Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi has outlined when he hopes to return to the field after suffering an ACL injury in August last year.
The 23-year-old was having his best season to date in 2021 and will be sorely missed in the Tigers’ side come round one.
Despite the setback Doueihi, who is now five and a half months post operation, has said he is “on track” with his recovery and could be back sooner than expected.
“Everything is going as planned at the moment,” Doueihi said on SEN 1170.
“Everything is on track, I met with the surgeon last week just for a check-up and he was really happy with where things were at.
“At about the eight, nine month mark I’ll go back and see him for sort of a strength test. He’ll have a list of boxes I need to tick, and as long as I tick all of them I’ll be good to go.
“I’m not exactly sure how many months or days yet, but (my return) should be somewhere in the middle of the front end of the season, I hope.”
Doueihi provided much of the Tigers attacking threat last season, turning out in the halves and in the centres for Michael Maguire.
Sitting fourth in the league for total points scored behind Cleary, Reynolds and Garrick, his imposing frame burst through defensive lines with ease.
The young gun also provided 16 try assists and 16 linebreak assists in his 20 games in 2021, being an integral and consistent figure in the Tigers’ setup.
With Doueihi being set for an extended stay on the bench to start the season, the five-eighth jersey needs to be filled.
The 23-year-old revealed the frontrunner to start in the halves in round one against the Storm is Jackson Hastings after returning from the English Super League.
“Jacko (Hastings) has been going good on the field,” Doueihi said.
“He’ll probably fill in to start with in that number six jersey.
“From all reports Hastings and Brooks have been going really good.”
The Tigers’ halves pairing has been under the microscope since late last year when Luke Brooks was linked with a move to the Knights.
Now Brooks looks set to remain and hopefully lead the merger club around the park this season and improve on 13th and 11th place finishes in the last two years.
Source: foxsports.com.au