Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has publicly backed playmaker Adam Doueihi after a turbulent week for both the player and the club, following a heartbreaking 22-20 loss to Parramatta on Sunday.
Doueihi had been at the centre of controversy after choosing to sit out the previous round against Canberra. The club addressed the matter internally during the week, and Marshall recalled the 27-year-old for the clash against the Eels, a decision that drew scrutiny given the perception that Doueihi had left his teammates exposed.
Despite the loss, which effectively ended the Tigers' slim top-eight hopes, Doueihi nearly turned the match. He scored a try and kicked a field goal to give his side the lead before Parramatta's Isaiah Iongi crossed for the match-winner in the dying minutes.
Marshall was emphatic in his praise for Doueihi's response under pressure.
“I thought he was outstanding. I just thought it showed true character, given the week he had as well, to turn it around and just put that into a performance on the field,” Marshall said. “He showed moments tonight with repeat sets, set up a couple of tries, good kicking game, and defensively he was the solid Adam that we all know. So yeah, I was really proud of him.”
The Tigers coach was asked whether he felt vindicated by his decision to select Doueihi.
“It's not about a lot of people, is it? It's about what you think's best for the club and the team at the time, that was the decision we made that we thought was best,” Marshall explained.
Outgoing Tigers star Jarome Luai also addressed the Doueihi saga, noting the team had focused on celebrating captain Api Koroisau's 250th NRL game.
“It wasn't about me, it was never about me. It was a big occasion for our skipper. Obviously disappointed we couldn't get the result for him,” Luai said. “It's probably one of our best weeks of training. We're pros here. We've got to block out the noise, and I think within our four walls, we've got a lot of trust in what we're doing and what we're building. Obviously we get judged on results, but no one sees how hard we're working.”
The loss extends the Tigers' losing streak to seven matches, and they have now lost ten of their last twelve games after a promising start to the season. The club faces a critical off-season as it looks to rebuild and return to finals contention.