Admob + Google Play Services Error

I'm having an error with trying to implement Google Play Services (I'm also using admob) Here are the steps I took and the current error I'm facing:

1. I imported GoogleMobileAds-v7.3.1.unitypackage

2. I imported GooglePlayGamesPlugin-0.10.14.unitypackage (because I read somewhere that there was a bug with v0.11.01). I unchecked external dependency manager and any other files that already existed. I did this because Google Mobile Ads has a more recent external dependency manager version than the Google Play Service one.

3. I resolved & force resolved, and both succeeded

4. I tried to build and it was saying there was a duplicate value in my manifest (my APP_ID), I assumed this was because the app id was generated from both plugins. (the duplicate value was in GameServicesManifest.plugin/AndroidMaifest.xml)

5. I deleted the duplicate reference of my APP_ID

6. I tried to build again, and this time I got this error:

Then I tested in the unity editor, the test ads were working as they should.

a failure occurred while executing com.android.build.gradle.internal.tasks.workers$actionfacade

Things I've tried to fix my error:

• Deleting all folders that have anything to do with both these plugins and then importing the plugins again in the reverse order

• Adding "-keep,includedescriptorclasses public class com.google.** { *; }" to a custom proguard file

• Changing gradle directory to a folder with gradle v6.9.3

• Toggling every option under minify

• Toggling split application binary

• Changing the value of xmx (in a file I don't remember) to allocate more ram to JVM?

• Assets > Reimport all

• Clean build

• Using v0.11.0.1 of Google Play Services instead
  
  Please note:

• Before even attempting to import Google Play Services, I had Admob working perfectly, users could download my app from the play store and they would be shown ads.

• I'm using minimum API 22 and Max 31. I'm not using 33 because I get java.lang and ASM7 errors with 33 when using admob
  
  Any help would be greatly appreciated! I've been stuck for a week now :(