Former Australian Test player Sione Mata’utia dumped to Under 20s

FORMER Kangaroo winger Sione Mata’utia will make his return from suspension in the Under 20s this weekend as the Knights discipline crackdown continues.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Sione Mata'utia of the Newcastle Knights runs with the ball during the round 24 NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Newcastle Knights at AAMI Park on August 24, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

FORMER Kangaroo winger Sione Mata’utia is the latest Knights star to fall foul of Newcastle coach Nathan Brown’s high disciplinary standards with the teenage centre set to play his first game of the season in the Holden Cup competition.

After being suspended for the Knights’ round one clash against Gold Coast, Mata’utia was expected to slot straight back into the top grade for Saturday’s game against South Sydney, particularly after his brother Chanel was ruled out for up to two months with a knee injury.

Instead, Brown named the youngest Mata’utia brother as 18th man against the Bunnies, claiming a lack of match fitness would see him start the season in the lower grades.

But The Daily Telegraph understands a minor disciplinary breach with Mata’utia being late for training very early in the pre-season has also contributed to his non-selection.

He is expected to now play the opening 40 minutes of the club’s Holden Cup game before being on standby for the NRL game.

Brown has set the disciplinary bar high since he took over as coach with five-eighth Jarrod Mullen dumped for the club’s only trial against Canberra a month ago and forced to play in a NSW Cup trial instead for having a few drinks at the club’s Christmas party while carrying an injury.

Meanwhile, Knights co-captain Jeremy Smith admits his young side faces a huge challenge against one of the premiership heavyweights.

“It’s going to be a massive test for all of us,” he said.

“They have been sort of the side to beat for the last few years and it doesn’t get any easier for us.”

After being under an injury cloud all week, Smith got through the club’s final training session untroubled in a big boost to the side and is ready for a brutal confrontation upfront.

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Asked if his young teammates were prepared for what lies in front of them against a big, physical Souths forward pack, Smith said:

“We’ve got a lot of young kids there now that will definitely be shocked when they get out there to see how quick it is,” he said.

Smith downplayed the loss of key Souths playmaker Adam Reynolds.

“They are a great side. They have a lot of great players around the park so losing one player is definitely not going to hurt them,” he said.

Originally published as Former Australian Test player Sione Mata’utia dumped to Under 20s