THE relationship between Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens and his star hooker has broken down to the point where Robbie Farah could be forced out of the club.
The Daily Telegraph can exclusively reveal Sheens and Farah fell out during the recent Four Nations tour, and club officials are aware both may not be able to remain at Concord.
Farah has told close friends about his deepening issues with Sheens, while Wests Tigers players are openly discussing it.
The Tigers captain still has two years remaining on his deal but has been tenuously linked with Parramatta.
Wests Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys and club chairman Dave Trodden are aware of the tension between Sheens and Farah. Humphreys is becoming increasingly agitated.
While respected among the Tigers playing group, some teammates are becoming frustrated with Farah.
Related Coverage
Gus the messiah of the mountain men
It is understood the brilliant Farah became irritated when overlooked for the major Four Nations Tests in England.
.
Aware he would be chosen behind Cam Smith, Farah still felt he could have secured a place on the bench.
.
There have been ongoing suggestions that Farah and chief playmaker Benji Marshall have a frosty relationship. Both have denied this publicly but the speculation won't cease.
However, it must be noted that Farah has not sought a release.
The Daily Telegraph left messages for Humphreys and Trodden yesterday but neither returned calls. Sheens did not answer his phone.
While club officials know of the Farah-Sheens drama, they remain hopeful the pair can overcome their issues. Publicly, the officials will no doubt attempt to deny the rift.
One source close to the Tigers said: "I am not sure they will both be there next year. I was talking to a high-profile Wests Tigers player the other day and he said teammates aren't getting on great with Robbie."
If pushed, the players will side with Sheens, who is contracted to the Tigers until the end of the 2014 season.
Farah is a matchwinner but he knows the power Sheens wields at the club