Brett Kimmorley remains tight-lipped about Adam Doueihi's best role after the interim Wests Tigers coach stuck with Luke Brooks in the halves.
Interim coach Brett Kimmorley won't divulge details of a meeting with Adam Doueihi earlier this week after it emerged the Wests Tigers playmaker wanted to be dropped to reserve grade.
Doueihi has been named to play centre against Parramatta on Saturday at Leichhardt Oval in his first starting appearance since an ACL injury last year.
Tigers captain James Tamou and winger Ken Maumalo have both been ruled out of the game late after succumbing to calf and knee injuries, respectively.
The match will be Tamou's second on the sideline consecutively after he missed the clash with the Warriros in Auckland last weekend.
Maumalo's injury brings Junior Tupou onto the wing, while last week's debutant Fonua Pole replaces Tamou in the side.
Kimmorley has stuck by under-pressure playmaker Luke Brooks and Jackson Hastings in the halves as part of a spluttering attack that has averaged just six points over their last three games.
Doueihi met with Kimmorley this week where it is claimed the former Rabbitoh said he would rather further his development as a five-eighth and play for the Tigers' NSW Cup side than play in the centres.
Kimmorley said on Friday: "Any issues you'd like to know about we'll handle behind closed doors."
The Lebanon international, however, has clearly enjoyed his best football in the halves.
But Kimmorley refused to speculate on Doueihi's best position.
"I've had the team for three weeks so to try and tell you guys what I think his best position is wouldn't be right," he said.
"He's a versatile player. I'm not going to get drawn into what I think his best position is.
"If you give me some time to get to know him and to see his strengths and weaknesses, I can give you a better opinion."
Brooks appears to be the odd man out at the Tigers after the arrival of Hastings over the off-season.
By and large the 27-year-old has failed to live up to the expectations set when he signed a five-year deal at the club in 2018 after being named the Dally M halfback of the year.
Brooks was linked with a move to Newcastle over the off-season and there is a school of thought the Tigers can entice a rival to take him off their hands for the 2023 season if they put him in the first-grade shop window.
Kimmorley, however, refuted the suggestion his team selection was being influenced by wishes of the club's football department.
"I pick the side and I obviously liaise with my assistant coaches. It's not just what I want to do, I obviously seek support from them," he said.
"I feel like I've got their full support (of my coaches), the support of (head of football) Tim (Sheens) and the club as well. My job is to coach now."
