Adam Doueihi cheekily suggested that he should’ve waited another week to sign his deal with the Wests Tigers after his try-scoring return ended a 441-day absence from the NRL. Having undergone his third knee reconstruction, Doueihi was among the best in a decisive win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Before the game, Doueihi, who managed his own contract negotiations, signed a new one-year deal. Ahead of the Tigers’ clash with the Roosters this week, he joked, “Should’ve waited an extra week. I saved the club a bit of cash there.”
Doueihi had initially turned down a minimum wage offer of $150,000 but eventually reached an agreement with the club. He mentioned, “The club came to me with an offer that was what I wanted, and we were able to do a deal pretty quick. It’s still the cooling off period, so maybe I can rip up the contract, go back, and ask for a bit more cash,” he added with a laugh.
Doueihi expressed his love for the club and his hopes for future success. He was content with a one-year deal, confident in his ability to secure a longer contract if he remains injury-free. “I’ve always said my footy will do the talking, and I’ll back my ability for the rest of this year and the start of next year to get another deal after that,” he said.
Having been previously managed by Sam Ayoub, Doueihi decided to handle his contract negotiations for personal reasons. “I love dealing with people and having tough conversations. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and something that will help me grow as a person off the field as well,” he explained.
Doueihi is confident in his football ability and his worth, emphasizing that good behavior off the field is also crucial. “I’ve always roughly known what I’m worth. As long as you’re willing to back yourself and your footy ability, there’s no reason why you can’t do it,” he said.
This week, the Tigers aim for their third consecutive win.
