Tim Sheens insists Adam Doueihi can be a destructive fullback in the mould of Latrell Mitchell on his move to No.1 at Wests Tigers, rejecting claims the 24-year-old has been shifted around too much.
Doueihi will return to fullback in the NRL against Melbourne on Friday night for the first time since 2020, with Brandon Wakeham handed the keys to the team in the halves alongside Luke Brooks.
The winless Tigers believe that will allow Brooks to get back to running the ball, while giving Doueihi more freedom at the back as he battles through foot pain.
Doueihi spent parts of his early career at fullback, and set up five tries in three games playing there for Lebanon in last year's World Cup.
"If you look at the World Cup ... his size when he chimes in on the edges, he is a big fullback," Sheens said.
"Big fullbacks like Latrell and company are hard to nail one-on-one with the football.
"He's got good skills to get the ball away, and he reads the game very well. It's just him reading the game and organising the offence that is a bonus for us.
Sheens took exception to suggestions Doueihi has been moved around too much throughout his career, and is adamant the Cedars star is happy with the change.
Doueihi has played centre, fullback, five-eighth and come off the bench in his three-and-a-bit years at the Tigers, but since Sheens' return as football boss last year most games have been in the halves.
"He has played No.6 or No.6 or No.6, or on occasion No.1. For me, he has been mainly in the front line," Sheens said.
Sheens was unwilling to speculate on whether Doueihi's move will be long-term, but continues to see a role for Wakeham.
The 24-year-old played in the halves in the Tigers' trial win over Canberra, before being brought on late as the controlling half against Canterbury when the team scored three straight tries.
Brooks' best football last year came at five-eighth, with Jackson Hastings the controlling halfback.
"It's not that (Brooks) doesn't understand the game. But he is much better as a runner than an organiser at this stage," Sheens said.
"Even with Mitchell (Moses), he was more of a runner off Mitchell as well.
"He's got speed, a good kicking game, he's a tough little competitor. And he can tell people what to do.
"But I'm comfortable with Adam controlling the numbers from the back and Brandon organising where we are going on the field, it becomes a little easier for Brooksy."
Sheens indicated he remained unsure whether the club has any chance of luring Moses back for next year, and suggested winger David Nofoaluma would not remain in reserve grade for long after being squeezed out from the spine shake up.
