Farah given time to weigh up Titans bid
Christmas is a special time for family man Robbie Farah but it may take on extra significance for the in-demand Wests Tigers rake this year.
Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle said the Titans would not table a formal offer to the off contract, Sydney-based hooker until they know he was genuinely interested in relocating to the tourist strip - and the Farah family Christmas may yet decide his fate.
"We have always said if he wanted to spend some time over Christmas with his family and discuss it at length," Searle said.
"And if he wants to make that decision at Christmas that he wants to consider moving I will be on the first plane down there (Sydney) to meet him and his family.
"But if his decision is that he wants to stay at the Tigers we will respect that as well."
While the Wests Tigers are expected to table an offer to Farah this week, Searle said the Titans had not given the hooker a deadline.
"We are not going to put a timeline on the kid," he said.
"I have great respect for him being so devoted to his family. We would never try and impose an unreasonable time in him making a decision.
"The only thing we have said is we will table a formal offer to Robbie once his family is comfortable that he wants to relocate."
Farah's contract runs out at the end of 2009 but he wants to make a decision on 2010 and beyond before the next season starts, and has already been to the Gold Coast to meet Titans management.
Being a one-club player would appeal to the fiercely loyal Farah.
But Searle believes the transformation of former Wests Tigers teammates Scott Prince and Anthony Laffranchi into regular internationals at the Gold Coast would make a trip north very tempting for Farah.
"I think he takes comfort from the fact that Laffranchi and Prince have continued to climb at a great rate by coming here," Searle said.
"Laffranchi realistically probably wasn't at that (representative) level when he first came up here.
"But he has continued to improve and I think that is something that Robbie will take some comfort out of.
"The bad old days are over when you come to the Gold Coast and your rep career is over - we have seen more rep careers start here than end here, that should give him some confidence."
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