After “harassing” his coach for three weeks and only getting word he was playing the day before the game, Adam Doueihi’s comeback from a third knee reconstruction exceeded even his own wildest dreams at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
Sidelined since Round 6 last year, the resilient Wests Tigers star made it back on the field in NSW Cup a week ago on the same day Benji Marshall’s NRL outfit knocked off the Titans at Leichhardt Oval.
Even with that game under his belt, Doueihi was no certainty to return to the top grade against the Raiders, with Marshall determined not to push the 25-year-old too hard too soon.
Just when it seemed Doueihi’s pleas would fall on deaf ears, fate intervened with centre Justin Olam was ruled out by a knee injury and the painful wait was over after 441 days.
“I only told him he was playing yesterday and there was still hesitation on our part… are we doing the right thing by him?” Marshall said in the wake of the 48-24 win over the Raiders.
“I even rang him last night to make sure he was OK with it and he was extremely confident and he proved he was ready.
Wests Tigers v Raiders – Round 16, 2024
“To do what he did today in his first game in first grade after 14 months, that's class.
“To see him play the way he did today with his intent, wanting the footy, playing at centre, whatever is best for the team, that's pretty big.”
Starting at centre for the first time since Round 17, 2022, Doueihi put his coach's nerves to rest with 212 running metres, five tackle breaks and a late runaway try that had the Tigers faithful in raptures.
Taken out of the game by Marshall immediately after the 74th minute try, Doueihi received an ovation that made all the long months of rehab worthwhile.
“I had goosebumps when I came off and got that support from the crowd. That was so overwhelming and I still can’t believe I’m back,” Doueihi told Channel Nine at full-time.
“It has been a good week for me, I just re-signed with the club, I love this club.
“I had a lot of family and friends here who have ridden that wave with me the past few months and to see the crowd and the support of the community, I love playing here.”
For skipper Api Koroisau, who has guided a youthful Tigers side through troubled waters in 2024, the sight of Doueihi saluting the crowd as he raced away to seal a second straight win was one to savour.
"He has put in the work, we have seen him at training, he’s been carving us up," Koroisau said.
"To see him come out like that, full of confidence, he wasn’t holding back, it made everyone feel confident that he was out there."
Luke Laulilii Try
While Doueihi chalked up career game No.88, another youngster made his mark in his first match, with winger Luke Laulilii scoring a try in his NRL debut.
The 10th debutant unveiled by the Tigers this year, 18-year-old Laulilii showed why he has huge wraps on him all the way through the club's junior system.
"You don't throw kids in there if you don't think they are ready and Luke showed signs in the start of pre-season he was ready but he wasn’t 18 yet," Marshall said.
"He just turned 18 last week so it was tempting to play him last week.
"I only told him this morning when Charlie Staines was sick that he'd be making his debut and I thought he had a great game."