Wests Tigers playmaker Adam Doueihi will miss at least the opening weeks of the 2022 season after confirmation he will have a second reconstruction on his left knee.
Doueihi suffered the injury in last week's 50-20 loss to Cronulla, which was later confirmed as a partial ACL tear, despite initial hopes that it was nothing more than a bad knock.
After meeting with specialists yesterday, Doueihi confirmed this morning that he'll go under the knife for a second time.
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He had the same knee reconstructed in 2018.
According to physiotherapist Brien Seeney, who tweets under the 'NRL physio' handle, he's likely to be sidelined for at least seven months, with the club expected to take a cautious approach given it's the second reconstruction on the knee.
https://twitter.com/AdamDoueihi6/status/1431069346424508422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Although the 2022 schedule hasn't been announced, the likely kickoff date in early March is just over six months away, meaning Doueihi will miss at least the opening rounds of the competition.
The Wests Tigers remain a mathematical hope of making the finals this season, although they'll need to beat both Penrith and the Bulldogs to have any chance.
Counting against the club is a points differential of -162, easily the worst of any team in contention for the top eight, meaning they're realistically looking to 2022 already. Coach Michael Maguire is expected to give promising young half Jock Madden his NRL debut against the Panthers on Sunday.
The Tigers have signed Jackson Hastings for 2022, and he'd be expected to partner Luke Brooks in the halves in the absence of Doueihi.
The club has been forced to deny Brooks will be on the move next season, despite having been linked elsewhere.
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