As the Robbie Farah soap opera saunters from one episode to the next, the rest of his teammates are preparing to save their season when they go on the road to Townsville on Saturday night.
The latest drama involving the Tigers skipper comes after he tweeted a text message from the club's media manager that explained his no-show at the post-game press conference following the team's loss to Melbourne last Monday night.
Prop Keith Galloway, playing in his 150th NRL match, replaced Farah at the media conference, with teammates downplaying Farah's absence.
"I understand Keith Galloway doing it because it was his 150th. I don't know what everyone's going on about," prop Martin Taupau said.
But as the pressure continues to mount on Farah to break his silence – he's reportedly doing a tell-all on the The Footy Show on Thursday night – the intense strain on the club will only increase should the 12th-placed Tigers lose against the Cowboys this weekend.
Already two points outside the top eight with a points differential of -90, defeat will just about spell an end to the club's 2014 campaign and return the spotlight on the future of off-contract coach Mick Potter.
"I guess you could sort of look at it that way. If we lost, we've still got four games to come after that and stranger things have happened. But huge game this week, we've got to come out firing," five-eighth Blake Austin said on Wednesday.
Taupau said every game was a must-win for the Tigers from here on in if they are to have a chance of sneaking into the finals.
"I think so. It's on the line. We have to win all our games. It's do-able. We've just got to believe in each other," he said.
Along with centre Chris Lawrence and Cory Paterson, Farah took part in the club's only training session at Concord before departing for Townsville on Thursday.
Taupau said that the heavy scrutiny on the club captain, together with the club's already lengthy injury toll and this week's suspension of outside backs Sitaleki Akauola and Bodene Thompson, had pushed them completely against the wall.
"It's good because everyone's writing us off. Just like the start of the year, [they] thought we were going to get the wooden spoon. We've got to aim up and play well and come away with a win this week," he said.
"[But] I don't reckon we've peaked as well. We've still got a lot of potential and a lot of things to show. With all the injuries, it makes it harder for us.
"I believe that we can still make the top eight. Everyone's saying we've got a tough run home, but it's a mind game. If everyone's comments... if you let them get to you, then you might as well not play."
The Tigers' remaining four games after this weekend are against the Roosters (H), Bulldogs (A), Raiders (A), and Sharks (H).
