You know I never thought these kind of media histrionics were AD's style, I always thought he was a fairly straightforward dude.
Let us not forget AD played 24 games total between 2022-2025 on account of injury, not his fault, but the club stuck with him and he got paid, got a chance to perform when he returned, did perform and we offered him an extension. At all those moments there were not other clubs banging the door down to sign AD, it was Tigers giving him the chance to perform and stay on the books.
He has a few good months and now cannot play where Benji puts him? That's rich if true, because the reality is AD is a great athlete but not a good enough footballer to ever iron out one position, and that's saying a lot from being part of such an ordinary Tigers side for 7 seasons.
But even look at his time with Souths - 2018 he debuted at halfback Rd 2 and kicked goals, then off the bench for 4 rounds, then centre, fullback, centre before another 4 rounds on the bench. Finished the season on the wing and actually won 9 out of his final 10 games of 2018 before doing, surprise surprise, his ACL.
2019 played centre and halfback before settling in to fullback for 12 weeks including the finals series that ended with a loss to Raiders in the Prelim. Squeezed out of Souths to make way for Latrell - was told he would be second-choice and was permitted to explore options, so he did.
Most of 2020 as Tigers fullback, then 5/8th and centre mix for 2021. Bench, centre and 5/8th for 2022, 5/8th and FB for 2023, centre for all of his 7 matches in 2024, centre for most of 2025 but stints at HB, 5/8th and lock. HB all of 2026 for a win rate of 5W 7L.
Where in his personal history has Doueihi ever tied down a position as assuredly his own, no questions on his performances or selection. Answer is never, he has always been a positional journeyman because he's not quite agile enough in attack or defence, doesn't make great contact in tackles, but is a good ball runner and fit enough to play all game. But that's on him, two clubs have given AD more than enough time to cement a position.
Personally I think lock is OK, I think Tigers are lean in the backrow and if AD was to commit to adding some size he might be very useful. We have some good young halves on the books that need to either play or will leave. I don't think AD takes you to the Finals or a Premiership as your first-choice HB. I wish he was good enough to pick and stay in the centres where we are extremely lean.
