Legendary fullback Billy Slater has called for the Wests Tigers to give the No.1 jumper back to Daine Laurie as the club desperately hunts a maiden win for the season.
The Tigers sunk to an 0-5 start for the second year running, courtesy of a 46-12 loss to Brisbane on Saturday.
Head coach Tim Sheens opted for spine surgery after the first three losses, bringing Brandon Wakeham into five-eighth and shifting Adam Doueihi to fullback.
READ MORE: ‘Cheap shot’ ripped as Tigers CEO cops barrage
READ MORE: Former NRL star’s wild bush footy brawl
READ MORE: Ricky Stuart perception that’s ‘simply not true’: Gallen
Laurie missed a game injured, then returned in round four on the bench, only to be dropped out of the line-up entirely in round five.
Laurie, 23, has been the Tigers’ first-choice fullback for the last two seasons after jumping ship from Penrith in 2021.
His omission now, though, has extra intrigue after media headlines on Monday highlighted Instagram activity from Laurie in which he “liked” a video of Broncos flyer Selwyn Cobbo scoring a try against the Tigers.
”You’ve got to find your make-up of your key positions and settle with them, and actually teach them and coach them, and work out what their strengths are and how to get them in the game,” Slater told Wide World of Sports’ The Billy Slater Podcast.
“I don’t think Adam Doueihi’s best position is at fullback. I was surprised when he was thrown in there… at the back end of the Dogs game. I think it was a reactionary change for the following week.
“We’re not in the Tigers walls, so we don’t know exactly what’s going on, but I feel Daine Laurie is their best option at fullback.
“When you’ve got your best option at fullback you put him there and you help educate him to bring him into the game, put a game plan around trying to utilise the strengths they have.”
Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now
Doueihi has experience playing at fullback, centre, and five-eighth, but has long aired the opinion that his best position is in the halves.
At least for now, though, Sheens seems steadfast on leaving Wakeham in the No.6 jumper, and Brooks is being paid $1.1 million to be the halfback.
NRL greats stumped on where to point the finger after Tigers’ horror start: Round 5 Recaps
Slater says it doesn’t matter who plays in which jumper if the team can’t adjust its attitude.
“The other thing the Tigers need to do is they need to play tough, they need to play tough footy,” he said.
“Start playing simple and tough footy and get yourself in the contest.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Tigers this week as a meeting with Parramatta looms on Easter Monday.
In round seven the team is guaranteed two points – potentially their first of the season – thanks to the bye.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
The Mole’s round five team of the week: Axed Knights star sends ‘stunning’ message
