NRL. Wests Tigers player Robbie Farah has signed with the club for 4 more years. He is pictured at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: Evans Mark Source: The Daily Telegraph
AT various times he was stressed and agitated.
But Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah considered yesterday's contract renewal a "piece of cake" compared to the personal trauma of 2012.
Farah drew on difficult experience of juggling football with the grief surrounding his mother's passing last season as negotiations dragged on and threatened to become a major distraction.
After months of talks, Tigers management finally overcame their internal issues within the past 48 hours to seal Farah for life with a new four-year deal worth in excess of $3 million.
Although he refrained from entertaining interest elsewhere, the 29-year-old carried the unwanted off-field burden into the opening two rounds.
"You are always kind of thinking about it, because it was such a long and drawn out process," Farah said.
"It's been pretty stressful and you've always got stuff running through your mind.
"I learned last year how to handle adversity with everything I went through, so compared to that it was a piece of cake. I've gotten better at switching on and concentrating and then worrying about things like this outside footy."
The Eels showed some preliminary interest, while Newcastle and Souths were also watching. But unlike four years ago - when he almost joined Gold Coast - Farah didn't give his suitors a chance to pounce.
"The last six months have been a difficult time for the club and the last 12 have been tough on me for well documented reasons," he said.
"Things happen that make you upset or cranky, but I see it as my responsibility to lead this club out of the tough times and turn it around.
"That's the challenge before me and I don't take it lightly. Sometimes you think it's all too hard and you need a fresh start to get away from it all. But realistically, when I sat down to think about wearing the colours of another club it just didn't feel right to me.
"I want to win and be successful. But winning at another club just wouldn't have been the same as the Tigers."
He now has the opportunity to captain his club for a decade and reach the 300-game milestone in the same colours.
"That legacy matters just as much - if not more - as success on the field," he said.
Robbie Farah Profile
Date of Birth: 23/01/1984, Canterbury, NSW
Junior Club: Enfield Federals, Leichhardt Wanderers
Position: Hooker
Height: 179cm Weight: 88kg
Rep Honours: 4 Tests Aust (’09-12)’ Four Nations (’09-11); PM’s XIII (’06, ’08-09); 5 games NSW (’09, ’12); City Origin (’06-07, ’09-12); NRL All Stars (’10).
Club and FG Debut: v Manly, Leichhardt Oval, 08/06/2003 (Rd 13).
Premiership Record: 187 games, 51 tries, 12 goals, 16 field goals, 244 points.
Premierships: 1 (Wests Tigers, 2005).
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