Adam Doueihi rules himself out of Tigers match after bust-up with Benji

July 23, 2026 — 3:30pm

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Adam Doueihi has opted not to play for Wests Tigers on Saturday after being told he would be shifted from the halves to accommodate rookie playmaker Javon Andrews.

Doueihi was informed by coach Benji Marshall on Thursday he would be starting at lock rather than halfback against Canberra.

The 27-year-old was initially named on an extended bench because he was due to front the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night to fight a careless high tackle charge.

After Doueihi succeeded in having the charge downgraded, freeing him to play against the Raiders, Marshall told him he was handing 19-year-old Andrews his maiden start.

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Doueihi was unimpressed and made his feelings known to Marshall. The club agreed to give him time off until Monday. At this stage, it is unlikely he will seek a release from his contract, which runs until the end of 2029.

Tigers CEO Shaun Mielekemp told this masthead: “Adam won’t be playing this weekend.

“Adam and Benji met this morning to discuss a plan for the weekend. Benji made a call on what’s best for the team but as a result Adam has asked for some time off, and we agree to that.”

The Tigers have scored just 22 points the past four games, and there was a belief the best way to finally unlock the attack in a must-win game was playing Doueihi at lock, where he could threaten with his kicking and running game.

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Jarome Luai is always a threat in the halves, while Andrews plays without a care in the world and is not afraid to try for the big play.

The big question over the coming days will be whether Doueihi deserves to come straight back into the side next week. Doueihi has been one of the standouts for the Tigers this year after Marshall made the decision over the summer to use him as his first-choice halfback, but his decision to withdraw his services this weekend leaves his future uncertain.

Doueihi was seen deep in conversation at one end of Concord Oval with football manager Pat Richards early on Thursday.

Doueihi and Richards were contacted for comment, but did not immediately respond.

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When asked how he would incorporate Andrews into the game, Marshall said on Thursday: “We’ve got plans, we’ll just keep them to ourselves.

“He’s been doing some good stuff at [NSW] Cup level, we like the way he plays, and he’s hopeful to get an opportunity at some stage.

“There’s no pressure on him to do anything. We want him, when he gets his opportunity, to just play. That’s the best thing. Expectation wise, we don’t have any; just do your job.”

The Tigers remain a mathematical chance to make the finals, largely because of their blazing start to the season. But a loss in the nation’s capital will officially end their September hopes, making it a 15th straight year without finals football.

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Doueihi was relieved to have the careless high tackle reduced to a grade-one offence, which meant a $1000 fine rather than a suspension, and said: “I love being out there with the boys and trying to help turn our season around again – I’ve got the opportunity to go to Canberra, they’re coming off the back of a few wins, and we’ll go there with an ambush mentality.”

It has been a tough few weeks for the Tigers, with news Luai would be heading for the exit to link with Parramatta at the end of the season, despite having a season to run before his highly-publicised move to the PNG Chiefs in 2028, while they had two played binned during a feisty 32-0 loss to the Dogs – and former Tiger Lachie Galvin – last Saturday.

Dangerous tackle that earned Fainu three-game ban was his third in two years

The Latu Fainu tackle that NRL lawyers said could have resulted in Leo Thompson “breaking his neck” was the third time in the last two seasons the Wests Tigers playmaker had placed a rival player in a dangerous position.

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Fainu was handed a three-match ban after being found guilty of dangerous contact at the judiciary on Tuesday night after going low on Thompson and flipping the Canterbury prop upside down and into a vulnerable position.

While some commentators questioned what Fainu had done wrong, Tigers coach Benji Marshall conceded on Thursday the club would need to work on the halfback’s tackling technique, with his ban now paving the way for rookie Javon Andrews to make his debut on Saturday in what is sure to be a spicy contest against Canberra.

Though Fainu received public support for his tackle, the 21-year-old was penalised for an identical tackle on New Zealand Warriors prop Mitch Barnett in round four last year. The tackle, which was penalised at the time, led to a melee and Fainu was later sent a concerning act notice by the NRL.

Then, against Canberra in round 26 last season, Fainu went low again and left Raiders centre Simi Sasagi clutching at his knee. Sisagi got up and Fainu was not penalised, but he was handed a second concerning act notice.

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The referee could be overheard telling angry Raiders players the tackle was not a “cannonball”.

Andrew Johns said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show about Fainu’s tackle on Thompson: “He’s done nothing wrong, he’s tackled low. You can’t take accidents out of the game ... it’s not even a penalty.”

“You can’t tackle high because you’ll chin them … and you can’t go low? Where are you supposed to hit them?”

Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh was more to the point when he said on Sunday night with Matty Johns: “That’s bulls–t. That’s a joke.”

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Judiciary panel members Tony Puletua and Paul Simpkins were satisfied Fainu’s tackle was dangerous and careless, and that he “had every opportunity to attempt a conventional tackle, but chose not to do so; the result was to place player Thompson at a serious risk of injury”.

The vacancy opened up by Fainu’s suspension means Andrews, 19, is expected to be given his NRL debut after some impressive performances in NSW Cup.

The last time the Tigers and Canberra met, Tigers fans mocked the Viking clap and started an unsavoury “f--- Canberra” chant, while Sunia Turuva and Tom Starling had to be separated after full-time, with the drama captured on TV footage.

It was reported at the time a sledge of “snitch” had sparked the melee, apparently in reference to Starling’s long-running court battle with police after an incident on the Central Coast.

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Starling was charged with assaulting police at the end of 2020 but had the charges dropped, with two police officers now charged with assaulting Starling. The pair pleaded not guilty and the matter is before the courts.

Tigers prop Fonua Pole was expecting a frosty reception on and off the field at GIO Stadium, and remembered the fulltime drama last time.

“But I don’t see any of that stuff as negative, it’s part of the game, you show passion, you go on to the field to win, the guys on the other team are your opponents while you’re on the field, but as soon as you step off the field, everyone has respect for each other,” Pole said.

“[As for the Canberra crowd], that’s how the game goes, and if you give it, you have to take it. Hopefully, we’re not on the other side of that. If we’re winning and playing well, they won’t come out with that.”

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Christian Nicolussi covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.

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