The ‘Adam Douehi Saga’ has reached a new chapter, with the Wests Tigers playmaker named to return to the field in the No.7 jersey after a week of turmoil.
Withdrawing himself from last week’s clash against the Canberra Raiders following a reported dispute over his position, Douehi’s reinstatement in the halves has sparked fierce debate among NRL greats and pundits.
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The decision has raised a host of questions surrounding the Tigers’ handling of the situation, with scrutiny now turning towards coach Benji Marshall and whether he can help navigate the fallout.
It has also sparked debate over the impact, the ‘saga’ has had on the playing group with concerns emerging over trust within the dressing room.
NO.7 CALL RAISES FRESH QUESTIONS
After self-withdrawing from last week’s match against the Canberra Raiders in which the Tigers were humiliated, Doueihi’s return to the Tigers has sparked plenty of debate.
The playmaker’s inclusion for the side’s upcoming clash against the Parramatta Eels on Sunday, where he will wear the No.7 jersey, has intensified scrutiny on Marshall’s handling of the situation.
Fox League’s Paul Crawley was scathing of the decision, believing Marshall was the only coach in the NRL who would have let Doueihi back into their team.
“Benji can come out and say anything he wants. This looks like he’s buckled,” Crawley said on NRL 360.
“I think if you were to do an anonymous poll of the 17 NRL coaches, 16 of them would not have done what Benji has done here.
“There is no way in the world they would have allowed him to come back after what happened to that team last week.
“If he wanted him to play lock last week, keep him at lock.”
Doueihi back + Laurie to quit? | 25:52
However, CODE Sports reporter David Riccio offered a different point of view, suggesting that Marshall’s decision to name Douehi in the halves could be viewed as an acknowledgement that his concerns about the club were valid.
“I think it’s a concession from Benji Marshall that some of the questions raised by him were correct and that Adam had points that deserved consideration,” Riccio added.
“Thirdly, they need him. A head coach needs his best player on the park and they need him and him at halfback you would argue would be one of their most consistent players.
Crawley, though, argued the call was made primarily to ease the growing pressure surrounding the Tigers following last week’s fallout
“To try and quell the noise. To try and stop the narrative and stop the turmoil surrounding that club. It’s as obvious as anything,” Crawley continued.
“They’re trying to dodge away from the fact of what happened last week and try and quieten it.”
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DRESSING ROOM TRUST PUT TO THE TEST
While Doueihi’s return has been welcomed by some, concerns remain over whether the fallout has damaged the trust within the Tigers’ playing group.
Queensland Maroons legend Gorden Tallis believed all that “trust” is now compromised.
“When you play footy and when you get to the top level and you want to start winning games, I think what all the great sides have is trust and trusting the mates beside you,” Gorden Tallis said.
“So it’s got to be tarnished a little bit. Whether they say it or not, it wouldn’t be the same dressing room.”
Braith Anasta, a former Tigers player and teammate of Marshall’s, also questioned whether or not the issues within the club should be brushed aside.
He warned that some members of the playing group may be left wondering whether they were the target of claims that have surfaced over the past few days, creating further tension in the dressing room.
Riccio says Tigers ‘need’ Doueihi at 7 | 00:43
Anasta said: “I find it hard to believe from my point of view that everything would be fine there because if you look at the leaks that have been coming out allegedly from Doueihi’s camp.
“That players are vaping in the weights room, that there’s a cultural issue there (and) that there’s factions within the club.
“These players that he’s walked back into training with, they’ve got the finger pointed at them, so they’re thinking over the last few days ‘Is this directed at us?’ so then Doueihi comes back in.
“There would be an element of (mistrust) and it’s impossible to think everything’s hunky dory and rosy.”
DOUEIHI’S CONTRACT CALL UNDER SCRUTINY
Amid the growing scrutiny surrounding Doueihi’s actions, attention has now turned towards a bizarre contract decision that has raised further questions.
This was the playmaker’s decision to sign a three-year extension with the club earlier this year, despite reportedly having concerns over the Tigers’ culture and standards.
The contract call has added another layer to the drama with pundits questioning the timing of Doueihi’s decision to sign that new deal.
“This is the thing that I really can’t get my head around, (is) he’s allegedly got a problem with standards at the club now and the culture but four months ago in March he signed a new extension,” Crawley said.
“The club didn’t have to give him one because he was contracted through until the end of next year, but he signed a new extension until the end of 2029.
“He was happy to take the $500,000 that the club was reportedly offering him and now, four months later, Benji’s no good. The culture’s no good. The standard’s no good.”
Doueihi all smiles in return to training | 07:34
Riccio, however, provided a different perspective, suggesting the issues may have emerged after he signed on.
“How do we know he hasn’t addressed the cultural issues from when he signed the contract until now?” Riccio proposed.
But Crawley continued by arguing that Douehi was already aware of the challenges facing the Tigers before putting pen to paper on a new deal.
“He knew what he was signing up for. He’s been at the club for years. The Tigers were the same club last year,” Crawley continued.
“The Tigers were the same club for the last decade. It may be a bit worse right but they are an embarrassment to professional sport, this mob.
“This has been going on since 2012. They’ve gone through a stack of coaches, a stack of chief executives. Players come and go.
“They’re paying Jarome Luai $500,000 to play for another team. You can bet your life that we will get to the end of this year and this will blow up again. It makes you wonder…same manager, what’s happening here?”
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BENJI UNDER SCRUTINY AFTER SAGA
While the actions of Doueihi have come under immense scrutiny, questions have also emerged over Marshall’s handling of the situation.
And whether the Tigers coach not only has the experience required to navigate the fallout, but is the right person for the job.
“If the reports are correct that he didn’t tell Doueihi about the change of position after the judiciary last week, that’s let himself down as a coach,” Crawley said.
“That’s not right. I can’t for the life of me think of anyone that thinks that’s the right call to just throw him (into the halves for this week).”
Anasta quipped, “I question (he’s respect for Benji given) that (because of what’s happening).”
‘Know we won’t have him forever!’ | 04:36
However, David Riccio suggested the fallout was not a reflection of Doueihi’s relationship with Marshall, claiming the playmaker still holds the coach in high regard/
“He doesn’t hate Benji Marshall,” Riccio said.
“He has an unbelievable respect for him but he has decided to go this line in the sand moment, which has blown up catastrophically.”
He also defended Marshall to an extent, but admitted that the saga highlighted that the Tigers coach needs more experience around him
“I’m not blaming Benji. I feel like Benji is in desperate need of experience around him and this week has shown (that).”
Adam Doueihi and Benji Marshall will front the media on Wednesday morning.
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