Adam Doueihi #227

Tired Tiger said:
The inside story of why Adam Doueihi refused to play for Wests Tigers

Christian Nicolussi
July 24, 2026 — 6:27pm





A
A
A
Adam Doueihi is expected to report for training on Monday – and is even prepared to come back through reserve grade – but he hopes his bombshell decision to stand down from Saturday’s match against the Raiders leads to what he believes is long-overdue change at Wests Tigers.

For too long, the Tigers have struggled near the bottom of the NRL ladder.



Adam Doueihi and the Tigers come to terms with another loss in a season that has spiralled out of control.Getty Images
For too long, the Tigers have paid more than they should for the wrong players, who have simply not delivered.

And for too long, the Tigers have failed to properly address the need to lift standards and drive the professionalism required to become a successful club.

Michael Maguire is one of the strictest coaches in the game, and even he found the Tigers too much.

Doueihi felt he could no longer sit back and let things slide. Hence, his drastic action, which he hopes, according to sources not authorised to speak publicly, will shine a light on the bigger problems bubbling away at the joint venture.



The Tigers lost to the Dragons in round 18 to give the Red V just their second win of the season.Getty Images
Doueihi could not be contacted by this masthead on Friday.

The same sources, however, confirmed Doueihi’s decision this week to make himself unavailable for the trip to Canberra had nothing to do with being moved from the halves to lock.

Coach Benji Marshall had watched his team score just 22 points in their past four games. In the hope of igniting the attack, he decided to bring in some fresh blood – 19-year-old free spirit Javon Andrews – to partner Jarome Luai in the halves, and move Doueihi to No.13, where he can roam as the third playmaker and, it was hoped, create some chances with his running game.

Doueihi first heard at the start of the week that he was under consideration for a move out of the halves, but struggled to get confirmation from Marshall.



Benji Marshall has had plenty to deal with in his third season as Wests Tigers coach.Peter Rae
He headed to the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night where he had a careless high tackle charge downgraded, meaning he was free to play against the Raiders.

However, Doueihi remained unsure of what Marshall was thinking until he marched into the coach’s office on Thursday morning.

When Marshall confirmed Doueihi would be the one to make way for Andrews in the halves – not Luai, the marquee man who is headed to Parramatta at the end of the season – the 27-year-old felt aggrieved. Maybe there was even a bit of resentment, and a feeling of being taken for granted.

Doueihi and Marshall exchanged words.



Wests Tigers were flying in April - before it all went wrong.Getty Images
Doueihi then sat down with chief executive Shaun Mielekamp, the same sources confirmed, to explain why he did not want to play this weekend, why his withdrawal would hopefully send a message that he was no longer going to be the “fall guy” for the club’s wider problems, and how he had become sick of seeing the club he loves stumble through another year of mediocrity.

After talking to Mielekamp, Doueihi made his way to the northern end of Concord Oval, sat in the morning sun and had a heart-to-heart with Pat Richards, a club legend who is now football manager.

Marshall addressed the media at 9am, spoke about Doueihi and Andrews, and outlined his plan for how the changes would work. Doueihi and the coach spoke for a second time later that morning. Not wanting to be a distraction for the team, Doueihi told Marshall he was happy to lie low, if that was what was best for the club for the next couple of days.

When news broke that afternoon that Doueihi had refused to play, fans and commentators were quick to turn on him, branding him selfish.

“Do what’s best for the team, Adam,” was the consensus.

Former interim Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley hopped on radio to reveal Doueihi had threatened to withdraw from a game when asked to play a different position a few years earlier.

“I had a conversation with Adam Doueihi [where he said] if I’ve not been picked at five-eighth in first grade, I’d rather play five-eighth in reserve grade,” Kimmorley said on SEN radio on Thursday night.

“I didn’t have the balls to do it as the coach at that stage.

“I’d been given some advice that centre is probably how he should play the rest of this year and his words were purely, if he doesn’t play five-eighth in first grade, I’d rather be picked at five-eighth in reserve grade.”

Doueihi has told those close to him he is prepared for anything that comes his way. He has no intention to leave the club. He re-signed in March for two years on a deal that takes him to the end of 2029.

While many this week have questioned Doueihi’s loyalty to the Tigers, it is worth noting he funded his own trip to Brisbane while injured to cheer on the players at Magic Round this year. Other teammates have not even bothered to turn up to games in Sydney when they have been injured.

After a promising start to the season – they were equal top of the ladder after six rounds, which had fans dreaming of an end to their 15-year finals drought – the Tigers’ campaign has unravelled, losing six of their past seven games to slump to 14th on the ladder.

Related Article

NRL 2026
Adam Doueihi rules himself out of Tigers match after bust-up with Benji
That slump has taken its toll, and a tipping point was inevitable – not just for Doueihi.

Last weekend Alex Twal, one of the most mild-mannered players in the game, lost his cool and was sin-binned for slapping Canterbury’s Jaeman Salmon in the face. Twal returned for the final minute, only to lock horns with Bulldogs forward Josh Curran.

Twal was still seething after the game and refused to shake Curran’s hand.

His actions reflected the frustrations of a player who knew the season was slipping away, and who feared the wrong people were going to be blamed.

The Tigers trained at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Friday morning before travelling to Canberra. A jersey presentation was due to take place for Andrews in the nation’s capital later in the afternoon.

Doueihi will not be at the game, with sources suggesting he was unsure if he should get away for a few days. The Tigers must win to be any chance of keeping their slim finals hopes alive.

Teammates have been sending Doueihi messages and checking in on him.

He will be OK. Especially if the Tigers finally get serious and start holding people to account.










https://twitter.com/smh
Click to expand...
Sounds like an Issac Moses spin job to me. Just trying to excuse a dummy spot. Reminds me of last year
 
Tired Tiger said:
The inside story of why Adam Doueihi refused to play for Wests Tigers

Christian Nicolussi
July 24, 2026 — 6:27pm





A
A
A
Adam Doueihi is expected to report for training on Monday – and is even prepared to come back through reserve grade – but he hopes his bombshell decision to stand down from Saturday’s match against the Raiders leads to what he believes is long-overdue change at Wests Tigers.

For too long, the Tigers have struggled near the bottom of the NRL ladder.



Adam Doueihi and the Tigers come to terms with another loss in a season that has spiralled out of control.Getty Images
For too long, the Tigers have paid more than they should for the wrong players, who have simply not delivered.

And for too long, the Tigers have failed to properly address the need to lift standards and drive the professionalism required to become a successful club.

Michael Maguire is one of the strictest coaches in the game, and even he found the Tigers too much.

Doueihi felt he could no longer sit back and let things slide. Hence, his drastic action, which he hopes, according to sources not authorised to speak publicly, will shine a light on the bigger problems bubbling away at the joint venture.



The Tigers lost to the Dragons in round 18 to give the Red V just their second win of the season.Getty Images
Doueihi could not be contacted by this masthead on Friday.

The same sources, however, confirmed Doueihi’s decision this week to make himself unavailable for the trip to Canberra had nothing to do with being moved from the halves to lock.

Coach Benji Marshall had watched his team score just 22 points in their past four games. In the hope of igniting the attack, he decided to bring in some fresh blood – 19-year-old free spirit Javon Andrews – to partner Jarome Luai in the halves, and move Doueihi to No.13, where he can roam as the third playmaker and, it was hoped, create some chances with his running game.

Doueihi first heard at the start of the week that he was under consideration for a move out of the halves, but struggled to get confirmation from Marshall.



Benji Marshall has had plenty to deal with in his third season as Wests Tigers coach.Peter Rae
He headed to the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night where he had a careless high tackle charge downgraded, meaning he was free to play against the Raiders.

However, Doueihi remained unsure of what Marshall was thinking until he marched into the coach’s office on Thursday morning.

When Marshall confirmed Doueihi would be the one to make way for Andrews in the halves – not Luai, the marquee man who is headed to Parramatta at the end of the season – the 27-year-old felt aggrieved. Maybe there was even a bit of resentment, and a feeling of being taken for granted.

Doueihi and Marshall exchanged words.



Wests Tigers were flying in April - before it all went wrong.Getty Images
Doueihi then sat down with chief executive Shaun Mielekamp, the same sources confirmed, to explain why he did not want to play this weekend, why his withdrawal would hopefully send a message that he was no longer going to be the “fall guy” for the club’s wider problems, and how he had become sick of seeing the club he loves stumble through another year of mediocrity.

After talking to Mielekamp, Doueihi made his way to the northern end of Concord Oval, sat in the morning sun and had a heart-to-heart with Pat Richards, a club legend who is now football manager.

Marshall addressed the media at 9am, spoke about Doueihi and Andrews, and outlined his plan for how the changes would work. Doueihi and the coach spoke for a second time later that morning. Not wanting to be a distraction for the team, Doueihi told Marshall he was happy to lie low, if that was what was best for the club for the next couple of days.

When news broke that afternoon that Doueihi had refused to play, fans and commentators were quick to turn on him, branding him selfish.

“Do what’s best for the team, Adam,” was the consensus.

Former interim Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley hopped on radio to reveal Doueihi had threatened to withdraw from a game when asked to play a different position a few years earlier.

“I had a conversation with Adam Doueihi [where he said] if I’ve not been picked at five-eighth in first grade, I’d rather play five-eighth in reserve grade,” Kimmorley said on SEN radio on Thursday night.

“I didn’t have the balls to do it as the coach at that stage.

“I’d been given some advice that centre is probably how he should play the rest of this year and his words were purely, if he doesn’t play five-eighth in first grade, I’d rather be picked at five-eighth in reserve grade.”

Doueihi has told those close to him he is prepared for anything that comes his way. He has no intention to leave the club. He re-signed in March for two years on a deal that takes him to the end of 2029.

While many this week have questioned Doueihi’s loyalty to the Tigers, it is worth noting he funded his own trip to Brisbane while injured to cheer on the players at Magic Round this year. Other teammates have not even bothered to turn up to games in Sydney when they have been injured.

After a promising start to the season – they were equal top of the ladder after six rounds, which had fans dreaming of an end to their 15-year finals drought – the Tigers’ campaign has unravelled, losing six of their past seven games to slump to 14th on the ladder.

Related Article

NRL 2026
Adam Doueihi rules himself out of Tigers match after bust-up with Benji
That slump has taken its toll, and a tipping point was inevitable – not just for Doueihi.

Last weekend Alex Twal, one of the most mild-mannered players in the game, lost his cool and was sin-binned for slapping Canterbury’s Jaeman Salmon in the face. Twal returned for the final minute, only to lock horns with Bulldogs forward Josh Curran.

Twal was still seething after the game and refused to shake Curran’s hand.

His actions reflected the frustrations of a player who knew the season was slipping away, and who feared the wrong people were going to be blamed.

The Tigers trained at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Friday morning before travelling to Canberra. A jersey presentation was due to take place for Andrews in the nation’s capital later in the afternoon.

Doueihi will not be at the game, with sources suggesting he was unsure if he should get away for a few days. The Tigers must win to be any chance of keeping their slim finals hopes alive.

Teammates have been sending Doueihi messages and checking in on him.

He will be OK. Especially if the Tigers finally get serious and start holding people to account.










https://twitter.com/smh
Click to expand...
How exactly is Douehi drawing attention to "bigger problems bubbling away"? What are they? Who is his intended audience? How does he hope to draw attention to them by dodging his responsibility as a player in an important game? All this does is draw attention to himself. Is he the bubbling problem?
His job as a player is to play.
I dont buy it.
 
Realistically, if he leaves, what's his options?

Penrith, to play backrow off the bench?
NZ, to play lock?
Perth, to partner Toby Sexton in the halves?

I just can't see clubs lining up for his service unless it's cheap, depth, bench player, utility.

Its a hard one.
 
Tucker said:
The problem isn't the decision, it's the timing. If I'd been told on Thursday that I was being moved from the halves into the middle to get belted for a game on Saturday, I'd have argued my case too. That's a massive positional change with barely any time to prepare.
Click to expand...
Yeah a few extra days would help….
 
Demps said:
Realistically, if he leaves, what's his options?

Penrith, to play backrow off the bench?
NZ, to play lock?
Perth, to partner Toby Sexton in the halves?

I just can't see clubs lining up for his service unless it's cheap, depth, bench player, utility.

Its a hard one.
Click to expand...

Perth would probably throw a big contract at him to play 6 purely out of desperation at this stage.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
It sure paints a different picture on the situation but doesn’t explain what the problems within the club that AD is aggrieved about.
Click to expand...
It’s a reputation washing beat up by a manager friendly journo written to take the heat offf Adam for his selfish hothead behaviour by trying to justify it as done for altruistic I love the club so much bs reasons… notice it’s real light on facts or actual points and big on emotion and non relevant vague allegations
 
You Know Who said:
IF (and it’s one big if) this is true, then I think the underlying message is that Benji basically plays favourites and refuses to assign accountability to those he likes personally which is something that I can believe if his assistant coaches and team selections of certain players are anything to go by.

AD is not a 7 or even a 6 but he plays on the right (Javon plays left), has been our best player this year (yes, he’s been poor the last month) and is signed till 2029. Btw the fact that he had to pay his way to support the team in Brisbane while others haven’t even bothered to show up to games in Sydney while injured is a disgrace.

Luai on the other hand, decided to upend our entire season by putting on the PNG show after running his mouth about team first. Not to mention the unprofessional posts on social media. Form wise, I can count on one hand the number of great games Luai has had for us. Luai should’ve been the one making way for Javan and play in the 14 jersey.

Regardless of the reasons, AD has still handled this poorly and let down the his teammates and us fans.
Click to expand...
Why on earth would Douehi complain about this and then dummy spit when somebody else gets his favoured position?
 
Tucker said:
The problem isn't the decision, it's the timing. If I'd been told on Thursday that I was being moved from the halves into the middle to get belted for a game on Saturday, I'd have argued my case too. That's a massive positional change with barely any time to prepare.
Click to expand...
He didn’t argue his case he stormed of and refused to play.. all year people have been saying how soft and entitled this playing group has become and this effort by Douhei Is the absolute pinnacle of it.. he is a professional footballer and his team has been terrible in attack since he returned to play a dominant 7 role and changes were absolutely needed. His job is to play footy as his coach directs him to,, there is no excuse for his behaviour, none whatsoever
 
LukeyTuiaki said:
Of course argue but it’s everything else that’s transpired after. The Riccio and Nicolussi articles feel to me like fed info from certain parties to paint Adam as anything but the problem with the club. As far as I’m concerned - they are all in it, everyone is the problem and together they have to find the solutions. Storming out and asking for a week off is not the answer.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree and said similar earlier
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 1,309 (members: 15, guests: 1,294)
Back
Top