Newcastle Knights Saifiti twins spent two years getting NRL ready

JACOB Saifiti walked into the Knights gym for the first time with identical twin brother Daniel and instantly knew something had to change. There was simply one thing neither of them could do.

JACOB Saifiti walked into the Knights gym for the first time with identical twin brother Daniel and instantly knew something had to change.

“I couldn’t do a chin-up,’’ the towering backrower recalled this week. “Not one.”

Daniel was not much better.

Veteran lock Jeremy Smith gives Daniel and Jacob Saifiti some encouragement at training. Picture: Peter Lorimer

It was less than two years ago.

It was no real surprise to Knights staffer and former Kiwi Test prop Craig Smith, who was told of the yarn this week as the teenage twins prepare to create history by making their NRL debuts together against Gold Coast tomorrow.

“Mate, I first saw them as 17 year olds playing on the Central Coast and they would have both been in excess of 130kg,” Smith said.

“Giant boys who were untapped at that stage. Probably never been in a gym.

“You could see the potential but you knew they had plenty of hard work in front of them if they were going to get anywhere.

“They weren’t in our system fulltime back then but they were committed enough to drive up to Newcastle a couple of times a week to do weights.

Jacob and Daniel Saifiti will make their debut for the Newcastle Knights against the Gold Coast this weekend. Picture: Peter Lorimer

“Then they turn up for pre-season training for last year’s NYC (Under 20s) team and they have both dropped around 20kg each. And they did it largely off their own bat through a better diet and nutrition. No-one really pushed them from our end. They pushed each other.

“That’s when we knew we really had something special to work with.”

Even so, few could have predicted just how quickly the Terrigal juniors, who have played together since the Under 8s and are largely inseparable on and off the field, would develop.

Less than four years after being first scouted by recruitment guru Peter Mulholland as 15 year olds and steered towards the Knights, they had played in a winning Test match for Fiji and Jacob had won a NSW Cup title.

And now this.

Jacob Saifiti tries his hand at goal kicking with brother Daniel and Jeremy Smith looking on.

Jacob and Daniel Saifiti will make their debut for the Newcastle Knights against the Gold Coast.

Remarkably, Knights coach Nathan Brown will tell you neither backrower Jacob (113kg) or prop Daniel (117kg) were in his round one plans a fortnight ago.

But then they came on in the second half in a trial against Canberra in Orange and everything changed.

“They weren’t over-awed, they were aggressive and they are big, strong boys who didn’t look out of place,” Brown said of the pair, who are distinguishable only by a different haircut and the mole above Jacob’s lip.

“There is no fear there. I think Daniel at one stage took on Frank-Paul Nuuausala and had a bit of push and shove with him.

“After what they both produced in that game, picking them was a no-brainer.

“They are great kids — diamonds — a real credit to their family. They are well mannered, both studying to be teachers at uni and they work really hard on their games and are not frightened to ask questions. I can’t speak highly enough of them.”

For their part, the boys are still pinching themselves.

Newcastle Knights twins Jacob (left) and Daniel (right) Saifiti.

“It’s happened so quickly. We definitely didn’t expect it,” Jacob said.

“Last pre-season was our first year with the 20s and now we are here. Hard to believe.”

Daniel, who beat Jacob into the world by a matter of seconds, says the plan for their debuts is pretty simple.

“We’ll be doing what Browny says. Whatever he asks of us, we’ll do,” Daniel said.

Smith, who has become something of a mentor to the boys, says they are not about to let anyone down.

“Whatever happens, it’s a great story. It will be great for the boys and great for the club with the youth policy that Browny has.

“Truly, they are wonderful kids to coach, wonderful young men to have around and it’s a delight to have them represent our club.”

Originally published as Newcastle Knights Saifiti twins spent two years getting NRL ready