A Wests Tigers star had to be taken to hospital after horror scenes unfolded in the early stages of a clash on Sunday.
Wests Tigers star Adam Doueihi has been taken to hospital following a sickening head knock at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
The incident unfolded in the 15th minute of the club’s clash against the North Queensland Cowboys when the Tigers halfback attempted to tackle Jason Taumalolo.
It all went wrong however when Doueihi copped an accidental knee from Taumalolo that left the Tigers star clutching at his head on the turf.
Medical staff feared he had suffered a fractured cheekbone or eye socket. He subsequently failed a HIA test before he was whisked off to hospital for scans.
His season now appears to be more than likely over after the horror incident.
Adam Doueihi was taken to hospital after the incident.
“Doueihi is in trouble … head in an awful spot and gets the left knee onto the jaw,” Michael Ennis said on Fox’s commentary.
Andrew Voss added: “He’s just going too low on the big man, you just can’t do it. There are those that talk about players go high in tackles and why can’t they go back to legs.
“That’s why you can’t.”
Ennis said: “You just hope this isn’t jaw as well, was definitely a hard knee.”
Ennis noted the incident could have been avoided if the Tigers were quicker off the line to slow down the Cowboys’ charge.
“There was absolutely no speed off the line, the line did not move forward so they allowed Taumalolo a full head of steam up,” he said.
Medical staff rushed out to the star’s side.
The injury took place before the Tigers’ razor-thin finals chances were extinguished after they collapsed in a heap during the final 15 minutes to lose 34-28.
With the Eels having defeated the Roosters on Saturday, hopes were high that Benji Marshall’s men could continue their late-season run against lowly North Queensland, but the majority of the 16,055 fans that packed into Leichhardt were left devastated after the Cowboys overcame a 28-16 deficit to overwhelm the local favourites during the final quarter of the game.
The loss means that Wests remain stranded on 11th on the table with 24 points and are almost certainly unable to catch the eighth-placed Roosters, who currently have 28.
The Tigers started slowly, conceding two early tries to trail 10-0 after as many minutes, but 20 minutes of superb football from Taylan May, who scored two tries and threw a sublime flick pass in the lead up to the third, had fans dreaming of their first playoff appearance since 2011.
