Wests Tigers have catered for milestone man Robbie Farah to continue playing next season, but they also have contingency plans if he doesn’t.
Farah will celebrate his 300th game when the Tigers visit Newcastle in what shapes as a crucial match in the race for the top eight.
Both Farah, 35, and longtime teammate Benji Marshall, 34, have yet to decide on whether to hang up the boots at the end of the season.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire said the decision rests solely on them, with the joint venture having enough space to fit both under next year’s salary cap.
“We’re aware of where they could possibly go, (but) we’re in a position to cater for those sorts of things,” Maguire said on Thursday.
“But I want to make sure that we’re talking about Robbie’s 300th.
“I don’t want it to be talked about what they’re doing. That’ll come out in time. As I’ve said many times, they’ll work it out.”
The Tigers have also begun to work out life in the post-Farah era.
It is understood the club is close to agreeing to a new deal with long-time back-up Jacob Liddle, who comes off-contract at the end of the year.
Liddle was Farah’s heir apparent before the former skipper was sensationally pushed out of the club two years ago, but has struggled with injury.
And while he is unlikely to play against the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium, Liddle is still considered the long-term No.9 at the club.
“He’s going really well. I’m really pleased with Jacob,” Maguire said.
“I’ve changed the bench a little bit this week, playing against a big pack. But Jacob Liddle’s going to be a big part of the future of where we’re going.”
Matt Eisenhuth or Chris McQueen is expected to take Liddle’s spot on the bench against a Newcastle side that sit two points ahead of the Tigers in eighth spot.
Knights coach Nathan Brown has resisted to make changes from the 17 that were beaten convincingly by the Sydney Roosters last week.
His team have lost four of their past five and are now in real danger of dropping out of the top eight for the first time in two months.
“We just thought we’d stick to the same group and put the confidence in them as we had last week,” Brown said
“And I’d be expecting they’d be far less picky and choosy as far as the wrong areas of the competitive part of the game goes.”
STATS THAT MATTER
* The 26 contests between these two sides are split evenly, while seven of the past eight have been decided by ten points or less.
* Michael Maguire has never lost in eight games against Newcastle, all of which where at South Sydney.
* The Tigers have conceded at least 20 points in their past six away games, losing five of them.