CRONULLA have emerged as a serious contender to snare Robbie Farah’s signature as the battle for the out-of-favour Wests Tigers hooker heats up.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal two NRL clubs — the Sharks and South Sydney — are favourites to secure Farah’s services for next season and beyond.

Both teams have met with Farah and his manager Sam Ayoub and are now awaiting a final decision from the NSW Origin representative.

It’s understood Farah is leaning towards linking with the Sharks to replace the retiring Michael Ennis, however he is yet to make a final decision on his destination.

The veteran rake’s first priority is trying to finalise his payout figure with the Tigers and he won’t make a call on his future until it’s completed.

media_camera Robbie Farah hasn’t played in the NSW Cup for the past two weeks due to injury. Picture: Tim Hunter

This includes the amount Farah’s new club are willing to pay as part of a release and this negotiation could take weeks to finalise.

Ayoub told The Daily Telegraph on Monday that Farah was in no rush to decide where he will be playing in 2017.

South Sydney hooker Cameron McInnes has reportedly asked for a release, which would pave the way for Farah to shift to Redfern.

However, The Daily Telegraph understands Rabbitohs officials haven’t received a release request from McInnes or his manager Steve Gillis.

Gillis is expected to meet with South Sydney later this week to discuss the hooker’s future.

The former Tigers captain hasn’t played in the NSW Cup for the past two weeks due to a hip injury.

Farah is eligible for the first week of the finals and his latest injury means he will be racing the clock to be fit.

He is only eligible for the second week of the lower-grade playoffs if the Tigers’ NRL side qualifies for the finals.

The joint-venture club needs North Queensland to defeat the Gold Coast on Saturday, before beating Canberra at Leichhardt on Sunday to qualify.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are unlikely to honour Farah on Sunday because no official deal with a rival club has been completed.

From the club’s point of view, the veteran hooker has one year remaining on his contract.