Wests Tigers recruit Adam Doueihi prepared to wait for No. 1 spot as Corey Thompson has inside running
He was squeezed out of South Sydney to make way for Latrell Mitchell now Adam Doueihi is prepared to wait to play fullback at the Tigers as an interchange role beckons for the opening round.
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Adam Doueihi made a quick exit from South Sydney in a bid to become a permanent fullback but the Wests Tigers recruit is prepared to bide his time if he is named on the interchange bench this week.
Doueihi will make his Tigers debut against the Dragons next Sunday but the 21-year-old could start on the reserves bench if coach Michael Maguire sticks with Corey Thompson in the fullback role after the pair shared the duties in the Tigers’ final trial.
“(Maguire) has mentioned he doesn’t want to rush into anything because I did come in so late,” Doueihi said.
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“It’s more not rushing into a decision. I’m still trying to build relationships with not only the halves but the edges, too. Cozza (Thompson) has been here and he knows what it’s like.
“Until (Maguire) feels I’ve nailed down the position, he won’t give it to me. I’m in no rush. If I do have to come off the bench, I’m happy to do that.”
Doueihi is feeling settled at Concord after a turbulent off-season where he became the unlucky sacrifice for the Rabbitohs to land Latrell Mitchell.
He said that situation had rattled him but he was now at ease with the decision.
“It was pretty tough,” Doueihi said.
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“It was unexpected on my behalf. I have not bad word to say about Souths. They made a decision and you have to move on.
“It’s been good to start fresh and meet a bunch of different blokes. Everyone has been more than welcoming to me. I’m loving life.
“I’m starting to get my fitness levels up to a fullback standard. I’m really more fit and stronger than I have been in the past few years.
“Last year I wasn’t expecting to play fullback. The more games I played last year, the better I felt.
“I haven’t been the fittest kid. I wanted to make it a goal this pre-season to be fitter than last year.
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“(Tigers assistant coach) Brett Hodgson has helped me out in terms of positional play. The demands of a fullback are pretty high. You have to keep moving.”
Doueihi is expected to be one of five recruits named to play their first game for the Tigers alongside Billy Walters, Zane Musgrove and, Joey and Luciano Leilua.
SUPERCOACH INSIDER
Adam Doueihi, FLB/CTW, $343,100
Plenty of KFC SuperCoaches are on the hunt for a Doueihi replacement given he’s the 24th most popular player in the game. Zac Lomax, Kotoni Staggs and Gehemat Shibasaki are popular alternatives at similar prices. On the plus side though, Doueihi’s early games off the bench could see him drop to genuine cheapie price before he gains the starting fullback role and hopefully the goalkicking.