Doueihi signs with Tigers until end of 2023 after Rabbitohs release

Adam Doueihi will return to his junior stomping ground after signing a four-year Wests Tigers deal.

The Tigers confirmed Doueihi's arrival on Thursday afternoon after the Rabbitohs  rubber-stamped his "unconditional" release earlier in the day.

A former Balmain Tigers junior before linking with the Rabbitohs in 2016, Doueihi offers cover at fullback, centre and in the halves for Michael Maguire's rapidly revamped back line.

It's understood the Rabbitohs will contribute to Doueihi's contract over the next two seasons, having already paid well over six figures in wages since last October.

A chance to start at fullback, and possibly replace veteran playmaker Benji Marshall when he calls time on his career, was a significant selling point in bringing Doueihi back into the Tigers fold.

So too the chance to return to Leichhardt Oval where he played his junior footy, as well as linking once more with Maguire, the man who lured him away from the joint venture in the first place.

"I'm over the moon. The day I left this club as a junior, it's always in the back of your head, whether I would end up back here," Doueihi told Wests Tigers website.

"Things fall into place and circumstances happen, I'm honestly just very relieved to be back here and back home for me.

"We've always kept in touch, I've got a soft spot for Madge. I guess he was the main reason I did go to Souths in the first place.

"He was very honest with me and was a fan of me back then. He came here last year and I'm coming here now and he seems over the moon.

"I can't wait to work under him again because I know what he's like. He respects hard work and discipline which is two traits that I think I have."

The 21-year-old is understood to have also met with Roosters coach Trent Robinson but the first grade pathway and long-term security on offer at Concord helped clinched his decision to head west.

"I’m very pleased we’ve been able to secure Adam on a long-term deal at Wests Tigers," Maguire said.

"He is a fine young man off the field and is an excellent addition to our squad with his talent and versatility across a number of positions.

"Adam is a tremendously hard worker who carries himself very well, and we’re all excited to see him take the next steps forward in his career at this club."

Doueihi's arrival comes after the Tigers signed Joey Leilua from Canberra and prepare a one-year swap deal between centre Paul Momirovski and Melbourne hooker Harry Grant.

The four-time Lebanon international also offers another goalkicking option in a department the Tigers are short on options, with last year's kickers Esan Marsters (Cowboys) and Momirovski moving on. 

Doueihi, who boasts a rugby union background and is the cousin of ex-Wallabies mentor Michael Cheika, has kicked previously for Souths when Adam Reynolds was injured, and could trump Moses Mbye for the kicking tee.

In one of rugby league's typical twists, it was Latrell Mitchell's protracted switch from the Roosters to Rabbitohs that pushed Doueihi out of Redfern with two years remaining on his contract.

The Tigers themselves had pursued Mitchell hard before ultimately withdrawing their offer, then haggling with South Sydney over how much they chipped in for Doueihi's 2020 salary.

Now both Mitchell and Doueihi could well be wearing the No.1 jerseys when the Tigers host Souths at Leichhardt Oval in round 10.