7th Tackle: Farah hops into D-Day
Farah hops into D-Day
By the end of today, Robbie Farah will most likely have his future confirmed. The long-running saga has boiled down to a decision between the Rabbitohs and Sharks, both of whom have made a two-year offer.
Farah was privately leaning toward Cronulla a few weeks ago, but the late mail is that he’ll now finish-up at Redfern. The key is securing a release from the Tigers, which he hopes will be finalised by this afternoon.
Farah’s camp met with club officials and the RLPA yesterday. Talks centered on a stand-off over how much the Tigers are willing to contribute to Farah’s new deal.
He’s owed $950,000 for the final 12 months of his four-year contract at Concord. However, we’ve been told that $250,000 of that sum is made up of back payments from money Farah agreed to postpone in order to help the club manage its salary cap.
Farah’s therefore maintains negotiations with rival clubs should proceed on the basis that his salary for next year is only $700,000. It’s a convincing argument.
The Tigers are only willing to contribute a maximum of $350,000 – and want Farah’s next club to stump up the remaining $600,000. But neither the Sharks nor Rabbitohs feel they should be liable for Farah’s back payments, which have already been earned over the first three years of his contract.
Farah has also made noises about a lack of concern for his welfare during a difficult season, which culminated with him being axed to NSW Cup in July. He claims the Tigers welfare department made no effort to contact him until prompted.
If proven that could have consequences, given an RLPA survey unearthed serious welfare issues at the club last year.
Setting the Ledger straight on Prescription Drugs
There was another vital meeting in Sydney yesterday – but sadly it won’t attract the same amount of attention as Farah’s next move.
Kim Ledger – the father of late actor Heath Ledger – addressed a handful of league identities at a CBD hotel about the dangers of prescription drugs, which claimed the life of his son in 2008.
The only player present was Rabbitohs three-quarter Aaron Gray, who almost lost his life last September following a post-operation overdose. Gray was present in company with his coach, Michael Maguire. The RLPA also sent representatives, but only one member of the NRL’s welfare arm was spotted.
In our opinion that’s an underwhelming response, given how much hidden damage these medications have inflicted upon present and past players. The treatment facility responsible for staging yesterday’s talk has also reached-out to all 16 clubs.
Incredibly enough, two are yet to respond. More incredibly, one of those has lost a player in recent years.
Pearce on the Hunt in PNG
From his Australia Day atrocity to his first-ever Aussie jersey; Mitchell Pearce is within touching distance of the ultimate redemption.
We can reveal Pearce has been earmarked for the PMXIII team that will travel to Papua New Guinea to take on the Kumuls later this month. Selection in the annual fixture has not been traditionally been a reliable guide to higher honours.
But this year is different, because Test coach Mal Meninga will personally guide the team. Meninga has already signaled how seriously he is taking the game as a Four Nations Tour selection trial by appointing Greg Inglis as captain.
Players from the eight teams that miss the finals, plus the first two eliminated, will be considered.
Pearce is desperate to make the trip to boost his chances for inclusion in the ultimate 24-man squad. And there’s every chance he could spend some time at hooker, with back-up options for Cameron Smith looking thin at present.
Meninga has closely watched the successful transition of Peter Wallace as Penrith as a pointer to use Pearce in that role. Like Wallace, Pearce is a tremendous defender capable of toughing out 80 minutes in the middle.
The same cannot be necessarily said of his main rival for the role, Broncos No. 7 Ben Hunt. Their head-to-head clash in Brisbane tonight could hold plenty of sway with Meninga.