The Wests Tigers’ young cubs will face the biggest test of their NRL careers on Sunday regardless of whether they go into battle alongside retiring hooker Robbie Farah.
The Tigers were saying little on Saturday about if Farah would play in his Leichhardt farewell, even if coach Michael Maguire and the veteran had already made up their minds.
Truth be told, the Tigers are happy the focus this week has been on Farah and his fractured leg.
The challenge awaiting the rest of the squad – a virtual knockout clash with Cronulla – has barely been spoken or written about.
Just three members of their squad – Farah, Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence – have played a finals match for the Tigers.
Of the 17 named for Sunday, more than half of them have never played a finals match in their career.
Luke Brooks’ 130 games without a finals appearance is the most in the NRL.
And there is the most damning stat of all: How the Tigers have five times in the past 20 years missed the top eight when still in contention heading into the final round.
“It’s a great opportunity for him,” Maguire said of Brooks.
“It’s why you play the game. It’s these moments in time where you get to stand up and show who you really are.”
Brooks has shown he is more than ready to end the Tigers’ eight-year finals drought.
The Tigers’ halfback is playing with confidence, running the ball more than any other time in his career.
He’s also set up 23 tries this season – easily his highest tally in the NRL.
“I think, this year, I have seen him change as a player – how he controls the team around the park,” Maguire said.
“Full credit to Benji. He has been doing a lot of work in the background with Brooksy, along with Robbie.”
The Sharks have done their best to avoid the Farah drama taking over their preparations.
Coach John Morris, who played with Farah at the Tigers, said they’d spent no time focusing on who would play dummy-half for the joint venture.
“My head as a coach says (Maguire) probably won’t want to change that combination,” Morris told reporters on Saturday.
“But my heart says Robbie Farah completes his fairytale and gets his last game at Leichhardt Oval.
“And I actually hope, for his own sake, he gets a chance to play.
“But in all respects to Robbie, it doesn’t change what we do.”
STATS THAT MATTER:
* This is the first time two clubs have faced a do-or-die final-round clash against each other since 2011
* Cronulla have won the past five games between the clubs
* The retiring Paul Gallen and Robbie Farah played 13 Origins together for NSW.
Stats: Fox Sports Stats