Wests Tigers prepare for Michael Maguire’s Broncos with boost from injured star Adam Doueihi
Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi has given a positive update on the groin injury that ruled him out of Sunday’s loss to the Warriors, as the club prepares to face ex-coach Michael Maguire for the first time since his departure.
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Wests Tigers centre Adam Doueihi expects to face former coach Michael Maguire in Brisbane on Saturday night despite his last minute withdrawal from Sunday’s loss to the Warriors.
Doueihi appeared emotional in the sheds after being ruled out with a groin injury but on Monday afternoon the Lebanese international said he was relieved to learn it was a minor “tweak”.
Given his lengthy injury troubles across the past few seasons the club opted for precaution.
“It’s nothing bad, I just sort of tweaked it in the warm up and it didn’t feel 100 per cent, so we just made a call to sit me out and fingers crossed I’ll be good to go this week,” he said at the launch of the NRL’s Multicultural Round on Monday.
His inclusion will be a boost for the Tigers who are set to be without Jarome Luai for at least one game if he takes an early guilty plea for a careless high tackle charge.
Rising gun Latu Fainu is expected to be the next man up to face the Broncos.
“He’s really good, he hasn’t played middle for us before but for him to come on (against the Warriors) as 18th man and be ready to go and change the game for us, shows how much talent he’s got,” Doueihi said.
“He’s still young and learning and trying to find his feet but we’re trying to find a spot for him in our 17 and I guess if Jarome is out, he’s in but we see what happens.”
Doueihi has a proud Lebanese background and is one of 65 national heritages represented across NRL and NRLW squads, which is the highest number of nations since records have been kept.
Close to a third of NRL players were born overseas and almost half (47 per cent) have at least one parent born overseas.
Getting on the field this week would be special for Doueihi.
Multicultural Round aside, he wants to face former coach Maguire for the first time since he left the Tigers in 2022.
“He’ll definitely get his troops up for it, for sure, he likes to take things personally sometimes so I’m sure they’re going to be ready for us come Saturday night,” Doueihi said.
“We’re coming off a loss and we need to get back into the winners circle so we’re going to be doing everything we can to be fit and ready.
“I feel as though year on year clubs change a lot, there’s always a bit of a turn around year to year. Post-Madge we’ve had a few changes staff wise and a lot of players rotation this off season. The place has changed, we’ve bought in a few boys from the Panthers who can show us how to win games and we’re learning from them.”
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Originally published as Wests Tigers prepare for Michael Maguire’s Broncos with boost from injured star Adam Doueihi
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