Maguire adamant Doueihi can do job at fullback when season returns

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has confirmed Adam Doueihi will start at fullback in a number of positional changes when the NRL restarts later this month.

Doueihi, who joined the Wests Tigers on a four-year deal in January, started in the centres for the opening two games of the season before the COVID-19 shutdown while rotating with incumbent fullback Corey Thompson at various stages.

However, Moses Mbye is set to return from a knee complaint in Doueihi's centre spot with the former Rabbitoh's switch to fullback sending Thompson to the wing.

"I'm looking to go towards Adam," Maguire said on Thursday.

"Corey has done a great job for us but Adam has pushed himself into that position as well. It's still open but I want to see where Adam can take us as a fullback.

"It was a part of the reason I signed him. He slips onto the wing if need be too. It gives me some good options moving forward.

"It's great to have, it's what I enjoy as a coach. I need to give my players the right messages as to what they need to do to be able to be selected.

"I've got some decisions to be made moving forward. We need to improve."

Maguire was more tight-lipped over the contentious hooker spot with Harry Grant's short-term arrival this season not expected to be a holiday.

Former Storm teammate Billy Walters started the year in the No.9 jersey and got through 80 minutes but could make way for Grant.

"At hooker it's an art, it's about being able to understand ruck speed and grabbing markers and being able to role your forwards onto the ball," Maguire said.

"When you've been playing that position all your career it's a natural part of your habits.

"Harry's got that, he's been behind someone in Cameron Smith who's on top of his game.

"He's also had Brandon Smith there too. I imagine the competition in that space has created good habits for him moving forward. He's pushing really hard for it, he's doing well."

The immediate future of Josh Reynolds, who will make way for Luke Brooks's return from a calf complaint in round three, remains under a cloud.

Reynolds has been linked to a return to his former club Canterbury but Maguire said there was nothing to suggest a possible departure was imminent.

"My focus is he's here and we've got a squad that is preparing for our next game and Josh is a part of that until I hear different," he said.

"Obviously his management will start talking but he's here at the moment and that's all I care about.

"My big focus at the moment and for all our players are that we need to be ready to go.

"We've got a lot in our game we need to improve on. Josh, to his credit, has trained extremely hard and still is. There's not a lot of chat around it. Those things are part of the game."