Tigers approve Cleary's plan to bring Farah back from Souths
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The Wests Tigers have approved a proposal put forward by coach Ivan Cleary at Monday night's board meeting to sign hooker Robbie Farah for the rest of the season.
NRL.com understands the Tigers will offer Farah a contract for the remainder of the Telstra Premiership season, however the joint-venture club will have to rely on South Sydney agreeing to his release. If Souths agree to let Farah leave, it is expected the deal could be done within the next 24-48 hours.
The Rabbitohs, who are genuine premiership contenders, don't have a first-grade quality back-up hooker for NSW rake Damien Cook.
However, it is understood coach Anthony Seibold made Farah a promise earlier in the year that he would allow him to leave the club should he land a contract elsewhere.
Cleary fronted the Tigers board on Monday night at the club's monthly meeting and provided an update on the club's recruitment and retention plans, which included a desire to bring the club legend back to the Wests Tigers just 18 months after his ugly departure under former coach Jason Taylor.
Farah, has played 26 matches in the NRL for Souths over the past two seasons after wearing the black, white and orange jersey 247 times over 14 years since he made his debut in 2003.
Despite representing NSW three times in the State of Origin arena in 2016, he only played nine matches with the Wests Tigers in his final season at the club after a falling-out with Taylor.
Cook's red-hot form this year, which led to his selection for the Blues, has restricted Farah to just two matches at NRL level in 2018. He has spent the majority of the season with the Rabbitohs' feeder club North Sydney in the Intrust Super Premiership.
Farah told coach Anthony Seibold of the discussions with the Tigers after Thursday night's win over Parramatta at ANZ Stadium.
Farah is earning more this year (at least from Souths) than he did last year, but the only time he will play would be if Cook was unavailable.
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