Margie McDonald | April 09, 2008
THE push to have Robbie Farah installed as NSW halfback gained momentum yesterday when the hooker was named at the scrumbase by West Tigers coach Tim Sheens.
Two weeks ago NSW coach Craig Bellamy revealed Farah could be the man to wear the NSW No7 jersey if none of the NRL's regular halfbacks stepped up in the coming rounds.
The suggestion has since drawn heavy criticism from certain quarters, and Manly halfback Matt Orford joined the chorus of dissenters yesterday.
For his part, Sheens said Farah's representative future was the furthest thing from his mind when he slotted his play-making hooker in at halfback to play Canberra. "That was absolutely no concern," Sheens said of the decision.
Bellamy has said that unless a regular halfback stood up in the coming rounds, Farah was more than capable of filling the role.
Sheens said he played Farah at halfback in the corresponding match against the Raiders in 2007 and the following three matches against Penrith, Manly and the Warriors.
"That doesn't worry me one bit (about NSW). Robbie, like a number of good players, can play a number of positions," said Sheens, a former NSW coach.
"But I'm not looking at his representative future when we're making selection decisions."
It will be a move that won't go unnoticed by Orford, whose name has been mentioned alongside Brett Finch (Eels), Jarrod Mullen (Knights), Todd Carney (Canberra) and Brett Kimmorley (Sharks) as halfback contenders.
Only Mullen has not been a regular No7 this year as Scott Dureau has taken the spot while Mullen plays five-eighth. Mullen was the halfback in Origin I last year before injury ruled him out for the rest of the series.
"I think any halfback would be insulted," Orford said yesterday when asked about the speculation of Farah being a possible NSW halfback.
"You're out there busting your butt and you've been playing halfback all your career and then they're going for nines (hookers) as potential sevens (halfbacks).
"When we go out there every halfback in this competition wants to play for his state and country.
"So to be taken over by a quality No9 is a bit of an insult to all halfbacks," Orford said.
Sheens meant no offence. He just wants to win an NRL game.
He lost international five-eighth Benji Marshall in round one and former St George Illawarra halfback Mathew Head has been trying to get his fitness and form up to scratch while playing NSW Cup.
Sheens said Head had a few niggling injuries but was close to returning to first grade.
"I don't normally go into selections too much other than the fact it's a short-term fix until I have other options with Head and Marshall," Sheens said.
"I'd like to take some pressure off Johnny (Morris) and Tim Moltzen, who's a young kid and struggling a bit with it. I needed another playmaker in that role and Stuart (Flanagan) is a good little No9."
Without Farah against the Panthers at Campbelltown on Monday night, the Tigers' attacking options 20 metres out from the tryline were woeful.
"Right at the moment I've got a mini-injury crisis in the place," Sheens said.
"There's plenty of anecdotes to say don't weaken one position to strengthen another.
"There's also the counter claim of putting your best players in the team and find them a position."
Orford will not let NSW Origin selection rumours affect him.
"Look, I'm not even looking at it like that. This is a tough week with a four-day turnaround, on a plane and then playing the premiers," Orford said of the grand final rematch against the Storm in Melbourne on Friday night.
"That NSW Origin jersey is not even in my mind.
"We need to go down there and turn up with the right attitude or we're going to get our butts kicked."