That’s why the ongoing Adam Doueihi saga at Concord Oval is so disappointing.
Whether one believes that Doueihi's decision to storm out of training and make himself unavailable for selection in response to a coach's decision was a misunderstanding, impulsive frustration or a calculated stand, the optics couldn’t have been much worse.
At a club desperately trying to climb out of years of instability, it looked like an experienced player putting personal preference ahead of the team.
It’s hard to believe the narrative that this was simply a passionate player “drawing a line in the sand” after years of misfortune. There are far better ways to do it.
Professional sport has changed dramatically over the past two decades. Players are fitter, stronger and more valuable than ever before. Contracts are worth millions and player managers wield enormous influence. None of that is inherently bad.
Players deserve representation and should absolutely protect their careers. But somewhere along the way, too many players seem to have forgotten a simple truth: coaches are paid to make football decisions.
Every coach wants the best 17 on the field, not necessarily the best 17 in their favourite positions.
History is full of players who swallowed their pride for the good of the side. Darren Lockyer shifted from fullback to five-eighth. Greg Inglis played virtually every position in the backline. Ben Hunt has gone from halfback to hooker and back again throughout his career.
Cameron Murray has filled in wherever South Sydney needed him. Kurt Capewell has spent years moving between the back row and centres without complaint. Even current stars like Connor Watson have accepted different responsibilities when circumstances demanded it.
They understood something fundamental: Versatility isn’t an insult. It’s a compliment.
In fact, let’s not pretend this happens only in rugby league here. It’s a problem that reeks these days in all walks of life. There’s a sense that lack of respect for authority - whether it be in footy or at work or at school - is something rife in society.
More recently, players across the competition have sought releases, agitated for transfers or challenged selection decisions when things didn’t suit them.
Sometimes those requests are justified. Often they aren’t. The Wests Tigers, of all clubs, cannot afford distractions like this.
They’ve spent the better part of a decade rebuilding a culture that has too often been overshadowed by headlines about player unrest, coaching changes and boardroom instability. Benji Marshall has consistently spoken about accountability, effort and putting the jersey first. If those standards are to mean anything, they must apply equally to everyone, regardless of reputation or salary.
What also deserves scrutiny is the role of player managers.
Managers are employed to maximise their clients’ careers and earning potential. That’s understandable. But occasionally the advice appears focused solely on the next contract rather than the next game. If a positional change is seen as reducing a player’s market value, resistance can quickly follow. That mindset may protect an individual, but it rarely benefits the team.
Fans don’t pay their hard-earned every weekend to watch contract negotiations play out on the field.
They want players who compete. They want players who embrace whatever role gives their club the best chance of winning.
That’s exactly why supporters still celebrate footballers like Craig Bellamy’s utility players at Melbourne or the countless “Mr Fix-It” types who quietly filled whatever role was needed without complaint. They may not have dominated headlines, but they earned enormous respect inside dressing rooms.
To be fair to Doueihi, none of us are privy to every conversation that took place behind closed doors, the latest of which took place on Monday morning. There may well have been context that hasn’t become public.
Players are entitled to honest discussions with coaches about their role and future and CEO Shaun Mielekamp has done well to respect Doueihi's privacy.
Healthy debates and disagreements should be encouraged in a high intensity workplace, but it needs to be done respectfully. But there is a significant difference between expressing disappointment and refusing to play.
One is professional. The other sends a message that individual preference outweighs collective success.
What happened to team first?
The greatest teams are rarely made up of 17 players doing exactly what they want. They’re built on sacrifice. Sometimes that means playing through pain. Sometimes it means taking less money to stay together. Sometimes it means wearing a different number on your back for 80 minutes.
The jersey has always been bigger than the individual. Some modern rugby league players would do well to remember that.
Matt Attard is a freelance rugby league writer, disability support worker and host of the Pack Mentality podcast. A lifelong Bulldogs supporter, he is passionate about telling the stories behind the game, from grassroots to the NRL, while championing mental health and the people who make rugby league special. You can read all of his content here and contact him on LinkedIn.
