Robbie Farah with his late mother, Sonia.
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says he'll ask the federal police to investigate after rugby league star Robbie Farah was subjected to vile abuse on Twitter.
The Wests Tigers and Origin hooker, whose mum died in June, was targeted by an internet ''troll' who posted a disturbing, sexually explicit tweet about his mother on Sunday night.
It prompted an instant backlash online, with Farah's supporters lining up to condemn the abuse, which was posted using the Twitter handle @maxpower118.
Mr O'Farrell weighed in as Farah's supporters demanded action.
"Shouldn't matter who target is - completely unacceptable," the premier tweeted.
"Will follow up & happy to work with Feds to stop it."
Farah himself responded to maxpower118, saying he'd ''rip his face off' had the abuse been said to him in person.
It appears the @maxpower118 account, which used a skull-like face as a profile picture, was deleted soon after the row erupted.
The incident comes shortly after Sydney-based actor Charlotte Dawson, 46, was rushed to hospital after being subjected to a torrent of internet abuse.
- AAP
