Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi has pledged to repay long suffering Tigers fans for their loyalty as he opened up on the pain of having his best season in the NRL cut short by a knee injury.
Doueihi took his game to greater heights in his preferred position of five-eighth last season producing 16 try assists, nine tries, nine linebreaks and 50 tackle busts in just 20 games.
However the 23-year-old sustained a ACL tear in his knee following the Round 23 loss to the Sharks and faced a daunting nine-month recovery just to get back on the field.
Doueihi revealed the pain of not being able to continue his development as a playmaker after such a promising year individually and watching his teammates struggle without him hurt more than the injury itself.
“It hurts,” Doueihi told Foxsports.com.au.
“I probably felt it was my most consistent year in terms of playing some good footy in back-to-back games.
“In terms of a team obviously it was still disappointing with the results that didn’t go our way last year.
“The injury was the second time with the same knee so it does take its toll, but it has allowed me to work on some deficiencies in my game.
“I’ve strengthened up my body to be able to prepare for this season as best I can. I’ve taken the dark side and turned it into a bright side.
“I’m just trying to work on my game and find the little areas where I can improve.”
Doueihi revealed he is over the halfway mark in his recovery and while not putting a specific date on his return, he is targeting Round 10 at the earliest.
“Everything is tracking well so far, I am about five and a half months post operation now,” Doueihi said.
“I met with the specialist a couple of weeks ago and we have ticked all the boxes so far, so everything is going to plan.
“In terms of a return to play we haven’t really put a date on it yet but, we are targeting somewhere around the middle of the regular season.”
In his absence new Tigers recruit Jackson Hastings is set to get first crack at Doueihi’s coveted No.6 jersey.
However Hastings faces a fight on his hands for the five-eighth role when Doueihi returns as he still believes that is his best position out of the many that he has played for Souths and the Tigers.
“I still like it at No.6,” Doueihi said.
“I haven’t chatted to the coaching staff too much about where I am playing when I get back, but I like No.6 and I think Madge sees me as a No.6.
“But Jackson Hastings has been really good.
“He has fitted in really nicely and he and Brooksy are forming a good combination together.
“Oliver Gildart played with hastings at Wigan so they will have a good combination on the left edge.
“They are really training hard and the combinations are coming together really well.”
The Wigan pair are not the only new recruits that have impressed Doueihi, who is excited about the impact former Titans utility Tyrone Peachey can have on the side.
“Tyrone Peachey is going to be really valuable to us with his versatility and his ball playing ability in the middle as it is something we also lacked last year, so he is going to be a big bonus for us,” Doueihi said.
“Hastings is another versatile player and fills multiple positions, but he will form that combination with Brooksy and see where it goes from there.”
“I think the more games we win the more the media stays away and Madge and the team aren’t under as much pressure,” Doueihi said.
“Winning solves everything.
“We have two new assistant coaches this year under Madge that have really taken us to that next step and have brought in some new structures in defence and attack.
One thing Doueihi and his Tigers teammates don’t want any more of in 2022 are off-field distractions like the conjecture around their coach Michael Maguire’s future last season.
“I think the more games we win the more the media stays away and Madge and the team aren’t under as much pressure,” Doueihi said.
“Winning solves everything.
“We have two new assistant coaches this year under Madge that have really taken us to that next step and have brought in some new structures in defence and attack.
“That is going to help Madge. Madge has been good for us this year and if we come out of the blocks and win the first few games then I’m sure we will stay out of the limelight.”
What will continue to get plenty of mentions is the Tigers’ current NRL worst, longest finals drought stretching back to 2011, until they finally break their hoodoo.
Doueihi admits he is sick and tired of hearing about the drought given it has only been in his control since he arrived in 2020, but he knows it will only go away when the Tigers are finally playing in September.
“It is hard because everyone always asks about it,” Doueihi said.
“We don’t mention it internally, but the outside world does and our fans are probably fed up.
“We haven’t played finals for over 10 years now and we need to start changing that.
“The more games we win early and wrap up the two points that will set us up for the end of the season.
“Top eight is our goal this year and if we don’t make that it is another failed season. We don’t want to fail again so we will do everything we can.
“We are working hard at training and we will see where it takes us.”
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
So Gildart to left centre at this stage….
Both centre positions open in my opinion.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
The media love us… seems to be a new story every day the last few days.
The media love us… seems to be a new story every day the last few days.
Of course they do. Doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad. Massive fan base and click-throughs generate revenue.
Whoever is selected in the centres will have a baptism of fire marking Justin Olam.Ouch.
Whoever is selected in the centres will have a baptism of fire marking Justin Olam.Ouch.
Best centre in the game in my opinion in a time where the centre role is reducing.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Whoever is selected in the centres will have a baptism of fire marking Justin Olam.Ouch.
Best centre in the game in my opinion in a time where the centre role is reducing.
Looks tough as nails as well and hits like a truck!
If there was a competition for pre season pledges and promises then we’d be top four for sure.
How about say nothing and do the talking on the park.
If there was a competition for pre season pledges and promises then we’d be top four for sure.
How about say nothing and do the talking on the park.
Because the game is a business now that doesn't allow the club to be quiet. I don't like it either but it is the sad reality of the modern game.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
Whoever is selected in the centres will have a baptism of fire marking Justin Olam.Ouch.
Best centre in the game in my opinion in a time where the centre role is reducing.
Looks tough as nails as well and hits like a truck!
I'm sure I've suggested this before, but I can't get enough of it.
Listen to Justin Olams life story on the Fuelled By Fire podcast. What he (and most PNG kids) went through growing up, is eye opening.
I'd say it's one of the best podcasts I've listened to, across any genre.
Top 8 2023
@celtic_tiger what do you want them to say?
The issue isn't the talking, it's the doing.
Interesting AD says he wants to play 6.
My guess when AD returns either he or Hastings moves to 13, and peachy moves to centres.
Both AD and Hastings are big boys and can handle playing 13.
Essentially we just play with 3 halves.
Top 8 2023
Whoever is selected in the centres will have a baptism of fire marking Justin Olam.Ouch.
Best centre in the game in my opinion in a time where the centre role is reducing.
Looks tough as nails as well and hits like a truck!
Yeah ..but a good play maker will cut him to threads .....he commits early ...bad sides that run the same plays in attack get creamed by him
Whoever is selected in the centres will have a baptism of fire marking Justin Olam.Ouch.
Best centre in the game in my opinion in a time where the centre role is reducing.
Looks tough as nails as well and hits like a truck!
Yeah ..but a good play maker will cut him to threads .....he commits early ...bad sides that run the same plays in attack get creamed by him
Will also be interesting to see how he goes now JAC isn't there drawing some attention as well.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
