Robbie Farah’s return a tale of professionalism

Robbie Farah never wanted to leave Concord. He’d spent over a decade pouring blood, sweat and tears into the club he won a premiership with. So when Jason Taylor told Farah after 247 games for the Wests Tigers that he was no longer in their plans, you could understand if Farah dug in his heels and fought back.

But that’s just not Robbie Farah. The hooker accepted his fate, and departed his beloved Tigers for Redfern, the first and only move of his career.

It was a mixed year for Farah, while he did have the opportunity to play alongside rep stars Sam Burgess, Adam Reynolds, and Alex Johnston, South Sydney’s season was virtually over minutes into the season when skipper Greg Inglis tore his ACL in two.

Nonetheless, Farah fought off fellow hooking contender Damien Cook and earned the starting hooker role, and featured in all 24 games for the Rabbitohs in 2017.

But this year was different. This season brought change in the Rabbitohs hierarchy. Anthony Seibold entered the frame to replace Michael Maguire as head coach, and Seibold’s appointment breathed new life into the South Sydney team.

While the new attacking structures implemented revamped the team, it also saw Damien Cook rise to become an 80 minute starting hooker, demoting Farah to the NSW Cup with the Rabbitohs’ feeder club, the North Sydney Bears.

Once again, Farah could’ve had dug his heels into the change, and demanded a release. Demanded that a career that saw him win a premiership, World Cup and State of Origin shield didn’t end in reserve grade.

But that’s just not Robbie Farah. The man is a professional, and he backs himself. Instead of trying to get out, he decided to prove his worth on the back of the belief that if he played to his best abilities, Seibold had to pick him.

But Damien Cook hit career form, earning selection in the New South Wales team, which eventually handed Farah a shot back in the NRL during the Origin period, and putting in impressive performances in back-to-back wins over Cronulla and the Gold Coast. But Seibold couldn’t take minutes away from Cook when he returned from Origin duties, seeing Farah return to the Bears without complaint.

Anthony Seibold knew Farah was too good for the NSW Cup, and made the hooker a promise.

‘If you get offered an opportunity as a starting hooker at another club, I’ll release you’.

Professionalism. Whether it be Farah running out each week on North Sydney Oval without a whimper, or Anthony Seibold agreeing to release a star player mid-year to give him the send off he deserves, it’s all on the back of professionalism.

After five years, Farah and Benji Marshall will reunite in the Wests Tigers spine as the duo work towards the team’s first finals berth since 2011.

And for Ivan Cleary, to hand a former son the opportunity to go out on his own terms is not only professional, but kind hearted.

While Farah certainly had his doubters over the last few years, even his biggest critic will surely crack a smile when Robbie runs out onto Leichhardt Oval next Sunday.

Funnily enough, provided Farah slots straight into the Tigers line-up, the hooker will play his 250th NRL game for the Wests Tigers in Round 19 - against the Rabbitohs.

He’ll face his former club again in Round 25, the last game of the regular season, which could potentially be the deciding match as to whether the Tigers play finals footy in 2018.

Regardless if the Wests Tigers succeed or not this season, the return of Farah is a tale of persistence and professionalism, and that you can never keep a champion down.