Farah has been linked with Sydney Roosters on a deal worth little more than the NRL's minimum wage of $80,000 after requesting a release from Wests Tigers and full payout for the remaining two years of his $1.9 million contract, while other clubs are also believed to have expressed interest in the 32-year-old at such a price.

However, Fairfax Media understands the NRL would refuse to register any new contract for Farah that was below what was considered reasonable value for a player of his standing as it would be considered an unfair to the club which signed him.

Unless another club was able to find space in the salary cap to accommodate him, Farah's options would appear to be remaining with the Tigers or heading to Super League to finish his career.

Before Farah lodged his request for a release last Friday night, the Tigers say they were prepared for their former captain to play for them next season after advising him three months ago to look for another club.

Instead, the Tigers had proposed a deal in which Farah would remain at the club next year before leaving to play two seasons in Super League, where he could command a big contract as a former Australian Test star.

On his return in 2019, Farah would take up an off-field role with the club as a Wests Tigers ambassador - a similar position to that performed by Anthony Minichiello for Sydney Roosters or Wendell Sailor for St George Illawarra.

The NRL has no problems with clubs offering ambassadorial roles to star players for life after football but would monitor the deals to ensure they were not paid less during the final years of their playing career or paid excessively for their new jobs in retirement.

For the Tigers, such a deal would not only end an ugly standoff over the future of the joint venture's longest serving player but save the club a huge payout it can ill afford - particularly as Balmain is due to repay loans totalling $4 million to the NRL next March.

If Farah rejects the Tigers offer - as it appears he already has by seeking a release last Friday - and is unable to find another NRL club able to accommodate him under the salary cap, Super League would still be an option as he could be signed under the new marquee player allowance rule.

However, Farah wants to continue playing for NSW and that would be difficult to do from England or France as he would miss up to three weekends of Super League for each of the three State of Origin fixtures.

Farah attended training as usual with the Tigers on Monday and is expected to join teammates for a four-day pre-season camp in Port Stephens later this week.

Meanwhile, the Tigers appear set for a battle to retain five-eighth Mitchell Moses, with seven clubs reported to be interested in him after he and halves partner Luke Brooks were permitted to defer a decision on whether to take up an option in their contracts enabling them to extend the deals beyond 2016.

Moses and Brooks were with Farah last Friday night at the Hunters Hill Hotel as the Blues vice-captain's agent Sam Ayoub notified the Tigers of his request for a release, and there is speculation they are concerned with what is happening at the club, although both are said to be close to their teammates and want to stay.

* Clarification: A story headlined "Why News Corp is now so keen to do deal with NRL" published on November 19  should have reported that Optus was believed to be interested in the NRL rights based on several sources, not that Optus had confirmed its interest in the rights based on a statement from an Optus spokesperson.