Worrying scenes erupted during the first half of the Wests Tigers’ six-point defeat by North Queensland on Sunday afternoon as Adam Doueihi was taken from the field by medics after appearing to suffer a horrible-looking concussion.
Just 15 minutes into the match, Doueihi attempted to tackle a barraging Jason Taumalolo but got his head on the wrong side of the Cowboys prop.
Taumalolo’s knee appeared to strike Doueihi’s eye socket, with the 27-year-old falling to the ground immediately.
The Tigers halfback stayed on the ground for some time, writhing in pain as medics ran onto the field.
‘He gets his head on the wrong side here,’ Andrew Johns said on Nine.
‘You don’t want to put your head there when you’re tackling anyone, let alone Jason Taumalolo. He gets himself in such an awkward position there.’
Adam Doueihi (wearing No 7) suffered a sickening head injury as he attempted to tackle Jason Taumalolo
The Tigers half-back is suspetcted to have suffered a fractured cheekbone and was taken to hospital after being walked from the field
The Tigers star has enjoyed an excellent season so far, but was left writhing on the ground in pain after the tackle
A long delay followed as the trainers thoroughly checked the Tigers star over.
The footy star was then seen getting back to his feet, sporting a swollen left eye.
Danika Mason later reported to Channel Nine that the footy star had category two concussion symptoms, but it was later confirmed that the footy star had failed his HIA.
Doueihi later left the ground and headed straight to hospital for further medical checks after concerns had arisen that he had suffered a fractured cheekbone.
Doueihi has enjoyed an excellent season for the Tigers, scoring six tries across 20 appearances for the club, while also setting up eight tries from halfback.
The Tigers had started slowly, conceding two tries in the first 10 minutes of the match, with Jeremiah Nanai and Semi Valemei both touching down.
Taylan May, who returned to the NRL to debut for the Tigers in round 20, hit back with a quickfire brace of tries for the Tigers to bring Benji Marshall’s side back into the match.
With the Cowboys pressing on the Tigers’ tryline just before half-time, the hosts pulled off a sensational moment of brilliance to replicate Pat Richards’ stunning try in the 2005 Grand Final.
Benji Marshall (pictured) watched on as his side recreated theat epic try from the 2005 Grand Final
Taylan May (left) bagged a brace of tries early in the first half of the match to keep the Tigers within touching distance of the Cowboys
But it was the Cowboys. who would run away with the match, scoring four times in the second half
Ironically, the Tigers were wearing the same styled jersey from that final, with Richards’ score coming in the 35th minute at 6-6. Today’s try came in the 37th minute, with the score at 10-10.
It was an eerily similar turn of events, with Taylan May also throwing things back, flicking the ball back to Sunia Turuva, akin to his coach, Marshall’s moment of magic back in 2005.
Turuva charged upfield before releasing Jahream Bula, who touched down for the Tigers’ third try.
However, despite their brilliance, the Tigers would go on to suffer a 34-28 defeat by the Cowboys, with Tom Dearden, Semi Valemei, Braidon Burns and Jaxon Purdue all crossing the tryline in the second half.
More to follow…
