NRL start granted an exemption to see daughter born in Townsville

Newcastle Knights halfback and Townsville boy Jake Clifford was granted an exemption from his team bubble to travel for the birth of his daughter.

NRL star Jake Clifford was driven 1300km from Brisbane to Townsville to arrive by his wife Stephanie’s side just 55 minutes before she gave birth to a baby girl on Father’s Day.

The 23-year-old Newcastle Knights halfback was granted an exemption from his team bubble to travel back to Townsville for Naivy’s birth at Mater Mothers Private Townsville on Sunday.

The north Queenslander, who transferred to the Knights from the Cowboys mid-season, only just made the birth after he began a 15-hour journey from Brisbane to Townsville, straight after his team’s loss to the Broncos on Saturday afternoon.

“The couple had been expecting Naivy to arrive today, but she came a day early to give her dad the best possible Father’s Day surprise,” obstetrician Sally Aubrey said on Monday.

Jake Clifford with wife Stephanie and newborn daughter Naivy

A Knights employee drove Clifford to Rockhampton, where his father met him and drove him to Townsville.

Clifford arrived at Mater Mothers at 9am – just 55 minutes before Naivy was born.

His daughter weighed 2.6kg and Mater midwives say mum and baby are both doing well.

Jake, who was born in Cairns and raised in Tully, will leave his new family this evening to return to the Knights’ bubble on the Sunshine Coast in a two-seater chartered plane.

The Knights will take on the Parramatta Eels in Rockhampton on Sunday in the first week of finals.

Mater Private Hospital Townsville Executive Officer Libbie Linley said the hospital was very excited Naivy was born at Mater Mothers’ Townsville.

“We wish Jake the best of luck this weekend and he can be sure that Mater will take great care of his precious young family,” she said.