Familiar feeling for Farah

Robbie Farah is feeling a sense of nostalgia in pre-Christmas training after returning from England.

The premiership-winning hooker and club legend says he’s happy to be home and getting stuck into pre-season training, after assisting Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup.

Farah says he enjoyed his trip to England and learned a lot during his time with the Cedars.

"It's very special to me to be a part of the Lebanon set up and to go over there and achieve what we did, I thought the team played really well.

"I got a lot out of it working under Michael Cheika and Matt King in a coaching role which I think will hold me in good stead as I venture into my new role here at Wests Tigers in coaching.

It's really exciting to be back and training at the Centre of Excellence this past week or two, or the Zurich Centre I should say. 

Robbie Farah

"It's such a great facility and we are so lucky to have everything we need in the once place." 

Farah knows a thing or two about pre-seasons, having completed 18 himself during his decorated playing career.  He says a lot can be achieved in the pre-Christmas block of training.

"It's such an important time now before Christmas for all the players, and getting the work done physically.

"We have a lot of younger guys in the squad who can get a lot out of this block of training. 

"They must use this period to learn as much as they can and get ready to be able to perform and train at an NRL level, week in week out."

Farah says pre-season under new coach Tim Sheens is very much about upping the skill levels.

"Tim is really big on developing the skill levels, particularly with the younger players.

Everything we do in pre-season will involve using the footy and making sure we can execute the fundamentals of the game really well."

Robbie Farah

Farah says Sheens will oversee the attack and fellow assistant coach David Furner will take care of defence.

"My role will predominantly be with the forwards, looking after the middles in both attack and defence.

"Benji (Marshall) and I will be working very closely with Tim and Dave, on both sides of the footy, but my role specifically is with the forwards.

Farah says being back in the fold as an assistant to Sheens, alongside Marshall, feels a bit like the 'glory days'.

It's really exciting and sort of feels a bit like 2005 again having us all back here.

Robbie Farah

"There are a lot of familiar faces and Heighno (Chris Heighington) is also spending some time with us as well, which is great.

"There are lot of support staff from back then involved with us too, so there's a real familiar feel about it, a real family feel about it all.

"We've all got very similar philosophies on how we like to play rugby league and hopefully we can bring that Wests Tigers brand of footy back."

The team's first hit-out will be against the Warriors in Auckland on 9th February.