Sheens calls on Farah to back up after his heroics in State of Origin II

TIM Sheens has stamped hooker Robbie Farah as the long-term solution to the NSW Blues No. 9 debate after his heroics in State of Origin II.

WESTS Tigers coach Tim Sheens has stamped hooker Robbie Farah as the long-term solution to the NSW Blues No. 9 debate after his heroics in State of Origin II.

Three nights after making 63 tackles and winning the NSW players' player award, Farah will lead the Tigers into battle against a desperate Sydney Roosters at Leichhardt Oval today.

Sheens stressed for Farah to prove himself on the Origin stage, the Tigers playmaker needed to submit the same style of dominant performances for three straight series.

"In a couple of games he's gone out and shown what he can do. But in all those sorts of things, it's about playing three series, not two games," Sheens said. "I always say that to players who play that level of footy. When you're there for the third series you know you're an Origin player or you know you're a Test player.

"There's been plenty of players play one or two games here or there, but the challenge is still there for him, as it is for a few of those NSW boys to continue to stay in that side and be there in three years' time.

"Then you've got yourself an Origin player."

Sheens and NSW coach Ricky Stuart engaged in a public feud in the lead-up to Origin I as the Tigers coach continually pushed Farah as the best man to wear the Blues No. 9 jersey.

Yesterday, Farah was sporting a badly cut left ear but said returning to Leichhardt Oval made it easy to get up for the Roosters game.

"It was my fourth Origin game and the first time I've won one," Farah said.

"Origin's such a big week, not just the game but the build-up and the whole week with promotions and functions.

"It's a full-on week, so it's important you freshen up mentally as well as physically."

Sheens hinted he will look to give Farah a rest at some stage against the Roosters after his Origin II performance.

But with rookie five-eighth Curtis Sironen ruled out following a minor knee operation, Sheens may not be afforded the chance to rotate one of his key playmakers.

The Tigers coach has been forced into using his seventh different halves combination in 14 games, with Blake Ayshford to partner Kiwi captain Benji Marshall today.

Ayshford, Tim Moltzen, Chris Lawrence, Jacob Miller, Tom Humble and Sironen have all been paired with Marshall at various stages as the Tigers coach searches for the combination to take him to the finals.

The upside is the Tigers have won seven matches using a variety of combinations.

But on the downside, the Tigers will need stability heading into the business end of the season if they are to challenge the NRL's big guns.

Sironen is undoubtedly the club's long-term plan, but with the rookie expected to be sidelined until round 18 the Tigers will have to continue to trial Band-Aid solutions.

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