Uneasy alliance: Robbie Farah and coach Jason Taylor. Credit:Nick Moir "This was not an easy decision to make, but I have selected the 17 players that I believe will give the club the best chance of victory against the Dragons," Taylor said in a statement. "Robbie is understandably disappointed, but I have spoken at length with him that he will be given every opportunity to regain his position in the NRL team." The decision from Taylor has been met by plenty of resistance from Tigers fans, who took to social media to voice their frustrations over the treatment of the club legend. Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe said Farah's axing, which has ruined the club's plans to celebrate Farah's 250th NRL game at Leichhardt Oval against the Cowboys in round 22, isn't the end of his time at the club.

Punted: NSW hooker Robbie Farah has lost his NRL spot with the Wests Tigers. Credit:Getty Images "This decision was purely made on what the coach believes is the best for the 80 minutes against St George Illawarra on Sunday," Pascoe told Fairfax Media. "I would think Robbie is bitterly disappointed but he will commit and work as hard as he has throughout his career to get himself back in the NRL team. "Every sporting club employs a coach to choose the best team they believe will give them the best winning chance each week. This is and never will be a board or CEO decision." The decision to dump Farah has again cast a dark cloud over the No.9's future despite another season still to run on his contract.

Those close to Farah insist he is growing tired of the treatment at the club but the veteran rake is driven by a desire to finish his career as a one-club man. Farah has been dropped from the NRL squad despite playing all three matches for NSW in this year's State of Origin series. He was initially named in the No.16 jersey on the bench for the game against the Dragons when the team was announced on Tuesday with retiring veteran Dene Halatau selected as the starting hooker. Farah will be playing in the Intrust Super Premiership at Leichhardt Oval this Saturday afternoon against Newtown instead of lining up for his side's crucial clash with St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium on Sunday. Taylor and Farah have had a tempestuous relationship during the past two years with the hooker told late in 2015 he was free to leave the club despite having two seasons left on his contract. The veteran was threatened with the prospect of playing NSW Cup if he didn't walk away from his lucrative contract.