While Benji Marshall and Adam Doueihi appeared to support one another during a Wednesday morning press conference, questions linger regarding the overall atmosphere among players at the Wests Tigers following a tumultuous week.
Last week, Doueihi surprised both players and fans by withdrawing from the match against the Raiders, with reports surfacing that he was contemplating leaving the club due to cultural issues and a rocky relationship with Marshall.
In his remarks to the media, Doueihi attributed his absence from the game to a "miscommunication" with Marshall, admitting he can be "stubborn" at times.
He also acknowledged that he should have participated in the match and expressed that it "hurt" him to see his teammate struggle against the Raiders.
Doueihi passionately expressed his dedication to the Tigers and dismissed speculation that he was looking to exit the club.
Nonetheless, journalist Brent Read suggested on NRL 360 that some Tigers players still feel residual resentment over the incident.