Tigers fans show their support for out-of-favour Farah
Robbie Farah was reduced to tears after he was given a hero’s exit from Leichhardt Oval, taking aim at Jason Taylor after fans began chanting for the NRL coach’s sacking.
In an emotion-charged afternoon, Leichhardt Oval was transformed into the Farah tribute show on Saturday as Wests Tigers fans took out their frustrations on the coach in an incredible show of support for the embattled hooker during an Intrust Super Cup (reserve grade) game aainst the Newtown Jets.
While Farah has managed to bite his tongue since his axing on Wednesday, he finally opened up on his position at the club,
‘‘It’s been hard. I’ve kept my mouth shut for the last couple of years and it’s hard when you see stuff written about you, false stuff about you, and really I haven’t responded,’’ Farah said.
"I’ll just keep copping it on the chin and become a sucker for punishment. I’ve sat back, and really there’s nothing to gain by me saying anything. My opinion doesn’t really matter. It’s hard when you hear things being said about you, false stuff about you, things like cohesion in attack.
‘‘I’ve played four games in the last 12 weeks for the Tigers, three of those have been wins and three of those wins we’ve scored over 30 points.
‘‘So if you think that’s a lack of cohesion in attack, I think you guys can form an opinion over that.
‘‘Our biggest problem is our defence. When JT came to the club . . . he said publicly that in the past we’ve been an attacking club, and I find it ironic now that he’s talking about lack of cohesion in attack when we’ve got the second worst defence in the comp.
‘‘I think the attack is the least of our problems and I think I’m the least of our problems in attack as well.’’
Saturday’s match was more of a protest than a football game as 2500 fans gatecrashed the match to cheer on the former club captain and voice their dismay at Taylor.
Security officials had to intervene on multiple occasions throughout the afternoon to remove banners criticising the maligned coach who decided to dump the NSW hooker to reserve grade.
‘‘We like Farah but love Fa’alogo,’’ one banner said, referring to former Souths player David Fa’alogo who punched Taylor during mad Monday celebrations in 2009.
A ‘‘sack JT ASAP – JT is a dog’’ sign was thrown out of the venue.