The Wests Tigers are facing a mounting injury crisis after captain Jarome Luai and halfback Adam Doueihi were both forced from the field during their 20–16 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Gosford.
Luai suffered a knee injury in the 65th minute after being caught in a collision involving teammate Luke Laulilii while defending against Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray. The Tigers skipper attempted to play on but was ultimately unable to continue, limping from the field. Coach Benji Marshall indicated the early outlook was concerning, with the five-eighth expected to miss multiple weeks pending scan results.
“It doesn’t look good… hopefully maybe four weeks,” Marshall said, while stressing the full extent of the injury would be confirmed after medical assessment.
Early indications suggest Luai may have sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury, with recovery timelines for moderate to severe sprains typically ranging between three and eight weeks. While serious, it is considered a more favourable scenario than a potential ACL rupture.
Doueihi also emerged as a concern after leaving the field late in the match with hamstring tightness. The club remains cautiously optimistic the injury is minor, though scans will determine whether he is available in the coming rounds.
The double setback compounds an already difficult night for the Tigers, who rallied late in the first half with 14 points in the final minutes—including an eight-point try—to take a narrow lead before ultimately falling short.
The injury toll further stretches Wests’ depth, with centre Taylan May already sidelined with a dislocated shoulder and young playmaker Latu Fainu still working his way back from a serious shoulder injury.
The Tigers now face a major test of their playmaking stocks ahead of their upcoming clash with the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland next week.
Jarome Luai will go for scans on a knee injury that the Tigers are confident is NOT an ACL injury, but will likely keep him out multiple weeks.
Video shows contact mechanism from outer side of the knee causing stress/stretch to medial knee – brings concern for MCL injury.… pic.twitter.com/ie0JeUndG5
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 21, 2026
