After waiting patiently for three years to do himself justice, Robbie Farah couldn’t afford to be nervous ahead of his return to the NSW side.
The 28-year-old hooker was one of the Blues’ best performers in Melbourne last month, firmly silencing the critics who felt he wasn’t suited to the bearpit environment that is State of Origin.
One of those who publicly doubted the Wests Tigers skipper was club great Steve Roach, who’s also a member of Ricky Stuart’s coaching staff.
Farah admitted he was hurt by Roach’s comments, but said the pair have made their peace and moved on.
However, he’s well aware that the barbs made on a radio show have coincided with some of the best form of his career, with the Tigers winning six straight matches.
“I’ve been happy with how I’ve played recently and think the way I linked up with Mitchell Pearce in the City-Country game gave me a lot of confidence,” Farah told AAP.
Stuart has admitted the way the pair dovetailed in the first half of the game in Mudgee in April opened his eyes to the prospect of playing the pair in Origin.
And when the coach’s first-choice for the No.9 shirt, Danny Buderus, injured his achilles, it was a straight fight between Farah and incumbent Michael Ennis for a spot in the side.
Farah won the battle and the chance to make amends for his under-par performances in the 2009 series, when he was dumped for game three by then-coach Craig Bellamy in favour of Ennis.
So it would have been understandable if Farah was feeling the pressure ahead of the Etihad Stadium encounter on May 23.
“It’s funny, I usually get pretty nervous before games for the Tigers but for some reason I wasn’t before game one (of Origin),” he said.
“I was just really excited. Normally I can’t eat, I can’t sleep on game days and I am really tense.
“It had been a while since I played (Origin), and I’d waited a long time for that opportunity to play again.
“But I knew I was ready for that game and I just couldn’t wait to get out there and play.”
Despite Farah’s stirring display and creditable performance from the Blues, it wasn’t enough to prevent an 18-10 win by Queensland.
“We started the game very strong but there was a couple of little things I wished I could have changed,” he said.
“If I’d got that ball down when I was held up over the line in the first half that would have put us up 10-0 up and made a huge difference.
“Then there was obviously the controversial try, from Greg Inglis.
“We’re very disappointed with the result, but we don’t lose too much belief.”
ANZ Stadium has already sold out for next Wednesday, a game NSW have to win to prevent a seventh straight series defeat.
Farah insists there’s no fear in the Blues camp and said every single Blues player is desperate to ensure game three in Brisbane is not a dead rubber.
“You play these games for these big moments,” Farah said.
“It will be a great occasion. They’ve sold out the stadium and they’re putting in more seats to fit in more fans.
“It’s going to be a sea of blue and everyone supporting us. I can’t wait for to get out there.”
