Live: Tigers try to fight through the chaos and keep finals hopes alive

The Wests Tigers are looking to salvage their NRL season and keep their finals aspirations alive as they face the Canberra Raiders in Round 21. However, the team is embroiled in off-field drama with the significant absence of key playmaker Adam Doueihi.

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God, doesn't this game feel like a long time ago? The Tigers were riding very high last time they played the Raiders, it was arguably the best they looked all season.

Doueihi has refused to take the field after coach Benji Marshall asked him to play in the lock position. This decision has led to him being removed from the end of the bench. The Tigers will now rely on rookie Javon Andrews to make his NRL debut at halfback, a critical position for the team's performance.

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Been a hard few months since and they're coming off another very difficult week with the Doueihi situation.

This situation adds to what has been a difficult few months for the joint venture club. The article notes that the last time the Tigers played the Raiders, they were arguably at their best for the season. However, recent form and the current internal turmoil suggest a stark contrast.

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Big change for the Tigers is the absence of Adam Doueihi, who beat the wrap on a suspension earlier this week but refused to play after coach Benji Marshall asked him to play lock.

In other NRL news for the day, Canterbury will host the high-flying Warriors, while Brisbane will face the Cowboys in a Queensland derby. The Raiders, meanwhile, will be aiming to climb into the top eight with a victory.

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He's off the end of the bench with Heath Mason coming in. Rookie Javon Andrews will start at halfback in his NRL debut.