Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has left the door ajar for Adam Doueihi to make a return from injury this weekend, but he says it would be a “long shot” as the star halfback looks to play his first game since round 9.
Doueihi injured his shoulder while scoring a try against the Sharks on May 3, but he’s been named on an extended bench and remains in contention to face the Dolphins on Saturday.
It would be a huge boost for the Tigers who roared back to form with a gritty win over the Titans a week after they were humbled 68-0 by Penrith.
“It’s a long shot. He’ll do some work today, but we’re not banking on it,” Marshall said.
“If not this week, it’ll be next week.”
Marshall’s plans have changed slightly after skipper Api Koroisau was an unused interchange player in Origin II, with local junior Josese Lanyon picked on the bench in case the veteran hooker needed a breather.
Blues fans were flummoxed by coach Laurie Daley’s decision not to bring Koroisau off the bench on Wednesday night.
“I’m not getting dragged into that, I’m not getting dragged into that,” Marshall said.
“We were probably expecting Api to play last night, so we planned a little bit differently. Now that he didn’t play, he’ll be right to play for us, so we’ll just play it by ear.
“He brings professionalism, energy, and experience every week, and we’re going to need that experience this week. We’re looking forward to having him back. He’ll be fresh; he got 30 grand for playing no minutes. Highest paid player last night.”
Marshall was thrilled with how Jarome Luai responded against the Titans after a poor few weeks for the club, and they’ll need him to be at his brilliant best again after star edge forward Kai Pearce-Paul (pec) became the latest player to join their casualty ward.
Tony Sukkar will start in the back row along with Sione Fainu, with Samuela Fainu also out injured.
“Big loss for us. I think he’s been outstanding this year for us, and added to that injury toll that’s already affecting us, it’s a disappointing time for him,” Marshall said.
“But at the same time, it gives an opportunity for another guy. I thought Tony was excellent on the weekend for us and he’ll get another start there.
“It’s hard because you can’t dwell on the things that go against you, you just have to work out what you’re going to do next. For us, that’s give Tony an opportunity and be all in with that.
“You hear coaches talk about needing a bit of luck going your way to have success in the comp.
“Unfortunately for us, we haven’t had that luck with injuries, but there are a lot of teams going through the same thing.
“I’m not the one who sits around and mopes about it and thinks about what could have been. I’m the one who takes action and asks, ‘what do we need now? What can we control?’
“It’s who comes in, and for our team, we’ve got belief and faith in what Tony can do for us there.
“The fundamentals stay the same and the systems that we use stay the same, but what we encourage everyone in our team to do is bring what their strengths are.
“Sione and Tony’s strengths are a little bit different to Kai and Samuela’s, but we want them to bring what they bring.”
Originally published as ‘Thirty grand for playing no minutes’: Benji Marshall’s cheeky dig at Api Koroisau as star halfback closes in on return