Knights star Sione Mata’utia played almost 20 minutes with a fractured jaw

DON’T question Knights star Sione Mata’utia’s toughness again. The backrower played 20 minutes of Sunday’s loss to Melbourne with a fractured jaw.

YOUNG Knights star Sione Mata’utia has left no doubts about his toughness following his move into the Newcastle Knights backrow over the past three weeks.

The former Kangaroos winger has stunned teammates by playing almost 20 minutes of Sunday’s loss to Melbourne with a fractured jaw.

Mata’utia is understood to have suffered the injury midway through the second half but shook it off and finished the game as the Knights took the Storm down to the wire before losing 20-16.

Brave or foolish, Mata'utia shook off the effects of a fractured jaw.

He faces a month on the sideline after X-rays on Monday confirmed the break but remarkably, some of his teammates weren’t even aware of the injury until they were told by coach Nathan Brown at Tuesday’s video review.

“I couldn’t even tell he had broken his jaw and didn’t even know until [Tuesday] morning,” Knights winger Brendan Elliot said.

“Browny told us he played the last 10 or 15 minutes with a broken jaw and that’s an outstanding effort. It’s amazing.”

Retiring veteran Jeremy Smith, one of the NRL’s toughest players, heaped praise on the 20-year-old’s courage.

“He’s a tough kid and never takes a backward step,” Smith said. “It probably just proves the character that he has got and the man that he will be in years to come.”

Mata’utia teammates have hailed the youngster’s “character”.

Unfortunately for the improving Knights, Mata’utia’s injury wasn’t the only setback for the team who has a mountain to climb this Sunday in the form of premiership leaders Cronulla.

Newcastle has also lost prop Robbie Rochow for the season with a torn pec while prop Daniel Saifiti and fullback Jake Mamo will missed the Sharks game after taking early pleas after being charged following the Storm game.

Newcastle’s injury and suspension woes along with the fact they have won just one game all season will see them go in as rank underdogs against the Sharks with some betting agencies having them at unheard of double figure odds to cause a boilover.

Originally published as Knights star Sione Mata’utia played almost 20 minutes with a fractured jaw