Robbie Farah: Tigers must keep cool on inevitable roller-coaster
Michael Carayannis
Published: November 9, 2013 - 3:00AM
Limerick: Robbie Farah has called for patience as he looks to improve the culture at the Wests Tigers and help mould the club's youngsters as they prepare to lead a revamped team.
Although Farah, speaking before Australia's World Cup game against Ireland, does not believe the club's culture needs to be ''reshaped'', he is under no illusion that recent struggles have forced change.
Gone from the Tigers are club mainstays including Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall, Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington and Farah, as captain, finds himself leading a new breed at the club but knows success won't be immediate.
''I think next year is still going to be a bit of a rollercoaster with all the young players we have in our squad,'' Farah said. ''When you've got so many kids in the side, it's only natural that you're going to go through waves of form as they are learning their trade. I stayed at the club because I knew the wave of talent, and the batch of kids we've got coming through, and I'm excited to not only be part of it but shape them as players, being a senior player at the club.''
When Mick Potter replaced Sheens at the end of last year, it was after the Tigers missed the finals. They won just seven games this year - four less than in Sheens' final year - and Potter is already under pressure as he heads into the final year of a two-year deal.
''If we don't start the season well, I've got no doubt that there will be pressure,'' Farah said.
''It's only natural. Pressure comes from the media, fans, everyone. As players, we need to take ownership of that too and make sure we're winning footy games to help relieve that pressure on the coach. Hopefully we can start with a clean slate. Last year has been wiped. It was a difficult year for everybody.
''I don't want to look back at what happened last year with players and pressure on the coach. There is going to be times when we're not playing at our best and not in the best of form but we need patience. A few wins early in the season will help ease pressure not just on the coach but on everybody. We copped a lot of flack as a club in the past 18 months and the only way to silence the critics is to win.''
When Farah returns to the Tigers in January, he will prepare for a season without Marshall for the first time in his career. He said he doesn't know what it will be like to play without his long-term teammate but close mates relocating has been all too familiar for Farah in recent years.
He remains close with Sheens and was excited to reunite with his former mentor in Britain. The pair remain in contact, although Farah wouldn't say it was regular.
''I've got the upmost respect for Tim,'' Farah said. ''He coached me for 10 years. He is the smartest footy coach I have ever met. I'm indebted to Tim for everything he has given me: my first game in first grade, captaincy, rep jumpers. There is no bad blood between me and Sheensy and, coming into here, it hasn't been awkward at all. We've just picked up where the relationship left off at club level.
''I've spoken to him a couple of times. He was great for me and I will never forget how he was with me and my family in what was a very difficult time for me last year.''
Farah will play three consecutive Tests for the first time in his career against Ireland despite being a regular in Kangaroos squads since making his Test debut in 2009. He remains the back-up hooker to Cameron Smith but looks to have edged out Daly Cherry-Evans for the bench utility position.
