Jacob Saifiti suffers serious ankle injury in alleged altercation with Dane Cordner
Newcastle Knights have experienced how quickly the highs can turn to lows in the world of rugby league with an off-field incident involving forward Jacob Saifiti.
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Newcastle Knights have experienced how quickly the highs can turn to lows in the world of rugby league.
Just one week on from snaring another big-name signing during an off-season — with confirmation David Klemmer had joined the club — Knights officials were back in front of the media, this time to address an off-field incident.
Young forward Jacob Saifiti was missing from Klemmer’s first training session on Monday because he was still in hospital after breaking his ankle following an altercation early Sunday morning with Dane Cordner, brother of NSW and Australia captain Boyd.
Cordner is alleged to have punched Saifiti outside the Greenroof Hotel at Hamilton in Newcastle around 1.30am on Sunday after they were ejected from the premises for a push and shove inside.
Saifiti broke his leg as he fell from the hit.
Knights CEO Phil Gardner said he was more than disappointed at the turn of events.
“I think that’s an understatement,” Gardner said.
“Our expectation is the players live up to their responsibilities in the community. They’re role models in the community. We expect them to be role models in all ways.
“So this is disappointing.”
Some Knights players had been out Saturday afternoon and evening farewelling former teammate Luke Yates who is headed to the London Broncos.
They ran into Cordner, who plays rugby league for Central Newcastle, and some of his teammates at a venue before the Greenroof, but nothing is believed to have happened between the two until they moved on to the Hamilton pub.
The Knights will wait for police to conclude their investigation before deciding if they will take action internally against Saifiti, but Gardner would be reiterating to players that this behaviour was unacceptable.
“There are a whole range of things that everyone in society has to do. If you’re in a licensed premise, you need to behave appropriately,” he said.
“If you’re leaving a licensed premises, you should make your way home.
“Altercations with individuals outside licensed premises are inappropriate for you, for me and for rugby league players.”
He also warned against drinking for extended periods.
“It’s a sad incident, and again, we would like to make sure that everybody entertains themselves responsibly. Certainly long events like this are problematic.”
Saifiti will face a battle to earn a spot in the 17 in 2019 now that he will be sidelined for part of, if not all of, the pre-season. Newcastle were waiting for confirmation on the full extent of his broken ankle but if a plate was needed he could be out for up to 12 weeks.
Coach Nathan Brown can now select from an experienced pack with depth of talent. Klemmer started training on Monday and Tim Glasby and James Gavet are also among the props to have joined the club.
Glasby, as well as the other two, was signed to help lead and develop the young forwards at the club. He hoped Saifiti would be back soon.
“We’re not entirely across it,” he said. “Any injury is disappointing in any way. Fingers crossed he can have a quick recovery and is back sooner rather than later.”
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