Mahe Fonua

West Tigers say goodbye to three players

Robbie Farah, Mahe Fonua and Robbie Rochow were farewelled at the club’s awards night.

Published by
Alex Pipicella

Robbie Farah, Mahe Fonua and Robbie Rochow were farewelled last week during the West Tigers' Kelly-Barnes Awards night.

Farah's retirement spells an end to his 303-game NRL career, which spanned 17 games across two clubs.

The Leichhardt-product made his debut for the Tigers in 2003 as a teenager against Manly at Leichhardt Oval before becoming the club's leading hooker in 2005. During that season he played 27 matches, scoring eight tries and playing a crucial role in the Tigers' Premiership victory over North Queensland.

Farah would play another 274 senior games for the West Tigers, split between a two-year spell at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Farah represented both Australia and Lebanon internationally, with eight and seven tests respectively, and also played 16 games for NSW in State of Origin.

Farah retires as the highest try-scoring hooker in league history, a Life Member of the West Tigers and as one of just 39 300-game players.

Fonua will make his return to Hull FC next year after spending two seasons at the Tigers, where he tallied 21 games and six tries.

Rochow has also retired from the NRL after a 10-year career across five clubs. The former second-row began his career at Melbourne, before moving to Newcastle where he spent five years and made his debut for NSW Country.

The East Maitland Griffins junior would then move to South Sydney and Melbourne but was plagued by injury before joining the West Tigers in 2018, playing 12 games for the orange and black.

Published by
Alex Pipicella