Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire rates Robbie Farah a “fair chance” of overcoming the odds and playing at least one more NRL game for his beloved club.
Farah will miss Thursday’s pivotal clash with Manly and could miss the rest of the season after fracturing part of his tibia in last week’s loss to Canterbury.
It would be a crushing end to the career of the 35-year-old Farah, who has decided to call time on his decorated career at season’s end.
The Tigers, who are one point behind eighth-placed Brisbane entering the Sea Eagles match, have just four games remaining to sneak into the finals.
And Maguire is confident Farah will be back on the field during the next month.
“Obviously he’s going to do everything possible to get himself back. It’ll be a close call towards the back end of the season,” Maguire said on Wednesday.
“But one thing about Robbie, and what we’ve seen over the years, he’ll do everything possible to get back out here and play.”
While Farah’s status remains in doubt, Maguire is confident skipper Moses Mbye could be ready to return from his hip flexor injury as early as next week.
There were fears Mbye could miss the remainder of the campaign.
“I heard there that he’s in doubt for the season but that’s definitely not the case,” Maguire said.
“He ran this morning but it’s just a little tight through the hip flexor.
“So, we’ll see how he is next week.”
But all eyes are on the progress of Farah, who has yet to miss a game for the Tigers since making a dramatic return to the club midway through last season.
While there are fears he may now have played his last game, Maguire refuses to believe that the former NSW State of Origin star will concede defeat.
Farah is understood to have sought numerous specialists, while also getting round-the-clock treatment from brother and Rabbitohs physio Eddie.
Asked for Farah’s realistic chances were of a return, Maguire said: “With Robbie, there’s a fair chance.
“I would never rule Robbie Farah out. I’ve spent a fair bit of time through a couple of clubs and I’ve just seen how professional he is in the background.”
Farah’s absence opens the door for Jacob Liddle to wear the No.9 jumper at Brookvale Oval.
The Tigers will debut 19-year-old centre Tommy Talau – the first player born since the Balmain and Wests Tigers merged in 2000 to pull on the strip.