigers offered Farah the ambassadorial deal back in 2015, as he was preparing to leave the club after falling out with then coach Jason Taylor.
It was suggested the hooker, who was switching to South Sydney, could take up the $639,000 deal once his career was finished.
Given Farah was branded a destabilising influence when he left the club, some have questioned how the Tigers could then offer him a corporate role after his playing days had finished.
However, given the now 34-year-old is both a Tigers life member and fan favourite, the club considered it an obvious choice to eventually have him return home and work separate from the playing squad — even in Taylor had still been coaching.
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