Two more years: Wests Tigers revise offer for Adam Doueihi
By Christian Nicolussi
August 4, 2025 — 3.40pm
Wests Tigers have ramped up negotiations with Adam Doueihi by stretching their offer to a second year.
Doueihi was a standout for the Tigers during Sunday’s 28-14 upset over the Bulldogs, and will no doubt use the bye round to weigh up whether he accepts the club’s revised deal, or entertains a move to St George Illawarra.
The Dragons have already met with Doueihi who view him as an ideal No. 13 for Parramatta-bound Jack de Belin.
The Tigers’ initially tabled a one-year extension worth around $350,000 a season, and now added the 2027 season at the same money.
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said on Monday: “We’ve offered Adam a two-year deal, and it’s our final offer. If he doesn’t accept it, we’ll have to move on. We haven’t put a timeline on it. We’ll see what happens.”
Jarome Luai and Latu Fainu are viewed as the long-term halves at the Tigers. Doueihi is a ball-playing lock forward.
Coach Benji Marshall shifted Doueihi to halfback against the Dogs before kick-off, and said his experience was what the club needed in what was always going to be an emotive game.
Marshall said his post-match press conference how important it was the club kept Doueihi: “We’ve been talking quite often with Adam, and we’ve made him an offer to stay.”
Doueihi’s famous cousin, former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika – who is planning to move into NRL coaching – has enjoyed watching Doueihi in action for the Tigers, and said if he continued in his current form, representative football was not out of the question.
Cheika said Doueihi, 26, could sign a lucrative deal with a European rugby club tomorrow, but that he would love to see him remain in the NRL.
“As he gets older, Adam’s thinking about his next move and what will help him play his best footy, rather than what will get him the most money,” Cheika said.
“I know for a fact there’s interest from European rugby. I’ve had correspondence from clubs over there about Adam because they know he played the game when he was younger.
“He could play No. 10, No. 12 or No. 13 any day of the week. He’s got a long kicking game, he’s a big body, and a good defender. He’s a run threat, kick threat, pass threat.
“I know they keep trying to put him into lock in rugby league, but he’s a running half in my mind.
“If he keeps on this upward curve and playing at the level he’s playing, he can play Origin one day. Kurt Mann didn’t play for Queensland until [he was 32]. It’s got nothing to do with how old you are, but how good you are. Some players bloom a little later.
“I want Adam to play where he feels he can play his best footy, and continue to get better.”
Doueihi has been at the Tigers the past six seasons, which have not been successful for the club, and featured no shortage of turnover in personnel and coaches.
No player looks more shattered on the field after any given loss than Douehi, who at 26 has emerged as one of the club’s leaders, which was evident when TV cameras captured him laying down the law to the group as they huddled in the middle of CommBank Stadium.
The Wests Tigers are attempting to keep suitors away from their in-form back by upping the ante.
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