Knights pull off miracle win despite sickening send off hit

A star is starring down the barrel of an NRL suspension after delivering one of the nastiest hits you’re likely to see.

Jacob Saifiti, David Klemmer and Dominic Young.

The Knights have produced one of the gutsiest wins in their history against a woeful Tigers side after they lost four players to injury and one to a send-off to win 14-12 with 12 men at Leichhardt Oval.

The Knights were reduced to 12 men after Jacob Saifiti was sent off with 15 to play and they only had one on their bench after HIA’s to Kalyn Ponga and Jayden Brailey and injuries to Tyson Frizell and Jack Johns.

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Saifiti became the first player sent off this in 2023, but the Tigers couldn’t take advantage despite a late consolation try.

The Knights prop is looking at a stint on the sidelines after nearly taking Jake Simpkin’s head off in a coathanger style tackle.

“Saifiti if it is a high shot they will have 12,” Voss said.

“It was big I know that. It was very big on Simpkin. Wow, what about this.

“This is in the hands of the bunker. You know what the crowd want.

“The Leichhardt coliseum are saying feed him to the lions. They wait with concern for the injured player.

“This is a remarkable game. It will be nowhere near the perfection of other matches, but for drama and injuries and bizarre captain’s challenges, a faltering Tigers attack. It has had everything.

“Down to 12 for the last 15 minutes.”

Saifiti was sent off after this HUGE hit on Simpkin. What did you make of it?

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Cooper Cronk believes Saifiti is looking at a heavy suspension after Wade Graham got four weeks for one that was arguably not as bad.

“He is in some trouble,” Cronk said.

“He is in a lot of trouble. I think he has played his last minutes this afternoon.

“On that replay it looks like high contact to the head.”

Jacob Saifiti sent off for Jake Simpkin high tackle.

Sounds about right. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

However, the Tigers couldn’t make the Knights pay in the final 15 minutes to go down in a thriller.

The Tigers horror performance was summed up by Andrew Voss when talking about their new coaching team.

“Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall might be changing career paths after today,” Voss said.

It was a chaotic game which kicked off with Kalyn Ponga getting knocked out in the second minute of the game in a huge blow for the Knights.

“That is lights out for Ponga,” Andrew Voss said.

“Kalyn Ponga has been ruled out of this game with a category one head knock,” Jake Duke confirmed.

NRL physio raised fears for Ponga’s immediate future after his fourth concussion in 10 months.

Dane Gagai set up Dominic Young for the first try of the afternoon to give the Knights an early lead.

Tyson Gamble produced a brilliant pass to put Lachlan Fitzgibbon over to extend the Knights lead.

Knights hooker Jayden Brailey was ruled out for the game after failing his HIA, with Newcastle activating 18th man Brodie Jones.

Dominic Young was sent to the sin bin for taking out Brent Naden in a blatant professional foul.

“There have been some bad captain’s challenges, but that takes the cake,” Cooper Cronk said.

“That was a blatant professional foul.”

It was a spiteful clash at Leichahardt Oval. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Asu Kepaoa pounced on a loose ball after Jackson Hastings collected Tommy Talau across the head to score the Tigers’ first try.

Hastings was placed on report for a high tackle, which sparked a scuffle.

Tyson Frizell suffered a leg injury as the Knights were reduced to just two players on their bench, despite activating their 18th man.

“It has been carnage,” Ennis said.

Gagai put Young over for his double to give the gutsy Knights a commanding lead.

Jacob Saifiti produced a sickening coathanger tackle on Jake Simpkin and he was sent off reducing the Knights to 12 players for the final 15 minutes.

The Tigers scored a contentious try to Stefano Utoikamanu in the 80th minute but it was too little too late.

Luke Brooks had one last chance to kick a two-point field goal as time expired, but the Knights held on for a famous win.

Originally published as Knights pull off miracle win despite sickening send off hit