Robbie Farah says coach Ivan Cleary wants him at the Tigers in season 2019
WESTS Tigers veteran Robbie Farah has given the biggest indication yet that Ivan Cleary will be at the club next year and it involves the hooker re-signing for another season.
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WESTS Tigers veteran Robbie Farah has given the biggest indication yet that both he and Ivan Cleary will be at the club next year.
Cleary was being courted to become Penrith’s new coach after the Panthers fired Anthony Griffin almost two weeks ago.
Despite saying he intended on seeing out his time in charge of the Tigers, speculation won’t go away that Cleary could still end up at the foot of the mountains in 2019.
But Farah says he and his coach have already starting planning for next season.
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“He’s been talking with me about next year and that’s what I've got to get a gauge on. To me, he’s talking to me like he’ll be here next year,” Farah said.
“He’s planning for next year. He’s talking to me about staying next year, his thoughts, his plans, to me that doesn’t seem like a man who is going to be elsewhere.”
Cleary’s plans include the hooker playing for at least another year so he can continue to help Jacob Liddle, who is seen as the club’s long-term No.9.
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“We’ve had discussion about what sort of role he sees me playing if I stay next year. He obviously sees me staying as being important and he’d like me to stay,” Farah said.
“First and foremost to me, and I reiterated to Ivan, if I'm staying obviously I want to play and add value on the field not only off it.
“While part of my role is to help Jacob and his development and turn him into a regular first grader, I'm here to compete with him as well.”
After the Cleary coaching saga, Farah is acutely aware of creating any other distractions while his side’s finals chances are still alive.
“My sole focus is getting this team to the final. I don’t ‘Robbie is retiring or Benji is retiring’ to be a distraction,” he said.
“At the same time I know the club has to start planning for next year.
Their preference is for me to stay and go again next year but if that doesn’t happen they have to look at alternative options.”
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Farah, who has played 279 NRL games and 16 Origins for the New South Wales Blues, says taking the field only eight times so far this year has helped preserve his ageing body.
“I’m feeling pretty good at the moment, whether my body can handle another 25 rounds straight next year that’s another thing, something that I need to weigh up,” he said.
“But at the moment my body is feeling good. I played 80 minutes up until last week. I’m out here training every day not getting any special treatment.”
While Farah is in no rush to sort of his immediate playing future, he says he’d gladly hang up the boots in 2018 if he is afforded a fairytale finish.
“I’m cool either way, whether it finishes in the three weeks, we’re still a chance, who knows we can make the grand final,” he said.
“If we win the grand final I'll retire. you can quote me on that.”