Tigers vs Eels: Adam Doueihi ACL injury fears as Mitchell Moses boots Parramatta to win

Mark Molyneux

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Tigers vs Eels: Adam Doueihi ACL injury fears as Mitchell Moses boots Parramatta to win image

After Tigers fans got to savour a miracle the previous time these two sides met on Easter, the same couldn’t be said on this occasion as their horror start to the season sank to new lows when Adam Doueihi appeared to sustain another serious knee injury during his side’s 11th successive loss.

On the other end of the spectrum, Mitch Moses served it on a silver platter for his teammates to finish the afternoon with four try assists as Parramatta held off a late surge to record a 28-22 victory which will go some way to vanquishing the demons of their defeat in the corresponding fixture last year.

Mitchell Moses the difference as Parramatta beat the Wests Tigers

Moses had the ball on a string against the Tigers, registering three try assists from the boot as he toyed with his former club throughout. 

MORE: Likes & dislikes - Moses puts on a masterclass, while Latrell Mitchell rises to the occasion

The halfback got things going with a measured kick that eventually led to Clint Gutherson strolling over for the first try of the match before he set up both Will Penisini and Bryce Cartwright from close range as he exploited huge gaps in-behind the opposition’s defensive line.

What made this clinical showing even more impressive was the fact it came despite the Eels having just 38% territory and five tackles inside the red zone during the first 40. 

Moses then picked up where he left off in the second stanza, only this time it was a missile pass to Maika Sivo that led to the Fijian crashing over in the corner.

The Eels have endured a horror start to their campaign but have Moses to thank for their two victories so far.

In Round 4 against Penrith, he iced a golden point field goal to snap a three-game losing streak, while he once again won the game with his boot against the Tigers after setting up three crucial tries.

Tim Sheens’ side show character but remain winless in 2023

The Tigers fought hard in the closing stages of the contest to claw themselves back to within striking distance but come away with nothing to show for it.

And in a cruel final 10-minute spell their season to date was summed up as the game lurched from promising to heartbreaking.

Firstly, Doueihi went down with a suspected ACL injury when he leapt to claim the catch from a drop out.

Although as soon as he limped past Brent Naden on the bench - who was nursing a suspected broken collarbone - the Tigers scored to provide a grandstand finish against the odds.

With their regular goal-kicker in the sheds being assessed, the weight of the world fell upon Api Koroisau’s shoulders as he had a chance to level the scores with a conversion from out on the sidelines.

It was his first attempt in six years and went predictably awry as he sprayed his attempt well wide of the post.

Yet the Tigers kept on chipping away and forced a drop out with only a few minutes remaining on the clock. Suddenly, visions of a winning play in the final seconds of the match to snap a losing run came hurtling into view.

However, this lasted all of a few seconds as Charlie Staines, who had been impressive at fullback up until that point, dropped the ball over the sidelines.

From there, the potential for a Tigers miracle was well and truly put to bed as Gutherson sent Sivo over in the ensuing set before Moses' conversion from out wide scraped in off the post to add a final nail in the Tigers' coffin. 

Adam Doueihi injury

“Ask me tomorrow how I’m feeling when I wake up and realise it wasn’t a nightmare,” Tim Sheens said post-match when delving into the Doueihi injury.

“They think it is (an ACL). The doctor is pretty sure it is one, but we’ll know more tomorrow.”

The 24-year-old has a history of knee injuries and when he hit the deck clutching his left knee, the fear was immediately painted across his face that he had suffered another bad one.

“He’s had two knee reconstructions in his career so he would know the feeling,” Andrew Voss said in commentary on Fox League.

“If it’s confirmed to be an ACL, he’ll be out for the season,” Sheens added. “Maybe even more.”

Mark Molyneux

Mark Molyneux Photo

Mark Molyneux is a freelance writer covering the NRL and UFC for Sporting News Australia. He has previously worked in the music industry and as a teacher around the world.