Robbie Farah gone?

[Ron's_Mate]

St George Illawarra Dragons star Benji Marshall says he and Wests Tigers captain Robbie Farah took pay cuts in 2012

Jamie Marcuson
Published: September 2, 2015 - 11:29AM

Former West Tigers halfback Benji Marshall has alleged he and Robbie Farah took pay cuts to keep the club afloat.
Marshall told Fox Sports rugby league programme NRL 360 on Tuesday night that the WestsTigers approached the pair in 2012, asking them to take significant pay cuts to help alleviate salary cap pressures the club was facing at the time.
"The club came to us and said we're going to be 'X' amount over the cap", says Marshall. "I think I took an $80,000 pay cut and Robbie took a $200,000 pay cut for two years in a row."
The revelation comes amid a growing feud between Farah and the Tigers management who have told him he is not wanted for next season.
Marshall, who won a premiership with Farah in 2005, stated that the public don't understand the personal investment Farah has made to the club.
"Everyone looks at the price tag of $950,000 and says he's not worth it, but that's really $750,000 and the $200,000 that he took off three or four years ago to keep the club afloat," he says.
"That's how much the club means to the bloke and that's how much it meant to me. We were willing to give up our money to keep the club under the cap."
Marshall can't see his good friend playing for a rival NRL club, saying that Farah's stubbornness will see him play out his contract with the Tigers, even if it means he plays reserve grade.
"I know how much the club means to him and as much as people might think he would go, there's no way he wants to leave that club and there's no way he wants to play for another club."
As rumours continue to swirl of a growing feud with coach Jason Taylor as the catalyst behind the club's actions toward Farah, Marshall gave some insight into the type of competitor Farah is.
"He's not everybody's cup of tea and the reason I say that is he's so passionate about the things he does and he's so invested that he's not shy to tell you what he thinks," said Marshall.
"If he thinks something is bad for the club he's the first guy to say 'I don't believe that's the best thing for the club."
Marshall went on to say that Farah's sheer competitiveness can make it hard to get along with him.
"He's a very bad loser and a very emotional person when it comes to defeat and games, and after games I think he lets it get the better of him sometimes," he says.
But Marshall says this is not an excuse for the way he has been treated over the past fortnight by the club.
"It's heartbreaking for me because I think if anyone deserves to be treated better and rewarded for the things he's done for the club in the past, it's him."
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ah-took-pay-cuts-in-2012-20150902-gjd3pp.html

 

[Old Time Tiger]

Good post magpies forever at 11:14

There are so many comments pro and anti Taylor, Farah and the board re this matter.
When he has played well he's our Robbie !!
When a coach goes, it's Farah's fault?

Do people actually know the facts when they say things like

that prick is still running the club via proxy next year

really? perhaps that's why he is on the big dollars, he plays and he runs the club :lol: gee there's plenty of hate there.

People have stated that Farah has leaked details to the press, really, can you prove it?

Regarding the press, everyone knows that the press lives for and thrives off rumour and newspapers will do and say anything to sell a paper. The Telegraph says it's white so the SMH says it's black and vise versa. It is disappointing that the 1 person who has the most media experience at the West Tigers hasn't shown any leadership regarding the media.

I have been guilty of saying 'my son who is a mate of a few U20 players and he told me' it's actually stupid as there is no credibility by saying it on a forum where we all 'hide' behind names other than our own.

Bit like a guy I heard call Johnny Gibbs last night on 2GB say, that he knows personally members of the Tigers coaching staff and management, bla bla bla who gives a?

The better comment that I have read in a while regarding the shambles is

How were the contracts even given the green light by the nrl knowing that they would put the club well over the cap.

It does make you think. Are they just as guilty ?

Simple excel spreadsheet at NRL HQ's could have helped a few clubs over the years.

 

[Tiger05]

^^^^

Good post Old Time Tiger. I don't give a shit if someone believes they have inside info. I just want the club to perform and this year we have been crud.

I have no idea if Robbie should go or if Taylor should. I think it would be better if they just worked together for the next couple of years to win some games and then they should both go.

 

[Old Time Tiger]

same with me Tiger05 and for me there are two things;
we see the players playing the game and it is those guys we love or love to hate, we don't see the coach, his assistants, the trainers, physio or management, kids buy the jerseys with players names, not the coaches. For me, that's why I side with a player or not in the first instance.

And

We have all worked with some terrible managers, supervisors, team leaders etc. the thing is we have to work together and if we are not happy, we look for another job, hopefully get that job soon and leave. A good manager would sit down with the employee and perhaps get HR involved and clear the air, in order to get the job done and do what we are employed to do.It is very hard to believe that a coach at West Tigers in recent years didn't have the balls to sit down with any player who he thought was not playing for the team, was not performing as per instructions, who he thought was creating issues, causing divisions etc and had not called in that players manager to meet with the player, coach and the CEO to clear the air and set the rules going forward.

 

[murraymob]

The nrl should ban all back ended contracts several clubs including mine have tried to dump the player in the final year to avoid the year they earn the back ended amount the most

 

[The Charlatan]

The nrl should ban all back ended contracts several clubs including mine have tried to dump the player in the final year to avoid the year they earn the back ended amount the most

Absolutely.

I don't have an issue with front loading, but back ending has always ended in a salary cap shit fight.

 

[Old Time Tiger]

Wests Tigers major sponsor Harry Triguboff will personally intervene in an attempt to end the Jason Taylor-Robbie Farah feud and plans to involve NRL CEO Dave Smith in the process.

Triguboff, one of the richest men on the planet, is sick of watching Tigers products move on to stardom at rival teams. The billionaire businessmen has invested millions of dollars into the club over the years and wants to see the joint-venture outfit fulfil its potential. To that end, Triguboff has scheduled to meet Farah on Thursday, while he has also arranged an audience with Smith early next week.

"I have my ideas as to how to help the situation," Triguboff told Fairfax Media. "The interesting thing is this - we used to have such good players and wherever they go they are top players. I look at Canberra and [Blake] Austin is now their best player. When he was with us, we used him here and there, I don't know where to find him. Even Benji [Marshall] is OK. The guy at the Broncos [Adam Blair], he's the best player they've got. Then you have [Marika Koroibete at Melbourne] and [Cronulla's Andrew] Fifita - once they leave they are the best players.

"What I propose to do is sit down separately, first with Jason Taylor and then I propose to sit down separately with Farah. Then I will sit down with Smith. Then, I think I will work something out. I'm in a hurry to do it because we need to fix it before we fall apart completely. Then we will have to start rebuilding the whole thing. Their strength is they have got me and the young players, that's what they have to keep. The rest will come good. I am trying to organise it. We're definitely not letting the grass grow under our feet."

Farah is contracted to the Tigers for the next two seasons and will chew up $1.9 million of the salary cap over that time. The NSW hooker has been told he will be playing in the NSW Cup if he can't find another home, but has vowed to dig his heels in. The Tigers are prepared to pay a large portion of Farah's freight to get him off the books, but few clubs have the funds required to fit in a marquee player at such short notice. "It's not just a matter of money, it's also a matter of spirit," Triguboff said. "We have to use him to win matches, not to tempt him to leave us, that's silly. They tell me he's a difficult guy to get on with. That when he and Benji were there they didn't get on too well together. It doesn't matter. He now knows that he can't be stupid and Taylor knows he can't be stupid. Taylor says he is going to play with the hooker not being involved. In the last game the hooker was involved and he won the game."

Asked what role he hoped Smith would play, Triguboff - who has previously intimated he may be interested in privatising the club, said: "I want to talk to him to see how we can get them to all work together."

Triguboff has been helping to prop up Balmain well before the foundation club merged with Western Suburbs and has been an advocate for both entities playing an active role in the partnership. That has been compromised by Balmain's inability to honour its financial commitments to the Wests Tigers, resulting in the governing body loaning Balmain the required funds. If it cannot contribute the outstanding monies by March 31 of next year, Balmain's shares are defaulted and will be put up for sale.

Triguboff's company, Meriton, will likely step back as the club's major backer next season to allow a new firm to adorn the front of the Tigers jersey. However, the man dubbed "Highrise Harry" has always found a way to assist his beloved team, including building a new kitchen at the club's Concord headquarters last preseason. "I'm trying to help," Triguboff said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...aylor-feud-20150902-gjdhme.html#ixzz3kclumimB

 

[madunit]

Harry to pay part of Farah's deal. Surely that can only work if the previous deal is scrapped and s new one tabled.

So if Farah gets 1m for the next 2 years and agrees to an option in the Tigers favour of 400k for a 3rd year, perhaps that would work? That way, if after 2017 Farah still wants to play but finds another club, we can release him without paying a cent.

 

[Magpies Forever]

Harry to pay part of Farah's deal. Surely that can only work if the previous deal is scrapped and s new one tabled.

So if Farah gets 1m for the next 2 years and agrees to an option in the Tigers favour of 400k for a 3rd year, perhaps that would work? That way, if after 2017 Farah still wants to play but finds another club, we can release him without paying a cent.

Sounds plausible if the NRL agrees, however, no-one knows here how much sh*t WT are in regarding the salary cap. This creative solution still may not solve the basic problem causing everything.

 

[BadSport]

Brown and Potter in the press flat out saying JT is using him wrong.

The club has no choice to back JT after Potter. But i dont think it will end well for JT. Farah is one problem of many.

If Farah stays next year and they force him to train part time, that's just setting fire to your own bed.

 

[Ned Kelly]

It would be more cost effective to pay out Taylor and dump him.

Could we get a player of Robbie's quality next year? Probably not.

Could we get a coach as good as Taylor next year? Probably.

Would the Wests Tigers lose financially if Robbie goes through drops in membership, attendances and merchandise sales? Probably.

Would the Wests Tigers gain financially if Taylor goes through increases in membership, attendances and merchandise sales? Probably

Robbie can play, Taylor can't coach.

 

[Old Time Tiger]

and they force him to train part time

I have meant to ask this a few times, can anyone who knows please advise if, the top 25 contracted players and that includes the guys running around in NSW Cup, all train together anyway?


Old Ned Kelly, great post and logic from a an old Magpies great

 

[macnaz]

I think the damage has already been done and the only way Farah can stay is with a new coach. The new coach would have to be someone like Toovey , a hard arse winner that can match and stand up to Farahs ego. Toovey also has experience working with budget squad and a shitty boardroom.

 

[gronkathon]

What difference would the strength of coach make when you have a petulant child as the captain though?

 

[madunit]

Bellamy/Folkes/Bennett/Lang are the masters are managing ego's

Sadly none are available.

 

[madunit]

What difference would the strength of coach make when you have a petulant child as the captain though?

Take the captaincy off him.

Play him for 40 mins every week in a rotation with Cherrington.

I can't see how this would be a bad option.

The way I see it, Taylor cannot continue with the game plan he has this year, purely because it will stifle Cherrington as well if Farah departs.

As I've said before, I don't care if Farah stays or goes.

The game plan employed by Taylor is the biggest issue. If he persists with making ball running halves and hooker play a strict passing only game, then we may as well release Brooks, Moses and Cherrington as well and replace them with 3 Jeff Robson's.

We have a creative spine, let them create ffs. Let them take the line on. Let them run from dummy half. LET THEM PLAY!!

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Madunit for coach.

 

[Tiger05]

The way I see it, Taylor cannot continue with the game plan he has this year, purely because it will stifle Cherrington as well if Farah departs.

It has stifled heaps of our players. To be fair I think he has realized that it was a massive c**k-up and he isn't doing it any more.

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel regarding all of this drama. Taylor has just stuffed us this year but can he improve and will he learn. I think we have him for another 2 years and if we have another season like this one it will suck big time. I'd go even crazier if I had to sit through 2 more seasons of one up hit-ups and Taylor's BS.

 

[Mr Spock!]

It has stifled heaps of our players. To be fair I think he has realized that it was a massive c**k-up and he isn't doing it any more.

I'm still trying to figure out how I feel regarding all of this drama. Taylor has just stuffed us this year but can he improve and will he learn. I think we have him for another 2 years and if we have another season like this one it will suck big time. I'd go even crazier if I had to sit through 2 more seasons of one up hit-ups and Taylor's BS.

Taylor is coaching the same way he did at Souths.

 

[madunit]

Its the only way he knows.

Its also why it worked at Roosters.

Its doomed to fail here