As pressure continues to mount on the struggling Wests Tigers, a report has surfaced of a heated confrontation at training between head coach Benji Marshall and one of the club’s senior players.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the altercation occurred two weeks ago during an opposed training session, when Marshall, who often joins in as a playmaker during drills, made a tackle that reportedly didn’t sit well with the player involved.
NRL 360 revealed the player to be playmaker Adam Doueihi, who is working his way back from injury and is known to be a competitive figure at training.
The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis and Fox League’s James Hooper weighed on the topic on Wednesday night.
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“Benji does opposed work where he steps in and plays like a half. Apparently there are suggestions that Adam and Benji during one of those opposed sessions got up and had a bit of a heated altercation. Whether it was a push and shove or verbal or anything else was exchanged but it’s what happened apparently.” Carayannis said.
“That’s a bad scene. It’s such a dangerous road that because if Benji whacks Doueihi too hard then all of a sudden, Benji’s in the wrong and he’s lost respect that way or vice versa, if Adam Doueihi sits Benji on his ass, what’s that do for the coach’s reputation in front of the group,” Hooper said.
The alleged clash only adds to the club’s mounting issues following a six-game losing streak and several departures of rising talent.
Tallyn Da Silva, a promising hooker, joined the Parramatta Eels on a long-term deal before the mid-season transfer deadline, becoming the second young star to exit after Lachlan Galvin’s recent departure.
The Wests Tigers have not publicly addressed the training incident, but the report is likely to raise further questions about leadership and cohesion at a club desperate to steady the ship.