Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi has been taken to hospital following a sickening head knock at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
The incident unfolded in the 15th minute of the club’s clash against the North Queensland Cowboys when the Tigers halfback attempted to tackle Jason Taumalolo.
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It all went wrong however when Doueihi copped an accidental knee from Taumalolo that left the Tigers star clutching at his head on the turf.
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Medical staff feared he had suffered a fractured cheekbone or eye socket. He subsequently failed a HIA test before he was whisked off to hospital for scans.
His season now appears to be more than likely over after the horror incident.
“Doueihi is in trouble … head in an awful spot and gets the left knee onto the jaw,” Michael Ennis said on Fox’s commentary.
Andrew Voss added: “He’s just going too low on the big man, you just can’t do it. There are those that talk about players go high in tackles and why can’t they go back to legs.
“That’s why you can’t.”
Ennis said: “You just hope this isn’t jaw as well, was definitely a hard knee.”
Ennis noted the incident could have been avoided if the Tigers were quicker off the line to slow down the Cowboys’ charge.
“There was absolutely no speed off the line, the line did not move forward so they allowed Taumalolo a full head of steam up,” he said.
The injury took place before the Tigers’ razor-thin finals chances were extinguished after they collapsed in a heap during the final 15 minutes to lose 34-28.
With the Eels having defeated the Roosters on Saturday, hopes were high that Benji Marshall’s men could continue their late-season run against lowly North Queensland, but the majority of the 16,055 fans that packed into Leichhardt were left devastated after the Cowboys overcame a 28-16 deficit to overwhelm the local favourites during the final quarter of the game.
The loss means that Wests remain stranded on 11th on the table with 24 points and are almost certainly unable to catch the eighth-placed Roosters, who currently have 28.
The Tigers started slowly, conceding two early tries to trail 10-0 after as many minutes, but 20 minutes of superb football from Taylan May, who scored two tries and threw a sublime flick pass in the lead up to the third, had fans dreaming of their first playoff appearance since 2011.
Ultimately, it was a May error that invited the Cowboys back into the match, with his loose carry enabling Tom Dearden to level the scores at 16-all after 48 minutes.
The Tigers looked to be back in control with consecutive tries to milestone man Jarome Luai (150th game) and Brent Naden giving them a 12-point break with 17 minutes remaining, but a masterclass in catch-up football from Scott Drinkwater and Viliami Vailea ensured that the Tigers’ barren finals run would extend to 14 consecutive seasons.
Vailea got the ball rolling for the visitors when his basketball pass for Valemei made it 28-22 with 15 remaining. Next up was Braydon Burns, who contorted his body to score another match-leveller with 10 on the clock, before Drinkwater’s burst up the centre allowed Jaxon Purdue to score the decisive try.
Drinkwater Cool Under Pressure
Nathan Cleary clearly isn’t the only ice man in the league anymore. Scott Drinkwater proved that he also has frozen water flowing through his veins by nailing three sideline conversions during the Cowboys’ five-minute blitzkrieg, and ultimately secured the win. The livewire fullback also finished the match with one line break, one line break assist, and a try assist.
Doueihi Down Again
– with Steven Russo, NewsWire
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