‘Keep writing them off, he loves it’: Souths star defends cousin Cheika
Michael Cheika is already under immense pressure after just one World Cup match - but an NRL gun with close ties to the Wallabies coach has warned critics not to write him off just yet.
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South Sydney fullback Adam Doueihi has told critics to continue dismissing the Wallaby’s World Cup prospects because his second cousin – head coach Michael Cheika – “loves” being written off.
Doueihi, preparing for Friday’s NRL preliminary final against Canberra at a sold out GIO Stadium, claimed media “negativity” wouldn’t affect Cheika, whose team confront Wales this Sunday in Japan.
Told the Wallabies were tipped to fail, former Australian Schoolboys rugby union star Doueihi said: “‘Cheik’ loves that. Keep writing them off, he loves it. They were writing him off all last year.
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“He copped it a fair bit in the press but he doesn’t read too much of the press. A bit of negativity won’t get inside of him. He loves that and will thrive on that.
“Cousin ‘Cheik’ always has a few tricks up his sleeve. Hopefully he can prove some people wrong by going deep into the competition and rattle some other teams.
“I guess their backs are against the wall but he flogged them leading into the World Cup. He is a really hard trainer himself and he expects a lot from his players.
“‘Cheik’ is all about hard work and discipline and that’s what you need going into a World Cup campaign.
“He knows the game plan to win.”
The Wallabies weren’t overly impressive against round one opponents Fiji but Doueihi wasn’t concerned.
“It wasn’t the prettiest performance last Saturday against Fiji and Wales had a pretty convincing win. Australia will have to be up for it on Sunday,” he said.
“If they can fix a few things going into the Wales game, then that would be a big boost of confidence.
“He has been great for me and helped me decide after year 12 at school whether to come to Souths or stay with rugby union.
“‘Cheik’ was really honest and open and I am really thankful for the advice he has given me along the way.
“He’s great. He knows the game inside out and has had success overseas. ‘Cheik’ came into the Waratahs and had success. I’m full or praise for him.”
Doueihi played rugby union at St Patrick’s College, Strathfield, before then representing NSW Schoolboys and Australian Schoolboys.
“It was sort of forced upon us to play a sport at school and I chose union,” he said. “But I always played league as my junior footy on the side. League is through our family – we have supported league.”
Doueihi wouldn’t be drawn onto a possible return to rugby union.
“Maybe down the track but not at the moment,” he said. “I’m really happy here and I love my league at the moment. We are one game from a grand final and I’m only 21 – it’s pretty exciting stuff.”
Doueihi started his rugby league career switching around the backline but has settled nicely at fullback for the back-half of the NRL season.
Originally published as ‘Keep writing them off, he loves it’: Souths star defends cousin Cheika