Former leading AFL official Shane McCurry is being credited with having played a key role in negotiating the truce between Robbie Farah and Wests Tigers management.
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McCurry, for six years the AFL's research, projects and industry engagement manager, and who also held management and strategy roles at the North Melbourne club, was brought in as a consultant by new Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe to help overcome the impasse between Farah, coach Jason Taylor and other officials.
After stunning the club by seeking a release from the remaining two years of his contract just over two weeks ago, Farah has now committed to playing out his NRL career at the Tigers.
It is a move that benefits all parties as no other NRL club could accommodate him in the salary cap without huge upheaval to their roster and the Tigers were unable to pay the more than $1.9 million Farah was seeking after being advised earlier this year that he was not part of Taylor's plans next season.
Whether the coach and former captain can maintain their uneasy relationship until the end of Farah's contract remains to be seen and there will undoubtedly be pressure on Taylor if the Tigers do not perform well next season.
It is also unclear how Taylor will use both Farah and fellow hooking veteran Matt Ballin, who was signed from Manly as a replacement for the NSW rake.
The Tigers also have the promising Manaia Cherrington, who was a member of the New Zealand squad for the recent Test series against England, on their books.
But after the NRL put paid to any chance of Farah joining Sydney Roosters by advising that he would have to be included in the salary cap for fair value, even if he received a pay-out from the Tigers and signed an $80,000 minimum wage deal with the Bondi-based club, there was really nowhere else for him to go.
St George Illawarra were also linked to the 31-year-old but the club could not afford him and hooker Mitch Rein, while Farah was not interested in moving to Super League because he wants to keep playing State of Origin for NSW.
It is understood an announcement that Farah is staying will be made this week, and the Tigers will also issue an apology to their fans over the handling of the issue.
RLPA president Clint Newton welcomed the decision and said contracts should be honoured unless there was mutual agreement between the club and player.
"One of the key issues we have always maintained is that they players shouldn't be involved in a buy, swap and sell market and they also shouldn't be punished for a club's poorly managed roster," Newton said.
"I think that when you sign a contract from both parties there is that respect and integrity around honouring the deal and there was clearly a breakdown in communication there.
Obviously now the Tigers have a new CEO, he has a new mandate in place and going on what I have seen hopefully that has been resolved, because it would be in the best interests to make sure you are looking after the player's overall wellbeing but also the integrity for what a contract is there for. You have to honour it or at least make it known you are trying to help that player further his career in the best possible way."
