You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Tigers playing video games to get through self-isolation

Wests Tigers centre Adam Doueihi is keeping the competitive juices flowing while self-isolating either side of training by playing video games.

NRL players have been instructed to avoid cafes, shopping centres and other crowded public places wherever possible to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 so the competition can continue.

Doueihi conceded "you do get a bit bored sometimes" at home but the former Rabbitoh has been passing the time on PlayStation.

"I'm not really into reading books or any of that stuff," Doueihi said.

"I'm pretty good at FIFA, I reckon. Everyone [at the Tigers] gets on [PlayStation] at the same time and people play Fortnite, Call of Duty, everyone's on different games.

"The more that we can self-isolate ourselves and stay away from cafes and public people, it's probably in the best interests for us."

Doueihi and Tigers playmaker Josh Reynolds often go head-to-head on FIFA, the popular soccer game.

"Josh Reynolds reckons he's all right but nah, no good," Doueihi said. "I don't think he's ever beaten me, to be honest."

Wests Tigers create own atmosphere with family and fan photos in sheds

As for the tricky situation of grocery shopping in the current climate, Doueihi quipped that he's fine because "my parents do all that".

Second-rower Luciano Leilua said he's a homebody anyway, so it hasn't been hard to limit his public interactions.

"I just spend time with my partner, play some video games, watch some footy. It's pretty good," Leilua said.

"We had a talk with our general manager yesterday [Tuesday]. He sort of just told us to try and stay away from busy areas like plazas, malls and stuff like that, and try and stay home as much as we can."

The Tigers are on board with the measures being taken to hopefully prevent coronavirus, but centre Joey Leilua isn't sold on the prospect of the league temporarily being staged up north.

"I don't want to go. It's too far, it's too hot," Leilua laughed.

"And I don't want to stay there for [potentially] four weeks. It's too hot. And they [Queensland teams] will get an advantage, there are more fans up there for them."

Leilua is also against the notion of players taking pay cuts as a last resort to cover a potential loss of revenue for the game.

"The [Tigers] boys were like, 'I better not be getting cut short', because we've got mortgages and bills to pay," Leilua said.

"I don't know what's going to happen but I'm not all for that if we have to get pay cut."

NRL players consider pay cut

However, former Tigers captain Elijah Taylor said a reduced salary "wouldn't bother me much as long as we keep playing footy".

"We're all in the same boat as players. We're under the leadership of the RLPA and they've got our best interests at heart," Taylor said.

The Tigers will take on Newcastle at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday without a crowd, though the fans won't be far from the home team's minds with photos to be stuck on the walls of the sheds.

"That'll be good, we'll just have to act like they're there," Luciano Leilua said.

"To see them in the dressing rooms, that will be good. I think I sort of mentioned to put some speakers on when we're warming up and some fake fans on the speaker, so hopefully they can do that [too]."

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

Major Partner

Corporate Partners

View All Partners