Next King of Leichhardt? Doueihi ready for Teddy duel

As one-time Leichhardt Oval fan favourite James Tedesco prepares to return, Wests Tigers fullback Adam Doueihi wants to ensure his time in the No.1 jersey is a long-term proposition.

Tedesco will make his first return to the suburban venue on Saturday night against the club he spent six years with before moving to the Roosters in 2018.

While the departure of Tedesco still stings for many at the Wests Tigers, Doueihi is using the superstar's game to build on his own.

"I've watched a lot of vision on Teddy, especially in the pre-season and being at the back now you appreciate it even more," Doueihi told NRL.com.

"A lot of his work is freakish with the plays he comes up with and his positional play. He just pops up at the right time in attack and defence.

"As a whole, I've been happy with what I'm contributing to the team. It's tiring but good, I feel like the fitness levels are getting better each week and the positional stuff I'm learning on the run, picking up different things I'm doing right and wrong.

"Teddy does all that stuff really well. I also do a lot with [assistant coach and former fullback] Brett Hodgson and he's been huge in our reviews. His knowledge is first class and he's been great for me."

Doueihi, the Balmain junior who returned to the club this season after three-years at South Sydney, was a playmaker stuck behind Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks coming through the club's junior system.

However, Tedesco's departure essentially opened the door for the club to chase him – albeit two years in the making.

His versatility value even saw the Lebanon international linked with the Tricolours at the start of the season when his release from the Rabbitohs was confirmed.

"There was a bit of chat about me going to the Roosters when I was about to come here but it was just a bit of rubbish," Doueihi said.

"It's a massive club for me to be mentioned in the same breath with, they've got a great system with a great coach in Robbo but I am happy and enjoying learning my role [at Wests Tigers]."

On Saturday night the Roosters will be without stars including Luke Keary, Daniel Tupou, Angus Crichton and Boyd Cordner.

"They are a quality opposition who are in the position they are in for a reason," Doueihi said.

"They've got a game plan that works and players who do a job for them. This is the part of the season now where it doesn't matter how ugly it looks you must come away with the two points and we're in a position where we must do that."