Robbie Farah's future at the Wests Tigers is again up in the air after coach Jason Taylor refused to guarantee he would be recalled next week following the hooker being "rested" for Sunday's loss against the Roosters.
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Farah was a notable omission from the Tigers 32-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters at a water-logged Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon, given the weekend to recover after Wednesday night's Origin opener at ANZ Stadium considering he also suffered a heavy concussion three weeks ago.
The Tigers have won four of six games without Farah, who was believed to be disappointed with Taylor's decision to rest him on Sunday, winning just one of seven with the Blues rake in the side. Taylor and Farah insist they have put their differences aside after a tumultuous off-season in the headlines, but Taylor's refusal to guarantee the hooker a spot against the Rabbitohs next Friday night has once again cast doubt over their relationship.
"I assume so," Taylor said when asked if Farah would slot straight back into the team.
"We'll look at that. Each week stands on its own. We'll work out exactly what's happening next week with our team."
When pressed on the whether the decision to play Farah would be based on his health or team chemistry, Taylor said: "Both things".
The veteran dummy half was told to pack his bags last year, threatened with the prospect of playing NSW Cup if he didn't walk away from the final two years of his lucrative contract at the club. It's been forgiven but not forgotten from Farah's point of view, and up until this week it seemed as though their working relationship was just fine.
But when back-up hooker Matt Ballin withdrew with a knee injury, and Farah wasn't allowed to play five days after Origin one, questions were asked of Taylor's reasoning behind leaving the NSW No.9 out of the side.
"We just thought it was the right thing right from the start and continued to believe it was the right thing," Taylor said.
"It was really important to have a strong team through the middle of the field there today. Just with what Robbie has been through the last couple of weeks we just thought that was right.
"Elijah's defence and just bringing Josh Aloiai into the middle of our field was a strong way for us to start today and that's what we went with."
Farah has attracted interest from English Super League clubs as recently as last month, but the 32-year-old wants to see out his career a one-club man.
His omission coincided with the return of James Tedesco from a shoulder injury, just in time to press his claims for a NSW jersey for game two.
Tedesco was in the box seat for the No.1 jersey before injuring his shoulder, with his coach adamant he is the best of what Laurie Daley has to choose from.
"It's one that everyone wants to engage in but I don't know what the selectors will do there," Taylor said.
"I know he's the best fullback in NSW but whether they want to pick him or not, it's up to them. He was very impressive. The guys voted him as our players' play in that match. I think that game would have been a lot tougher without him back there the way he handled some of those kicks."
His opposite number, Latrell Mitchell, was unable to finish the match after picking up an ankle injury that could see him sidelined for anywhere between four to eight weeks.
Jackson Hastings starred in his return, given another crack at the halfback position following the late withdrawal of Mitchell Pearce (calf), who is racing the clock to be fit for next week.
