South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold issued 19-year-old halfback Adam Doueihi a personal challenge last week.
Now the clipboard carrier has had the gauntlet thrown straight back at him, with the rangy playmaker set to command a place in the Rabbitohs line up when regular No.7 Adam Reynolds returns from injury.
Doueihi will guide Souths once more in their traditional Good Friday showdown with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, with Reynolds considered "very doubtful" to return early from a knee injury.
In just his second NRL outing, Lebanese international Doueihi answered Seibold's midweek challenge in emphatic fashion, playing a lead role in wet conditions as Manly Sea Eagles were thumped 34-6 at ANZ Stadium.
After failing to close out a 14-0 lead over Penrith Panthers in his NRL debut last week, Doueihi kicked well and to space throughout the seven-tries-to-one demolition of Manly, comfortably outpointing million dollar man Daly Cherry-Evans in the process.
"I thought Adam and Cody (Walker) were really good in the halves," Seibold said.
"We challenged them to be better with the back end of our sets, we didn't build enough pressure with our kicking game (against Penrith).
"I think we scored two tries from kicks, we put some high kicks on their wingers, that was the game plan and I thought they executed it much better than last week.
"Adam Doueihi, second game in and it was a pleasing performance from him."
Match Highlights: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles - Round 3; 2018
Reynolds will march straight back into the Souths scrum base as soon as he is able to, most likely for their round five clash with arch-rivals St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval.
But at 190cm and 94kg, Doueihi has the frame and the form to fill the No.14 jumper for Seibold given his impressive World Cup campaign at centre.
That would present another hurdle for Lebanon teammate Robbie Farah, who has been plying his trade for feeder side North Sydney these past three weeks.
Seibold's insistence that his first-choice hooker play 80 minutes, leaves no room for a back-up rake on his bench, but Doueihi's ability to play multiple backline positions give him a distinct advantage.
"(Doueihi) certainly does have utility value for us," Seibold said.
"Look at the World Cup, he played left centre for Lebanon there and did a really good job.
"He played against Australia, played against England, played against Tonga and had some really good experiences there.
"He's a good guy to have in our group because he's a footy player first. He'll keep improving I'm sure."