Ballin arrival ups ante as Farah fights for old spot

ROBBIE Farah has been dealt another blow in his bid to see out his contract at the Wests Tigers after Matt Ballin signed a two-year deal with the club.

Manly’s two-time premiership-winning hooker has been on the outer since it first became clear Trent Barrett was taking over in 2016, with young hookers Apisai Koroisau and Matt Parcell joining the club in recent months.

The Sea Eagles are yet to announce Ballin’s departure and likewise, the Tigers have not confirmed his arrival at the club.

However, a source close to the Manly rake told Fox Sports News a two-year deal had been struck to get the 31-year-old to Concord.

Ballin ruptured his ACL in Round 24 against Parramatta and will be up against it to return from the serious injury by the opening round in 2016.

However, his signing is almost certain to relegate Farah to the NSW Cup if he decides to stay at the Tigers after he was told late in the 2015 season that he was free to leave with two years still to run on his deal.

Farah was told at the time that he would be playing out his career in reserve grade if he didn’t leave the Tigers.

However, this position has recently been clarified by new CEO Justin Pascoe, who said the skipper would be free to fight for his first-grade spot.

Ballin has played 215 firstgrade games for the Sea Eagles as well as one Origin game for Queensland.

At this stage he is likely to be used as Jason Taylor’s firstchoice option in the No.9 jumper, with 21-year-old Manaia Cherrington likely to act as back-up.

There has been plenty of frustration among the Tigers’ fans in relation to the Farah contract saga.

The NSW Origin hooker is regarded as one of the club’s favourite sons.

However, Farah has indicated he is determined to remain at the Tigers and retain his position in the top team.