Recalled NSW hooker Robbie Farah says he wants to make up for lost time and lost opportunities in State of Origin.
Told by a NSW great that his game wasn't suited to State of Origin, recalled Blues hooker Robbie Farah says he's determined to prove he's capable of adapting to rugby league's toughest arena.
Three years after his Origin career stalled after just two games, Farah was welcomed back to the fold on Monday as part of yet another new look NSW side charged with ending Queensland's six-year dominance.
A Blues' comeback seemed at long odds a couple of weeks ago when former NSW prop Steve Roach - a member of the Blues backroom staff - suggested Farah's game wasn't suited to Origin.
That sparked a slanging match between Farah's club coach Tim Sheens and NSW coach Ricky Stuart - with Farah caught in the middle - but he has come out the other side determined to prove he belongs.
"There was nothing I could do about it other than to keep my mouth shut and play some good footy," Farah said of the controversy.
"It means a lot (to be picked), a lot of hard work, and sometimes you doubt whether you're going to get back here.
"Last year I struggled and was out of form and probably didn't deserve to get picked and I knew that."
Roach was the first person Farah bumped into when he arrived at the NSW camp in Penrith on Monday and he jokingly told the No.9 they would be room mates.
"We're okay," Roach said.
"All I said was that his style of play didn't suit Origin, he's got to change a couple of things.
"And he changed them against the Titans.
"Everyone saw the try he scored and the field goal at the end, but the play that won it was when he showed the desperation to charge the ball down - that's what wins games.
"I'm going to send him an invoice for motivating him."
Farah admitted he was disappointed the public criticism came from within his club: "He's a Tigers club legend, but he's entitled to his opinion - I'm sure there's a lot of other opinions out there about me good and bad."
Farah said the presence of Mitchell Pearce at halfback would allow him to play a more natural hooker's game compared to what he plays at the Tigers.
He also said he was determined to make up for his last effort for NSW, when an error-riddled performance in game two of the 2009 series led to claims he had played injured.
"That's an absolute myth ... there was nothing wrong with me on the night.
"I made a couple of mistake that got punished.
"I backed up two nights later and played for the Tigers against the Dragons - if I was injured I wouldn't have done that."
