But the Wests Tigers veteran may be the one left laughing after producing a vintage performance in his side's NRL season-opening hammering of Manly at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

Farah wound back the clock to score two tries, set up a line break, and tallied 43 tackles to kick off the Michael Maguire era in style.

"He's done a great job for an old boy. But he looked like a young kid out there," Maguire said of Farah's display.

The 35-year-old was also in Daly Cherry-Evans' face for most of the contest, hounding the Sea Eagles playmaker on most of his fifth-tackle options.

And when he wasn't leading the kick-pressure, he was delivering in the clutch.

His second try was classic Farah, scheming out of dummy-half before targeting a defender to fool with a side-step and seal victory on his favourite ground.

"After I scored that second try and the crowd was going off, I took a moment to soak it all in," Farah said.

"It was a pretty special moment for me, seeing the old man and the family on the sideline after the game. I had a bit of a tear in my eye.

"These are the moments you remember when you retire down the track."

Farah's presence at Concord, together with fellow old-stager Benji Marshall, has been a steady source of banter for much of their younger teammates.

But the former NSW State of Origin star has taken some of the friendly sledging to heart, and it's resulted in Farah having arguably the best summer of his career.

"It's been a running joke, the boys calling us grandads and stuff. I try and take that a bit personal, you know," Farah said.

"I go out there and try and challenge the younger boys and try and show them that the old fella's still got it.

"When we do fitness, I try and blow them away if I can."

Farah pushed himself to the point where he's waved trainers away as the coaching staff attempt to nurse his body through a 17th campaign.

"Sometimes I tell them to go away and piss off, leave me alone, because I don't want any special favours, or any special treatment," Farah said.

"I want to be out there and pushing myself every day because I know that's what's needed to play at this level regardless of age.

"Yeah, I do feel fit. I do feel really good, and I guess that showed today."

Australian Associated Press