Wests Tigers have signed utility Adam Doueihi to a four-year NRL deal following his immediate release from South Sydney.
The 21-year-old Lebanon representative played 12 games at fullback for the Rabbitohs in 2019 but found himself surplus to requirements after the club signed Latrell Mitchell as No.1.
Seeking stability while playing some of his best football, the 21-year-old joins the Tigers with an eye on the vacant fullback position under coach Michael Maguire.
Maguire left the Rabbitohs as head coach at the end of 2017 while Doueihi was still playing reserve grade but saw enough to know he would make a valuable addition to the Tigers in 2020.
“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to secure Adam on a long-term deal at Wests Tigers,” Maguire said in a statement on Thursday.
“He is a fine young man off the field and is an excellent addition to our squad with his talent and versatility across a number of positions.
“Adam is a tremendously hard worker who carries himself very well and we’re all excited to see him take the next steps forward in his career at this club.”
It’s understood the Rabbitohs will cover a portion of Doueihi’s 2020 and 2021 salary, which is estimated to be around $450,000 per season at the Tigers.
The length of the deal is somewhat of a gamble given Doueihi has played just 30 NRL games over the past two seasons in various positions, interrupted by an ACL injury in late 2018.
The Tigers have previously stated they intend to be smart about recruitment, refusing to throw big money and long contracts at players because they have been burnt in the past.
However the luxury of a longer deal is also understood to have been a selling point for Doueihi who attracted interest from rival NRL clubs, as well as returning to his junior football club.
“In addition to being an extremely talented young man, Adam is a proud local junior of Wests Tigers and it is great to see him come home,” said chief executive Justin Pascoe.
“We look forward to watching him add plenty of value both on and off the field to this club in the years ahead.”
Doueihi is the latest addition to the Tigers’ backline after the club signed Canberra star Joey Leilua earlier this week.
The Tigers have been desperate to add strike to their backline after narrowly missing the finals for the eighth season in a row.