Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks will finally have the ying to his yang when Adam Doueihi returns from suspension on Sunday.
The pair played just one NRL game in the halves together last season before training all of the pre-season as the new combination for the club.
According to the duo, it's a perfect pairing, with firey 22-year-old Doueihi balancing out Brooks' calmer personality.
"He is a nice bloke, I can't say the same about myself," Doueihi laughed.
"I'm sort of spraying everyone and get a bit passionate out there but you need that from your half, to be calm and level-headed so as long as one of us are like that, then we're all right.
"I've always been a pretty dominant figure and Brooksy is more of a controller out there and he needs to pull me into line sometimes, I get too dominant and too aggressive sometimes.
"We have a good connection."
Tigers junior Brooks, 26, is known for his controlled temperament and clarity on the field but says the aggression and passion of Doueihi will bring out the best in him.
Doueihi missed round one through suspension for a grade one shoulder charge on Parramatta's Maika Sivo in the Tigers' last game of 2020.
The former fullback turned five-eighth sat on the bench for Sunday's 30-12 loss to Canberra with his frustration bubbling over as he watched the Tigers battle on without him.
"I'm pretty bad at watching footy," Doueihi said.
"I'm quite a passionate kid and pretty competitive, so I sort of let the boys down for the first game of the season which is a pretty big game for us.
"You're always note-taking, especially being a dominant player in the halves and watching Brooksy's game and seeing what I can help him with and seeing what we can work on with the team this week."
As Brooks prepares for his 150th game against Sydney Roosters in Campbelltown on Sunday, he says Doueihi's influence is needed.
"We've had the whole pre-season together so it will be good to play some footy together," he said.
"He'll add a lot to our attack and take a bit of pressure off me as well."
