http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/tigers-secure-farahs-services/2006/10/04/1159641373623.html
Tigers secure Farah's services
Glenn Jackson
October 4, 2006 - 2:06PM
Wests Tigers have received a major boost today with boom hooker Robbie Farah rejecting significant interest from elsewhere to re-sign with the club until the end of 2010.
Farah finalised the deal - a three-year extension of his current contract, which was due to end at the end of next year - this morning after discussing the offer with his family last night.
The Tigers had been desperate to re-sign the rake after the end of the NRL's anti-tampering laws led to huge interest in Farah from other clubs. He had been linked to a $1.2 million deal with the Bulldogs.
However Farah said today he had always wanted to remain with the Tigers, who he won a premiership with in 2005, even though he could have earnt more money elsewhere.
Farah has been touted as a future NSW and Australian hooker, and only last Saturday played for the Prime Minister's XIII against PNG.
Asked yesterday if he would be knocking back more money to stay with the Tigers, the 22-year-old said: "You could say that. But the terms that we're talking about, I'm happy with. I'm not about money anyway.
"As long as I'm happy with the club, there's no need to move. Dollars aren't everything. I've had great times at the club. I won a comp last year, and that brought us all a bit closer. I've been under [coach] Tim Sheens all my first-grade career, and I see myself developing under his guidance. It'd be very hard to leave the club."
Meanwhile, Australia's injury-hit Tri-Nations campaign met another snag yesterday, with Melbourne's medical staff informing ARL officials that hooker Cameron Smith was unlikely to be fit for the crucial first game, leaving Shaun Berrigan to fill the role.
Smith suffered bruising to the ribs and a badly corked thigh in the Storm's grand final loss to Brisbane on Sunday that are expected to rule him out of the October 14 clash with New Zealand.
Smith, who last night won Melbourne's player-of-the-year award, will be assessed again by Storm officials today before he travels to Sydney for the Kangaroos' medical tomorrow.
The Kangaroos have been hit by a host of injury withdrawals in recent weeks, including Luke Bailey Jason Ryles, Matt Cooper Steve Simpson and Eric Grothe.
Danny Buderus pulled out of the squad because of the impending birth of his baby.
Source SMH
