‘Doesn’t want to be the fall guy’: Twist in ugly Doueihi saga
Adam Doueihi’s decision to make himself unavailable for Raiders clash on Saturday night has nothing to do with being moved out of the halves, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Doueihi on Thursday withdrew from the clash, reportedly following a blow up with coach Benji Marshall and the decision to move him to starting lock, allowing Javon Andrews to debut at No.7.
Adam Doueihi. NRL Images
But on Saturday morning, the Herald reported that was not the case.
Doueihi first heard of the plan on Monday – before his judiciary appearance to fight a one-game ban – but was unable to get confirmation from Marshall until Thursday.
In a meeting in Marshall’s office, the coach confirmed Doueihi would be the one moved out of the halves instead of the Parramatta-bound Jarome Luai. That decision, rather than being moved to lock in itself, was reportedly what aggravated Doueihi the most.
Once he left Marshall’s office, Doueihi then had a lengthy conversation with chief executive Shaun Mielekamp and explained he didn’t want to be the “fall guy” for the club’s problems. After that, he then reportedly had another conversation with club legend and football manager Pat Richards.
After news broke on Thursday he would not play, the perception Doueihi had thrown the toys out of the cot enraged fans.
Brett Kimmorley, who was interim coach in 2022 after Michael Maguire was sacked, also claimed Doueihi had pulled a similar stunt then.
The Herald reported Doueihi told the club he would cop any criticism directed at him, and will train as usual on Monday. He is signed to the club until the end of 2029, and reportedly has no intentions of breaking the deal.
Doueihi has not been named for Wests Magpies’ NSW Cup clash against the Raiders – the curtain-raiser to the NRL match.
