Adam Doueihi in tears after Wests Tigers’ loss to Newcastle Knights
The emotional footage of teammates consoling distraught Wests Tigers fullback Adam Doueihi shocked many - here’s the sad reason behind the star’s tears.
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His tears were as much for his club as they were for his country.
While most rightly assumed a distressed Wests Tigers fullback Adam Doueihi’s post-game tears on Saturday night were due to last week’s tragic explosion in Beirut, he was also lamenting his own modest form and his side’s horrible performance against Newcastle.
Doueihi has Lebanese heritage — and has represented Lebanon in rugby league — but has no immediate family living in the country.
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Having been handed the Wests Tigers’ fullback spot at the start of this season, Doueihi remains frustrated at his own form and that of his underachieving side, which has lost three successive matches.
And the emotion poured out after his team’s 44-4 loss to the Knights — television cameras capturing the vision of Doueihi in tears. Insiders claim Doueihi was “flat” at halftime and “upset” at fulltime.
“It bubbled over and came out, it was sad to see,” the source said. “He is disappointed and frustrated because Wests Tigers are better than how they’re performing. He has so much passion. And he only turned 22 years old last week, he’s still very young.”
Teammates, primarily Russell Packer, comforted Doueihi — who had the word Lebanon on his wrist tape — at fulltime.
“Adam is pretty passionate. He’s been a junior at Wests Tigers and he wants this club up where we all want it,” Tigers coach Michael Maguire said. “He showed a bit of passion around what the game means to him, and I can assure you that every player in that change room feels the same.”
Former premiership-winning hooker Michael Ennis said Doueihi was gutted at full time.
“Adam Doueihi is absolutely distraught,” Ennis said on Fox League.
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“They’re concerning scenes. At halftime we got some shots, we couldn’t see his face but he was in deep discussions with Michael Maguire.
“We know he’s of Lebanese heritage and it’s been a really tough week with what’s gone on in Lebanon and it could possibly be that.”
Former Test and Queensland superstar Cooper Cronk also spoke passionately about Doueihi.
“It’s hard to talk over because you don’t know the pain and suffering that the young man is going through at the moment,” Cronk said.
“Our hearts are with him and we hope there are good times ahead for Doueihi, his family and the Lebanese community.”