Robert Peter Farah () (born 23 January 1984) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australian international, Lebanese international and captain of New South Wales Blues team, he has played the majority of his professional career with the Wests Tigers, with whom he won the 2005 NRL Premiership. Between 2006 and 2012, Farah played for City in six City vs Country representative games, captaining the team from 2009 onwards. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs during the 2017 and 2018 National Rugby League seasons.
Background
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Farah is of Lebanese descent and was educated at St Mel's Primary, Campsie, De La Salle College Ashfield, and the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Economics in 2010.
Farah is a supporter of Liverpool F.C. in English football's Premier League, his favourite player being Steven Gerrard.
He played his junior rugby league with the Enfield Federals and the Leichhardt Wanderers.
Playing career
2002
As an 18-year-old in 2002, he toured with the Lebanese team, playing France in Tripoli and scoring a try.
2003
In round 13, Farah made his NRL debut for the Wests Tigers against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval, playing off the interchange bench in the Tigers 30–38 loss. Farah played in 4 matches in his debut year.
2004
Farah's season was marred by a knee re-construction and his first-grade playing time was restricted to 3 matches for 2004.
2005
With Wests Tigers hookers Robbie Mears and Darren Senter both retiring at the end of the 2004 season, Farah was the club's main hooker for 2005. Early in the year he would often start on the bench and interchange with Ben Galea, but by the end of the year he was described as having replaced, "captain Darren Senter at hooker with relative ease." In round 7, against the Parramatta Eels, Farah scored his first and second NRL career tries in the Tigers 16–26 loss at Parramatta Stadium. In round 20, against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, he scored a hat trick in the Tigers 42–20 win at Leichhardt Oval. Farah was the starting hooker in the Wests Tigers 30-16 2005 NRL grand final winning team over the North Queensland Cowboys. He finished the season with 27 matches and 8 tries.
2006
As NRL Premiers, Wests faced Super League champions the Bradford Bulls in the 2006 World Club Challenge. Farah played at hooker in the Tigers 10–30 loss. Farah was selected for the NSW City Origin squad, playing in City's 10–12 loss to NSW Country Origin in Dubbo. Farah was named the Wests Tigers player of the year in the 2006 NRL season, playing in 20 matches and scoring 5 tries.
In September, Farah was selected in the Prime Minister's XIII squad. Soon after, he re-signed with the Tigers on a contract to the end of the 2010 season.
2007
In May, Farah played for the NSW City team again, scoring a try. He was named hooker of the year at the 2007 Dally M Awards, and was one point behind the Player of the Year, Johnathan Thurston. Some pundits claimed Farah should have won. Farah was again named the Wests Tigers player of the year, playing in all the Tigers 24 matches, and scoring 7 tries, kicking 12 goals and 4 field goals.
2008
In August, Farah was named in the preliminary 46-man Kangaroos squad for the 2008 World Cup. He was not selected in the final 24-man squad. Farah finished the 2008 NRL season with 17 matches and 6 tries.
2009
On 13 January, it was announced that Farah had chosen to re-sign with the Wests Tigers until the end of the 2013 season, spurning a lucrative offer from the Gold Coast Titans. At the same time, the club appointed Farah as team captain. In May, Farah captained NSW City to a 40–18 win over NSW Country. Farah was subsequently named at hooker in the 17-man squad to represent New South Wales in the opening State of Origin match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne. He played in the first two games of the series, but his performances were described as, "underwhelming." Farah finished the 2009 NRL season with him playing in 21 matches, scoring 8 tries and kicking 4 field goals. Later that year he was named in the Prime Minister's XIII to play Papua New Guinea. and Australia's Four-Nations squad. Farah played in two matches for Australia in the 2009 Four Nations. He made his international debut from the bench in the match against England, relieving starting hooker Cameron Smith just before halftime. A week later, he played in the starting line-up in the team that beat France 42–4.