Fan favourite: Robbie Farah is mobbed by supporters after playing a NSW Cup match. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer "I'm only human. It starts to affect you and your feelings and your motivation. Towards the end of the year, it was very tough. To come here without all the distractions and focus on my footy has been something I really enjoyed." His bitter feud with former coach Jason Taylor, who stands by his decision to part ways with Farah, has been well documented over the past two years. It culminated in Farah being dumped to NSW Cup and facing the likely prospect of seeing out the final year of his contract playing park football. The circus that followed his every move added to his growing frustrations with the sport, admitting he had become disillusioned with the game.

"It turns you off footy a bit when all the other factors affect you away from the field – which they have in the past," Farah said. "You do start to hate [rugby league]. I know you're probably going to laugh, but you start hate talking to the media because you don't know what's going to be written ... all that affects you and it affects your family. It wasn't just about footy any more for me. "It was about all the other things that came with it. I'm sure it affected all the other boys in the club as well. It was a massive distraction. Coming here and being able to narrow my focus into my football and my training, it's just made it really clear on what I need to do here and something I've really enjoyed." As awkward as his final months were, Farah knew his teammates were also in an uncomfortable situation caught between supporting their mate and not defying the direction of the club. In an emotional afternoon at Leichhardt Oval for a NSW Cup game last July, Aaron Woods, Benji Marshall and Tim Moltzen came out to support Farah, who knows just how difficult it was for those trying to juggle their loyalties to their friend and club.

"I can understand it was very awkward for everyone involved," Farah said. "It was difficult for me and I'm sure it was difficult for them. But I'm sure it's easier for them now and easier for me. We've closed the door on that chapter – it'll be a good read some day – but for now I'm just looking forward to this season and what we can achieve as a group here and turning around what was a disappointing year for the club last year. With his career at the crossroads once again, South Sydney – via Russell Crowe, Michael Maguire, Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess – came to the rescue. The lifeline they offered the NSW Origin rake has reinvigorated his career, arriving in Redfern determined to get back to business without the sideshow that derailed his final years at the Tigers. Loading