March 20, 2026 — 7:30pm
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You only need two words to explain why Jarome Luai played his best game yet for the Wests Tigers in last weekend’s thumping victory over North Queensland: Adam Doueihi.
Before the start of pre-season, coach Benji Marshall told Doueihi he would be the starting No.7 this year. Not only was he more than capable of steering the team around the park, the 27-year-old’s control and experience would free up Luai to become the carefree, running five-eighth he was at Penrith.
Adam Doueihi was a standout in the Wests Tigers’ No. 7 jersey.Getty Images
Doueihi had essentially become the “Lebanese Nathan Cleary”.
“When I started coaching here as an assistant, I said to Adam at the time, ‘You could be one of the biggest, hybrid No.7s going around’,” Marshall said this week.
“He wasn’t going to be your typical game-managing, ball-playing No.7, but he could control the game, be that run threat and take the pressure off everyone else. Unfortunately because of injuries, he didn’t have a chance to practice during that pre-season, or get any reps in there.
“Before this season started, I told him, ‘I want you to play No.7 next year. There will be no trial, no seeing who is the best there, it’s just you’.
Adam Doueihi has allowed Jarome Luai (left) to revert to his natural running game.Getty Images
“Latu Fainu wasn’t going to be back until round four [because of injury]. We wanted consistency there. I asked him, ‘Do you want to do it?’ and he jumped straight at it.
“When you’re young, the hardest part about playing No.7 is game management, talking and organising, which comes with time and practice.
“Long-term, people might think Latu is our best No. 7 option, which he might still be. Right now, Latu can learn alongside Adam, and take the opportunities when they come.”
Doueihi has served as the Tigers’ Mr Fix-It over the years, slotting in at fullback, the centres, halves, and even lock forward, all while having a smile on his face.
Adam Doueihi celebrates his try for the Tigers against North Queensland.Getty Images
Twelve months ago, the Tigers had Lachie Galvin and Fainu competing for the No.7 jersey. But Doueihi knew that if he got the chance, whether through injuries or form, he would make sure the debate over the club’s halfback ended once and for all.
“The past two years, seeing where the club was at, seeing where our roster was at, I wanted the chance to play halfback because my style would suit our players – especially Jarome,” Doueihi said.
“When Benji told me the news, I was ecstatic. He wanted to tell me early so I could get my head around the different conditioning and training I’d have to do in the pre-season. I needed to get a lot more kilometres into the legs compared to playing centre.
“In the back of my mind, I always knew if I got my chance, I was going to make it my own. I won’t give the coaches or anyone a reason to take it off me.”
Doueihi pulled Luai aside and asked him what he needed from him to produce his best football.
“I asked him what he liked, how he liked to get the ball, and he’s been so easy to deal with – he’s the ultimate competitor,” Doueihi said.
“He’s played his whole career on the left, and one thing he likes is early ball in a ‘wide four position’, when there are four defenders, and he can try and skip past the back-rower opposite him.
“He’s made my job easy because he trusts the work I’ve done, trusts my knowledge, when I need to kick early or not give him the ball. He’s yet to blow up at me.
“He played his best footy in our colours on Saturday. He looked so free, and that’s what I want to do, free him up, to free up Jahream [Bula] and our outside backs as much as possible.”
The Tigers face South Sydney on Saturday at Central Coast Stadium. The big win over the Cowboys on Saturday has sparked plenty of optimism among Tigers fans, who will make the trip up to Gosford in large numbers.
Doueihi started his career at Souths, and had he not moved on to take up a deal with the Tigers, the Bunnies would not have been able to offer Latrell Mitchell a deal any longer than one season.
It is also easy to forget that Marshall remains a favourite at the Rabbits, because of his input on and off the field in 2021 – not to mention the $500,000 he raised for Souths Cares when he won Celebrity Apprentice.
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“Adam was great for us, and it was unfortunate timing and circumstances that saw him move to the Tigers,” Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly said. “We would have loved to have kept him – he and his family will always remain a big part of our club.
“We’ve also watched him come back from those knee injuries, and continually improve as a player. Adam deserves every accolade he gets.”
Doueihi has bounced back from three knee reconstructions, and told this masthead last year God had played a key role in his return.
“It’s hard to explain to people who are not of faith, or follow Catholicism or Christianity, but by me turning to Him and speaking to Him one on one, if it wasn’t for Him, I wouldn’t have come back from this injury. I truly believe that,” he said.
The Tigers announced a few weeks ago Doueihi had re-signed until the end of 2029, with Marshall admitting: “He’s come back from a few knee recos, and most clubs might have been hesitant to extend a bloke because of that. But we only saw positives.
“He’s great around the club, is a great leader, talker, and team first. We love having him here. It was a no-brainer to extend him.”
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