Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Adam Doueihi opens up on ‘aggressive’ Benji Marshall hit

Tigers veteran Adam Doueihi responds to getting whacked by coach Benji Marshall, Allianz Stadium to get ripped up, ABC slashes NRLW coverage, and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.

Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi has spoken up about his relationship with embattled coach Benji Marshall to rubbish suggestions of a falling-out between the pair.

It had been widely reported that the coach and his utility star had been involved in a fiery exchange at training in the lead-up to the round 16 match against Canberra during an opposed session.

Marshall joined the players in defence and tackled Doueihi with considerable force.

So I texted Doueihi to get his first-hand version of the story.

Here’s his reply: “Buzz, it’s been blown out of proportion.

“It may have been a tackle on me that looked a bit aggressive from Benj a few weeks back.

“Not much more to it. There was no words or actions needed after.

“Me and Benji on very good terms; that’s all I want to say. Take care mate.”

And that was it.

Benji Marshall and Adam Doueihi speak after the Tigers’ round 20 loss. Credit: Screenshot.

The story emerged in another tumultuous week for the club in which boom 20-year-old hooker Tallyn De Silva followed another local junior Lachlan Galvin, out the door.

Two potential superstars for years to come, gone in four weeks.

The Wests Tigers find themselves under the spotlight yet again after six straight losses, which has left the three-time wooden spooners just two points off the bottom of the ladder.

We can’t wait for Monday night to hear from veteran chief executive Shane Richardson in a live interview on NRL 360 on Fox League.

He has much to explain around recruitment and Marshall’s future as head coach.

We can however reveal that both Richardson and Marshall have the full support of the majority shareholders, the Holman Barnes Group, headed up by chairman Dennis Burgess.

I spoke to Burgess, who is also on the Wests Tigers board, on Friday.

“Look everyone is under pressure but we have full faith and confidence in Shane and Benji,” he said.

And as for any suggestion of a split between Western Suburbs and Balmain in the joint venture, Burgess said, “We’re actually much closer and stronger than we’ve ever been.”

SAINT

Old warrior Kieran Foran has become one of the NRL’s great ambassadors around mental health. His work in the community has been rewarded with a nomination for the prestigious Ken Stephen Medal. Foz recently auctioned off his 300-game boots to raise awareness and funds for mental health. He’s such a genuine bloke and an inspiring story.

Kieran Foran recently auctioned off the boots he wore during his 300th NRL game. Credit: NRL Images.

SINNER

Cricket boss Todd Greenberg’s decision to not schedule a game on Australia Day next year. Sadly, the former NRL chief executive has bowed to the ‘Invasion Day’ wokies. I did a poll on social media during the week – 85 per cent were in favour of playing on January 26 like we always used to. To offend tens of thousands of your fans is not a wise move.

SHOOSH

Which highly respected News Corp journo created an awful mess in the NRL 360 green room after kicking a Steeden into the middle of a huge tray of massaman curry that the boys were supposed to be having for their pre-show dinner. EP Mitch Diffin has deducted the cleaning fee from his invoice.

SHOOSH

The dogs are barking about one particular NRL club chairman and his out-of-control ego. This man has such a high opinion of himself and thinks he knows everything yet is not in the same league as heavyweights like Nick Politis, Nick Papas, Matt Tripp, Blake Solly or Don Furner.

SHOOSH

Which league hack copped a spray from a player agent this week over his coverage of the Tallyn Da Silva departure from the Wests Tigers.

SPOTTED

A new rugby league podcast is out there — this time solely for the NRLW. Maddie Studdon (Dragons) and Jada Taylor (Sharks) — who have both played at Origin level — have teamed up with FanaticsTV to preview and review each round on Wednesdays. The girls are both excellent media talents.

SPOTTED

Old Wests Tigers boss Justin Pascoe relaxing on the luxurious Hayman Island and looking a lot more relaxed than in his days as CEO of the troubled NRL club.

SPOTTED

A half-hour documentary has lobbed onto YouTube on twice-deregistered player agent Isaac Moses – A History of Scandal – that features his involvement in the Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels salary cap rorts and his various falling outs with key figures in the NRL, including Roosters chairman Nick Politis. The documentary maker declined an interview request.

The Allianz Stadium surface has been heavily criticised for its poor drainage system. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

$850M STADIUM SET FOR SHUTDOWN

Allianz Stadium will be ripped up after week one of the NRL Finals and a Wallabies-Argentina Test match in September to allow Venues NSW to finally fix the drainage issues.

Venues NSW would not comment but it’s my understanding the stadium will be out of play for six to 10 weeks as the drainage layers — a mix of sand and then road base — are removed completely.

Costs are likely to be well over the million dollar mark; an embarrassing situation at an $850 million venue which only opened in 2022.

At least it’s a proactive step given the current NRL ladder standings, and the big gap to the top four, means Allianz is unlikely to host a home final in week three.

It’s about time, too, as we can’t have a return to the farcical scenes when the field was under water during the Women’s Origin earlier this year.

There will be implications for the start of Sydney FC’s A-League season, but I’m told they can see the long-term benefit in having a field that isn’t a quagmire when it rains.

FC is likely to use Leichhardt Oval and/or Kogarah while Allianz is unavailable.

While Allianz got through last week’s rain bomb okay, officials are hoping it didn’t get too chopped up by the Waratahs v British and Irish Lions last night ahead of today’s NRL-NRLW double header.

Venues NSW has also been dealing with issues around the playing surface next door at the SCG from AFL critics.

The surface has not fully recovered from an Andrea Bocelli concert in early April and Sydney’s week of heavy rain has hardly helped.

SCG curator Adam Lewis hit back at the criticism on Friday as he prepared the turf for today’s Sydney Swans v Fremantle Dockers match.

“We’re very confident it will hold up,” he said.

“We’ve had independent testing done as well, with our own testing, and we’re lucky the AFL have sent up their testing as well.

“And, we’ve passed with flying colours.

“We’re really looking forward to Sunday. It’s a day game. The weather’s looking great for the next three days. So, we’re really looking forward to a packed house and a great game.”

THE FOOTY PUB TEST

Publicans have a difficult choice to make on Wednesday night... do they show the Origin decider from Accor Stadium on their sports bar TVs or the Lions v Brumbies in Canberra. We guess it will depend on what area of Sydney you live in.

No doubt the Queens Park, Rose Bay, Woollahra, Mosman and Hunters Hill types will want to watch the rah rahs at their posh little establishments.

But everywhere else, in areas where the working class reside, they’ll no doubt be demanding the Origin game on the big screens.

Promising centre Josh Feledy is following Lachlan Galvin and Tallyn Da Silva out the exit doors at the Tigers. Photo: Jeremy Piper.

FELEDY WINGS IT

Wests Tigers have lost another outstanding youngster - 20-year-old centre Josh Feledy.

Feledy is returning home to Manly where he captained the side’s 2021 Harold Matts team to a grand final win. That year he scored 19 tries in nine games.

That Manly team also had Lehi Hopoate at fullback and the Fainu brothers, Samuela and Latu.

TIME TO DIG DEEP FOR EVIE AND ANNIE

We told you the story back in March how rugby league journalists had been left devastated by a terrible tragedy involving one of our own.

Jen McCutcheon (formerly Browning) worked on rugby league at the ABC before taking on a regional role and settling in Gilgandra in the state’s north-west.

She met a farmer, Andrew McCutcheon, married and had two beautiful little girls — Evie, 3 and Annie, 18 months.

Scan this QR Code to purchase rafffle tickets to help Evie and Annie McCutcheon.

Then Andrew passed away suddenly, at just 36.

A fundraiser to help little Evie and Annie is being held at the Collie Hotel, 35 kilometres from Gilgandra, on Saturday, July19.

You can scan the QR code above for raffle tickets and the opportunity to win some great footy prizes – including four NRL grand final tickets, four tickets in a corporate suite at CommBank Stadium for the Eels v Roosters on August 23, plus signed and framed Eels, St George-Illawarra Dragons and South Sydney Rabbitohs jerseys. There is a heap of other great prizes.

Proceeds from the raffle tickets and auction items will go into a trust fund set up for Evie and Annie.

Jen McCutcheon with her late husband Andrew and daughters Annie and Evie. Credit: Supplied.

BIG SPORTS BREAKFAST

Catch you on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast with Ray Thomas and Dean Bulldog Ritchie at 9.40am to chat State of Origin and all the big issues.

STADIUMS CATERER INVESTIGATED

Hospitality giant Merivale is under investigation over allegations of misconduct towards staff.

An adverse finding could have an effect on the company’s exclusive catering agreements with Venues NSW at Sydney’s major stadiums, including Allianz, Accor and the SCG.

A spokesman for sports minister Steve Kamper told us: “Any allegations where worker safety is compromised are very concerning. We have zero tolerance for harassment or violence towards staff or patrons.

“All NSW Government contractors are expected to comply with Federal and State workplace law.

“There is currently a live Fair Work Ombudsman investigation into Merivale.

“We want our hospitality operators to thrive but safety and wellbeing is non-negotiable.”

Two weeks ago the government introduced updated training for all hospitality workers on how to identify and deal with inappropriate behaviour including sexual violence and harassment.

ABC DROPS BALL WITH NRLW

Just when women’s rugby league is really starting to take off, good old ABC radio has slashed its coverage of the NRLW competition this year.

What a terrible snub for women’s sport from the national broadcaster.

And this is the response we got from Aunty’s PR team:

“Our coverage of NRLW factors in available resourcing and our other contractual obligations,” a spokesperson said.

“ABC sport will continue to cover select NRLW matches in 2025, including the finals and grand final.”

Last year the network did a game every weekend.

The season-opening game on Thursday night between the Sharks and Parramatta attracted an audience on 324,000 on Channel 9 and streaming.

Originally published as Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Adam Doueihi opens up on ‘aggressive’ Benji Marshall hit