Wests Tigers fullback Adam Doueihi says he's feeling comfortable with the number one jumper as he prepares to start at the back for the first time since joining Wests Tigers in the 2020 pre-season.
Arriving in late February from the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Doueihi started at left centre in the club's first two games of the year before an untimely suspension of the season saw his potential push for the fullback spot halted.
Having trained well in the break, Doueihi appears to have finally won the race for the number one jumper after earning strong praise from Coach Michael Maguire.
"It was great for Madge to give me the nod there," Doueihi said.
"I came in late to the team and he didn't really want to start me there as a result because there was so much there to learn coming in from the Souths system.
"It's just been about getting up to scratch with the new plays and structures, and Madge gave me the nod a couple of weeks ago.
"For me, it's now about knuckling down for that and owning the position by putting in extra efforts. Not only in attack but also in my defence — I've got to really own that role and try and help out the team as much as possible."
Ready to fire up for 2020!
Having played at fullback, wing, centre, halfback and off the bench in just 32 NRL games, Doueihi said he was determined to make the fullback spot his own.
"I came through the juniors playing a lot in the halves and I really only started playing fullback about 12 months ago," Doueihi said.
"I was still adapting to the role in that sense, but I'd like to think I'm pretty good with my ball playing as a result of my time in the halves. I think I can add that extra ball-playing option out the best and probably a run option too.
"I've tried to adapt things with my game and using my frame a bit more.
"I've settled in great. We've been at training for about a month now so it's settled.
"We've got a new spine so our combinations are really starting to form and really starting to gel well together — not only as a spine but as a team as well.
"Training has been really focussed on our defence so we're looking forward to going out next week and showing how much we've improved that in the last month and really try to prove some people wrong in the process."
