Robbie Farah was so browbeaten going into Origin I that he doubted he had the ability to play – let alone lead the side in the absence of Paul Gallen.
Farah had been trying to play the way Jason Taylor wanted him to – dumping his style and pet plays to conform with the coach. The result was a complete loss of confidence.
Farah was being used to shovel the ball to the halves and to tackle. It was like leaving the Ferrari in the garage and driving your Nissan Tiida every day.
He didn't want to rock the boat with Taylor – he was still scarred by the Mick Potter episode where he was unfairly blamed for the coach's demise. The more Farah toed the line the worse his form got. It got to the point where Farah was riddled with self-doubt.
The first person he sought out in Origin camp was mind guru Garie Dooley. He booked in a time to get his head right. He also had long discussions with Laurie Daley and his assistant Matt Parish and they set him straight.
He felt loved by the Blues and Farah found form as he led NSW – but all along in the back of his mind he was desperately unhappy about what was taking place in clubland. He sat down with Taylor and asked him to help him recapture his form. Taylor said he was unhappy with his leadership and Farah offered to quit. During those conversations Taylor labelled Farah selfish. Other players were confiding in Farah – not all of them front-liners – that they were not happy with their relationship with Taylor.
The coach was standing firm on all his decisions. At that point Farah was ready to walk away from at least the last year of his contract – he wanted one more good season with the club before heading to England and seeing the world.
Taylor made the call on the day after the last Origin that Robbie was ready to go on his world tour now. Taylor insists to this minute that he has player support and that of the board. The story I'm hearing is that Taylor has not talked to the players about the drama.
The players have talked among themselves and have Farah in their hearts. Taylor would not agree – he is of the view that no players have fronted him to complain.
The coach has copped it from all areas since the decision to dump a club legend– but don't expect a repeat of the Mad Monday drama that ended his career at Souths.
An inexperienced Taylor went out drinking with his team and was floored by David Fa'alogo at the Forresters. It was a blow that landed him in coaching wilderness. By the time you read this most of the players will be well on their way to enjoying their end-of-season drink. Taylor will be having a drink with the coaching staff. He has learnt from the previous experience.
Farah, meanwhile, needs to think in coming days about staying put and enduring a toxic year with a coach he doesn't respect or playing a season elsewhere and ruining his dream of being a one-club player.
When the dust settles Farah knows he will have to entertain offers – there is no question a strong club like Souths is a priority. Incoming Knights coach Nathan Brown has already made a public pitch for Farah. Brown is an old hooker who played with flair and he formed a bond with Farah during the Origin campaign. The Knights will also have Blues half Trent Hodkinson in their ranks.
Jarryd's mum holds the backyard ball.
Mother Hayne has a ball in US
There's a $10 gridiron ball that sits in a pot plant in Jodie Hayne's backyard.
"Jarryd bought it from Kmart," she said. "He came here at Christmas time and asked me if I had a gridiron ball ... Of course I didn't, so he went down to the local shops and bought one. It's the new game that we play at home. He plays quarterback and makes me run. He loves it. We play with the kids in the front yard or we head down to the beach. The ball lives in the plant and it's there for him every time he comes around. "I might have to buy him one of those brown ones now."
She can buy that on her trip to the United States – it's the first time she has been there.
"I'm so happy for everything that Jarryd has done. He's been chasing his dream, but I do miss him so much."
While the nation has fallen in love with Hayne in recent weeks, Jodie has had him in her life for 27 years.
"The Jarryd that people don't see is the loyal kid," she said. "That's his strongest quality. You know, sometimes I'll be worried about something and he will settle me right down.
"I think he's been here before." Jarryd couldn't have chased his dream without his mum. And he couldn't have put anything into place without his agent, Wayne Beavis.
"I really think Wayne deserves a lot of praise. He has been a mentor and someone he can trust for most of his life. We owe him a lot."
Private battle: Former Test player Brad Haddin. Photo: Reuters
Haddin's heroine
Brad Haddin built a career on guts and persistence – but he can't come close to matching that which his daughter Mia is displaying in her daily battle. It's been well documented that Haddin had to miss the second Ashes Test because Mia was hospitalised and in a ruthless decision he was never reinstated. It's still hard to comprehend the thinking behind that decision – one that has ended Haddin's career as a Test player.
This column has been told that Haddin had made contact with Cricket Australia and told them that it's all over for him. He didn't confirm that in the conversation I had with him about his daughter. We bumped into one another in the car park at Allianz Stadium when Haddin was having a chat with Roosters assistant coach Craig Fitzgibbon. "We had to come back because Mia needed a big operation," Haddin said. "She is such a courageous girl. The good news is that it went well and she was out of hospital a week earlier than she was supposed to be. Her quality of life will be improved in a big way and she will be able to continue doing what she loves – tormenting her brothers." Haddin said the family has received plenty of support from all areas. "As a family we are very grateful for every bit of support we have received," he said.
Smith all ears
Spotted at the grand final of The Voice: NRL boss Dave Smith, his wife and lovely kids. They were seated near Roosters tough guy Aidan Guerra and his fiancee Belinda. The pair were seen eating the chocolates in the goodie bags and carrot sticks. They were clearly conflicted.
Just like Bozo
Trent Barrett is following in the footsteps of Bob Fulton in many ways. Both south coast products, both played five-eighth and now, like Fulton, Barrett will end up at Manly. The most interesting thing is that Barrett has bought a house on the northern beaches in the same street where Fulton first settled.
Stewart targeted
There have been some none-too-subtle inquiries about Glenn Stewart joining French Super League team Catalans. There is no question that Stewart has been a success at his new club Souths, so it is little wonder that he has been sought out – despite having a contract with the Bunnies.
Gallen backing
Paul Gallen has received strong support from the security guard who was present when he was harassed by an angry dad. The Sharks have received a report, which they are keeping to themselves at the moment. It is this column's understanding that the father has been in discussions with the club and they will continue into next week.
Tough night
The irony of Trent Hodkinson's season ending wrist injury was not lost on the departing Bulldogs half. "Yeah, it happened against the Knights," he said. "I know its weird, the future club." His wife Chantelle wasn't going to travel up to the game. "But I had a bad feeling," she said. "And I never get that and I felt I had to be there." It was fortunate that she was. "The Knights officials could see I was stressed and they offered to help me," said Chantelle. "They really went out of their way to make sure I was OK – they didn't have to do that and I'm grateful." We often hear about what a good man Hodkinson's teammate Josh Reynolds is – I saw it first hand. He turned up at hospital when I was interviewing Hodkinson with coffee and food for his mate. Hodkinson also received text messages from those Knights involved in the tackle checking in that he was OK.
Danny Weidler is a Nine reporter.
