Another Robbie Farah masterclass has Wests Tigers eyeing off consecutive club-firsts

James Pavey

Another Robbie Farah masterclass has Wests Tigers eyeing off consecutive club-firsts image

If Robbie Farah keeps turning back the clock, we may be dealing with dinosaurs again. Or the big bang.

People winding Farah up about his age are convinced he came before the big bang. Maybe fans at Leichhardt are right, maybe Farah is God.

On Sunday night, the veteran hooker put up another brilliant showing to help Wests Tigers open the season with back-to-back wins for the second year running.

Farah was the architect of his side's 34-6 victory against the Warriors, with the 35-year-old setting up three tries, scoring a four-pointer of his own and making 34 tackles.


Last week, Farah scored two tries against Manly to help the Tigers to a 20-6 win at his favourite ground.

While Campbelltown doesn't carry the same aura as Leichhardt, Farah has proven to be the king of both grounds this season as the Tigers hit the top of the ladder.

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In front of 9881 brave travellers on a wet and sticky Sunday, Farah and his side set up a chance to improve to a 3-0 record when they return to the same ground next week to take on the winless Bulldogs.

The joint-venture club has never achieved such a record to start their season in their history.

There's every chance they can knock that record off - before Sunday, Wests Tigers had never led the competition since their foundation in 2000.

"I don't look at the table at all to be honest," Tigers coach Michael Maguire said. 

"At the end of the day it's a table, but for us as a team that's something that is bigger than the ladder.

"I was pleased they played for the 80 minutes. We spoke about the type of team we want to be and that's obviously one of them. 

"If we apply pressure to any opposition then you get some rewards on the back of that. 

"We need to learn how to back that up."

Robbie Farah

If Michael Maguire's men down the Dogs next week, and carry a 3-0 record, they'll look to make it four wins from as many starts against Ivan Cleary's Panthers in Penrith.

Cleary led the Tigers to a 2-0 record 12 months ago following surprise wins over eventual grand finalists Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm.

However, Cleary's highly-publicised exit to Penrith will surely have Tigers fans champing at the bit ahead of the round four clash, regardless of next week's result.

For Maguire, Farah's old shoulders are carrying the club's momentum, and the coach - who also worked with Farah at South Sydney - said it's evidence of how hard the old charge worked over the pre-season.

“To his credit, he put a lot of work in the background. He understands that this is his last year,” Maguire said.

“He wanted to be at his best for this season, so he’s put a lot of time into this pre-season and the work that he’s done. He’s showing that now off the back of that.”

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo