Farah open to $500,000 offers

[Assassin]

Farah open to $500,000 offers
By James Hooper
November 16, 2008 WESTS Tigers star Robbie Farah is expected to command offers of up to $500,000 a season after signalling his intent to test his value on the NRL's open market.

In a warning sign for the Tigers, Farah told The Sunday Telegraph his agent will meet rival clubs as he confronts the most important contract of his career.

The hooker, 24, is tipped to make his State of Origin debut for NSW next season following the retirement of Danny Buderus.

Contracted to the Tigers until the end of next season, Farah has an option in his favour for 2010 but wants to explore his worth on the open market before committing to the club.

"Like any junior who's only played for the one club, I'd like to stay at the Tigers but at the same time my next contract is important in terms of my career," Farah said.

"I want to make sure I get it right. My manager is going to see if anyone else is interested and then we'll take it from there.

"It's not something I want to drag on, I want to try to get it sorted before the start of the season so everyone knows what's going on."

New Tigers chief executive Scott Longmuir, coach Tim Sheens and football manager Warren McDonnell met Farah's agent Sam Ayoub at the club's Concord headquarters on Friday.

In what shapes as his first major test at the helm of the 2005 premiers, Longmuir must convince Farah and key playmaker Benji Marshall to commit to new contracts beyond next season.

Farah is expected to have offers up to $500,000 a season to walk away from the Tigers.

"Basically, Robbie's interested in testing the market and we're allowing him to do that," Longmuir said.

Clubs expected to be interested in Farah include Brisbane, St George Illawarra, Penrith, Manly and the Sydney Roosters.

 

[Assassin]

Call me old fashioned but I've never liked NSW rep players playing for QLD clubs, I'd look elsewhere if I were the Bronco's.

And thats apart from the fact he's dreaming if he thinks he'll land $500,000 contract in this country.
ESL for sure but not in the NRL.

 

[Flutterby]

I'd rather have Farrah than Smith, but still don't think he's worth $500,000. But if he can get it - good luck to him.

Call me old fashioned but I've never liked NSW rep players playing for QLD clubs, I'd look elsewhere if I were the Bronco's.

And doesn't bother me if we have NSW players - traditionally NSW are loathe to pick them if they play for the Broncos (with a few exceptions)

 

[Bucking Beads]

Farah is a myth IMO the Broncos will not even look twice at him they simply don't have the money to waste on him.

 

[The Brizz]

I think he is a gun, would love him to come but I think 500k is too much for him or even Cam Smith.

 

[Jeza23]

His injuries in the past season or two will be a big point in us looking at him I think. If he had been fit and firing I have no doubt we would look at him, but I am not so sure with his fitness levels as they are.

Would be interesting to see him in our lineup though I must say!

 

[Black Philip]

500k is far too much. I'd consider him for about 300 but not half a million.

 

[Assassin]

Hmmm, while he'd be good you'd have to pretty much more heaven and earth to fit him in;

Firstly you'd have to let Locky go after 09 and use every cent of his deal on Farah,

Then as you've locked in all that cap space you wouldn't be able to upgrade Hunts current $200,000 deal and he would definetly leave as well.

You would then have to pray you could squeeze a few dollars from somewhere else to give Thiaday at least a small upgrade to keep him on deck anouther couple years.

I'd probebly do that for Cam Smith with the idea of locking him in as team captain for the next few years, but Farah's not quite at that same level to be honest.

 

[Hamm.0]

Broncos wouldn't touch him with a 10" pole. At $500k a season, I doubt many clubs outside of the Sydneysphere would. Also, by $500k, I think he means $380k a season over 4 seasons.

lolz...$500k...

 

[Hatchy]

I'd rather have Farrah than Smith, but still don't think he's worth $500,000. But if he can get it - good luck to him.

Call me old fashioned but I've never liked NSW rep players playing for QLD clubs, I'd look elsewhere if I were the Bronco's.

And doesn't bother me if we have NSW players - traditionally NSW are loathe to pick them if they play for the Broncos (with a few exceptions)

Agreed Flutterby, I would much rather have farah then some stinky old storm poop. [icon_evillaugh IMO, I wouldn't mind having him here. He's got great potential and still got the best years ahead of him

 

[Alec]

We let go of Ennis for a LOT less than that, and Ennis is arguably a better player than Farah anyway.

 

[mick]

IMO Farah is an absolute gun of a player.

But, IMO, the only players worth close to that sort of cash in the NRL are:

Lockyer, Cam Smith, Thurston, Prince (at a stretch) and that's honestly about it.

If we could get him for 300-350k, I guess we could look at it. But we also have to look at the fact that there's no hiding that McCullough is rapidly improving and it already at an NRL standard at such a young age. Gorrell has also shown glimpses of what he's capable of.

If we're going to be spending money, it needs to come down to the forward pack and possibly even a replacement 5/8 for when Locky retires.

Fullback, wing, centre, halfback, hooker and back row all pretty well sewn up at the club from where I'm standing.

 

[The Brizz]

We let go of Ennis for a LOT less than that, and Ennis is arguably a better player than Farah anyway.

[icon_lol1.

 

[Nashy]

Oh yeah, lets buy more players instead of breeding our own from our.. what is it now? 5 feeder clubs?

 

[Je$ter]

He hasn't even played a game of real rep footy yet. I don't think he is anywhere near the Lockyer, Thurston, Smith category of awesomeness just yet.

 

[Coxy]

Didn't he play Shitty **** ry?

 

[mick]

Indeed. Hence the term "real rep footy".

Not the exhibition between the two reserve grade SOO teams...

 

[Kimlo]

He hasn't even played a game of real rep footy yet. I don't think he is anywhere near the Lockyer, Thurston, Smith category of awesomeness just yet.

LOL, If NSW team were picked on form, he would of made it ahead of buderus a long time ago.