RUGBY league great Brett Kimmorley has jumped to the defence of besieged Wests Tigers star Robbie Farah.

A former assistant at the Tigers, Kimmorley claims Farah is victim of an unwarranted public perception that he is damaged goods.

Farah was rested against the Roosters on the weekend with Elijah Taylor forced to play hooker after Matt Ballin was omitted from the side through injury.

The 2005 premiership winning rake instead watched from the stands but is far from guaranteed to return to the Tigers’ first grade side anytime soon in yet another instalment of the ongoing power struggle between Farah and coach Jason Taylor.

Round 19

“There’s a public perception that he’s the wrong player for any football side he plays in now and I don’t think it’s warranted,” Kimmorley told Fox Sports News.

TAYLOR-FARAH FEUD RAMPS UP AGAIN

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“I heard a lot of people make comments that his Origin game was pretty poor — I thought he was good.

“This carries baggage from what the media has written for a period of time, that Robbie’s wrong for the team, Robbie’s a bad player and selfish.

“People have got it in their head that he’s a bad footy player.

“I actually think he’s quite a good footy player. I would still have him in my side but as far as we know he’s probably departing to finish in England, that’s the other sad news.”

After a failed attempt to punt the 32-year-old out of the club’s Concord headquarters late last year, the Tigers record with Farah in their line up is one win from seven attempts this season.

That’s a win percentage of just 14.3 per cent.

Without him in their line up the Tigers are batting four from six.

The four wins that have come when Farah has been either injured or away on Origin duty have been against battling Warriors, Sea Eagles and Knights outfits, followed a depleted Brisbane side in round 12.

Robbie Farah looks to pass as Tigers coach Jason Taylor watches on. Source: News Corp Australia

Farah has recently been linked with a move to English powerhouse Leeds despite still having another year to run on his contract with the Tigers.

Farah’s manager Sam Ayoub denied on radio on Monday morning that the hooker is heading to the Rhinos at the end of the year, yet whispers refuse to die that he’ll finish his career overseas.

The latest instalment in the Farah-Taylor saga comes after the Tigers’ 32-18 loss to the Roosters on Sunday when the coach refused to confirm if Farah would be rushed back into the Tigers’ starting team for Friday night’s clash with South Sydney.

Asked if a decision on Farah’s availability would be based on the veteran’s health or what was best for the team, Taylor responded: “Both things.”

Having produced an 80 minute performance for NSW in the State of Origin series opener last Wednesday, Farah was rested over the weekend.

While several players at rival clubs were also given round 13 off, Kimmorley made note that the likes of Cooper Cronk, Matt Scott, Matt Moylan and Aaron Woods were brilliant backing up for their respective clubs post-Origin.

“The battle that’s been going on now for six to nine months is at the point where if there’s anything that’s commented on that’s not fully supportive of Robbie Farah then we assume there’s a problem,” he said.

“I understand a little bit in saying he’s played a big game of Origin and made (45) tackles and needed to be rested but I thought all the players who went back to their clubs after Origin were the best players for their sides all weekend.

Kimmorley also questioned comments Taylor made about the Tigers needing to be strong in the middle of the field.

According to the Fox Sports Lab, Farah made 45 tackles for the Blues, second only to Queensland No. 9 Cameron Smith, who finished the game with 51.

“In saying we need to be strong in the middle, is he questioning his defence? What’s going on if you need to be strong in the middle,” he asked.

Robbie Farah of the Blues looks on. Source: Getty Images

“I thought he was pretty good in Origin but I think he wears now some baggage from what has gone on for the last six to nine months from these dramas.”

Just six months ago, Farah’s manager emailed the Tigers to request a release but with the club not willing to pay out the star hooker in full for the remainder of his contract, the release was denied.

The Roosters emerged as a shock suitor for Farah before talks fell over.

He stands to earn a significant chunk of coin by seeing out his contract at Concord, as he’s entirely entitled to do, and both he and Taylor are on the record saying they can work together in the meantime.

Whether that’s in the best interest of all concerned depends on whether Farah can still fit in at the Tigers.

The next few days will reveal exactly where Taylor stands on the issue.

These writers are on Twitter @Nath_Ryan and @dan_walsh64

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