Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has addressed the Adam Doueihi controversy for the first time, revealing that they can repair their relationship as they look to “find a resolution”.
The ‘Doueihi Saga’ has dominated headlines over the past couple of days with the star playmaker deciding to make himself unavailable for this week’s match after being told that he would switch from the halves to lock.
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His decision came after Marshall wanted to unveil the new-look halves pairing of Jarome Luai and Javon Andrews, handing the latter his NRL debut.
Speaking after their 56-10 loss to the Canberra Raiders on Saturday afternoon, Marshall said that the situation had been “unexpected”, but he understood Doueihi’s disappointment that led to his decision.
“We have to find a resolution,” Marshall said post-match.
“That situation was a tough one to deal with this week, unexpected to be honest.
“But at the same time, as a coach, I guess from my point of view is that I always try and make decisions on what I think’s best for the team to try and win.
“For Adam, I can understand his disappointment around me asking him to play a different role and then he just wasn’t in a good headspace to play this week.
“You’ve got to respect that which we did and then we try to move on, but it’s tough.”
‘Terrible Tigers’ get thumped by Raiders | 03:42
Marshall was then asked by Fox League’s Jake Duke whether his relationship with Doueihi was “salvageable” after the latest chapter in their turbulent history.
The pair had previously clashed, with reports from last year revealing that they were involved in a heated confrontation at training in the lead-up to their Round 16 clash against the Raiders.
According to those reports, they exchanged words before the situation escalated after the coach allegedly tackled the Lebanon international in a training drill.
Despite that history, Marshall remains confident that they can move past the latest dispute.
“Yeah (it’s salvageable). I can understand it, to be honest. I’ll always try and make the best decision for the club and the team to try and win,” Marshall said.
“That’s my job, but at the same time Adam’s human too so he’s going to feel how he feels.
“We’ll obviously try and get to a resolution next week (at) some stage and put the noise to bed.”
Adam Doueihi refuses to play for Tigers | 08:31
Marshall also dispelled suggestions that his decision to ask Doueihi to switch positions had caused unrest within the playing group.
“No other player came up to me upset, but I did have a lot of players in my office trying to get their head around the situation, but no other players came to me upset,” the coach continued.
“I can’t answer for them, but I guess the most important thing is this is their job that they get paid to do, paid pretty well to do.
“You’ve got to go out there and do your job whether you respect it or not. You’ve just got to do it
“We’re also in the world where if you don’t feel mentally right to play, you can’t make him play.
It’s tough, man. We’re men, we have feelings, and we’re in the day and age where you need to express those feelings.
“He did so (and) as a club you’ve got to stand by that and move on.”
Tigers on verge of ‘IMPLOSION!’ | 04:13
The club’s co-captain Apisai Koroisau also addressed the controversy, admitting that it had been a difficult week for the playing group.
However, he said they remain united despite the outside noise.
“I think it was a big week for us just trying to go out there and do my job,” Koroisau added.
“I think it’s a complicated situation. Not everyone had all the information.
“For us it’s about staying tight as a group and just make sure we had to go out there and try to do our job today.”