Wests Tigers great unknown without Farah

Wests Tigers skipper Aaron Woods admits he has no idea what the NRL club will be like without premiership-winning legend Robbie Farah.

The Tigers will be without Farah in their squad for the first time since 2002 next season, after the out-of-favour NSW hooker moved to South Sydney on a two-year deal.

Woods and Farah have been a key part of the club since the Kangaroos prop made his debut in 2011.

But Farah's falling out with coach Jason Taylor has resulted in the 2005 premiership winner exiting the joint venture and Woods says the Tigers will be a great unknown minus their former skipper.

"I'm not sure how things will be," Woods told AAP

"I have never been at the club with Robbie not being there so it is something else.

"It is going to be a bit different. I don't know how it is going to go.

"There are a lot of boys there who have to pick up their games, we lose a lot of experience in Robbie and (retired utility Dene) Halatau.

"So we are going to have to pick up the slack."

Woods flies out from Sydney to Manchester on Thursday ahead of the start of the Four Nations in Britain later this month.

He skipped Australia's win over New Zealand in Perth on Saturday due to his marriage.

The Kangaroos front-rower won't join the Tigers for pre-season training until the new year.

The good news for Tigers fans is that two-time premiership winning Manly rake Matt Ballin is expected to be fit for the start of the 2017 after missing all of this year due to a knee injury.

Ballin will have backup in youngster Jacob Liddle and recent signing Matt McIlwrick.

"I won't be there at the start of the pre-season with the boys so I will have to wait and see how things turn out in the new year," Woods said.

"With Matty, Jacob Liddle and Matty McIllwrick there are a few boys there.

"We have some good signings and Matty's (Ballin) knee will be right.

"He has started running again so that should be all fine."