Farah in Titans’ sights
TITANS hooker Mitch Rein believes the Gold Coast forward pack must continue their excellent form of late if they are to shut down his evergreen opposite number Robbie Farah in Tamworth today.
A veteran of 16 State of Origins for NSW, Farah has been in vintage touch since returning to Wests Tigers midway through last season.
The 35-year-old was instrumental in the side’s fast start to the year and was badly missed in the Tigers’ Easter Monday game when a head knock forced him off the field early. They lost 51-6 to Parramatta.
“He’s been killing it this year,” Rein said of Farah (pictured). “He’s just such a smart player. He has got all of the tricks so we have just got to be ready for him.
“He has a good running game, kicking game and passing game so we have to win that battle in the forwards just to try to limit what he can do.”
As for Rein, who turned 29 yesterday, a return to being a regular NRL starting player has been more than two years in the making.
He was a fixture in the No.9 jersey during six years at St George Illawarra but spent much of his 2017 at Penrith in NSW Cup and then last season was stuck on the Titans bench behind Nathan Peats.
A pectoral injury to Peats last month has opened the door for Rein to remind everyone of his ability that had him in the mix for an Origin call-up not that long ago. “I’m enjoying it. Obviously I don’t want to get into the team that way with one of your teammates going down but I feel like I have been working hard to make the most of it,” he said.
Rein has only averaged 38 running metres in four starts this year – well below what he used to produce at the Dragons – and he admits that is on his radar as he finds his feet.
“I feel like I have been doing a little bit but I have just been passing before the line instead of getting tackled which doesn’t really matter as a hooker, your job really is to get the team going forward and give the halves the ball cleanly when they want it,” he said.
The Tigers have stood down Michael Chee Kam from today’s clash after he pleaded guilty to common assault.