Knights enforcer Jacob Saifiti handed four-week ban for brutal high shot

August 31, 2026 — 12:39pmNewcastle prop Jacob Saifiti is facing a season-ending ban after being handed a four-game suspension for hitting Warriors winger Luke Laulilii in the head.Saifiti was issued a grade two reckless high tackle charge on Monday morning after he was sent off in the Knights’ 46-32 loss to the Warriors, while Laulilii was knocked out by the heavy 13th-minute shot.The Knights’ last-round bye means Saifiti’s ban won’t begin until week one of the finals. His only hope of playing again this season is to challenge the suspension at the judiciary on Tuesday evening and risk a potential five-game ban.Saifiti’s availability for Fiji in the end-of-season World Cup will depend on how deep Newcastle go in the finals and how many games of his suspension are served at club level.More to come...Dan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners