Daniel Saifiti
{{Short description|Fiji international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Daniel Saifiti
|fullname = Daniel Saifiti
|image = Daniel Saifiti.jpg
|imagesize = 285
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|5|1}}
|birth_place = Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|195|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|121|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|PR}}
|club1 = Newcastle Knights
|year1start = 2016
|year1end = 24
|appearances1 = 183
|tries1 = 19
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 76
|club2 = Dolphins
|year2start = 2025
|year2end = present
|appearances2 = 8
|tries2 = 2
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 8
|teamA = Fiji
|yearAstart = 2015
|yearAend = 17
|appearancesA = 3
|triesA = 1
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 4
|teamB = New South Wales
|yearBstart = 2019
|yearBend = 21
|appearancesB = 7
|triesB = 1
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 4
|retired =
|updated = 27 April 2025
| module = {{infobox person
| embed = yes
| father =
| mother =
| relatives = Jacob Saifiti (brother)
| children =
}}
}}
Daniel Saifiti (born 1 May 1996) is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr}} for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). He previously played for the Newcastle Knights.
Saifiti has also played for New South Wales in the State of Origin series.
Background
Saifiti was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. He is of Fijian and Samoan descent{{cite web|last=Keeble|first=Brett|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/3046623/saifiti-twins-win-fiji-call-up/|title=Saifiti twins win Fiji call-up | Newcastle Herald|publisher=Theherald.com.au|date=2015-04-29|access-date=2016-03-06|archive-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308095138/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3046623/saifiti-twins-win-fiji-call-up/|url-status=live}} and moved to the Central Coast at a young age.
He played his junior rugby league for the Terrigal Sharks and The Entrance Tigers, before joining the Newcastle Knights in 2015.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2015/03/26/saifiti_twins_first_.html|title=Saifiti twins first for the Knights - Knights|publisher=Newcastleknights.com.au|date=26 March 2015|accessdate=2016-03-06}}
Saifiti is the identical twin brother of Knights prop forward Jacob Saifiti.
Playing career
=Newcastle Knights <small>(2015–2024)</small>=
In 2015, Saifiti played for the Newcastle Knights' NYC team.{{cite web|url=http://nycdatabase.org/players/s/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131072555/http://nycdatabase.org/players/s/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=31 January 2016|title=S|publisher=Nyc Database|date=27 December 2012|accessdate=2016-03-06}} On 2 May, he played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea, alongside his twin brother Jacob in the 2015 Melanesian Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/nrl/news/2015/4/team-lists-tonga-fiji-bati-papua-new-guinea-teams-for-2015-representative-round/|title=TEAM LISTS: Tonga, Fiji Bati, Papua New Guinea Teams For 2015 Representative Round | Triple M NRL|publisher=Triplem.com.au|date=2015-04-27|accessdate=2016-03-06|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112531/http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/nrl/news/2015/4/team-lists-tonga-fiji-bati-papua-new-guinea-teams-for-2015-representative-round/|archivedate=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}} During the year, he re-signed with the Newcastle club on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/robertdillon174/status/667137911221972992|title=Robert Dillon on Twitter: "@jamiesonmurph Two years"|publisher=Twitter.com|date=2015-11-18|accessdate=2016-03-06}}
In round 1 of the 2016 NRL season, Saifiti made his NRL debut for the Knights against the Gold Coast Titans,{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/updated-round-1-nrl-team-lists/tabid/10874/newsid/93308/default.aspx|title=Updated: Round 1 NRL team lists|publisher=NRL.com|date=|accessdate=2016-03-06}} playing alongside his brother Jacob, becoming the first twins in Australian rugby league's 108-year history to debut together.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/knights-prop-sam-mataora-rewarded-for-offseason-regimen-with-starting-spot-against-gold-coast/news-story/19053b487d86d66dddb623ec0c2d6e59|title=Knights Prop Sam Mataora Rewarded for Off-Season Regime with Starting Spot Against Gold Coast|website=Dailytelegraph.com.au|accessdate=2016-03-06}} He scored a try on debut.{{cite web|url=http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/five-things-we-learned-from-titans-v-knights/|title=Five things we learned from Titans v Knights|publisher=Rugby League Week|accessdate=2016-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308131928/http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/five-things-we-learned-from-titans-v-knights/|archive-date=8 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} On 7 May, he again played for Fiji against Papua New Guinea in the 2016 Melanesian Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/png-stuns-fiji-in-a-thriller/tabid/10874/newsid/95678/default.aspx|title=PNG stuns Fiji in a thriller|date=7 May 2016|publisher=nrl.com|accessdate=7 May 2016}} On 12 May, he and his brother extended their contracts with the Knights from the end of 2017 until the end of 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/saifitis-extend-contracts-with-knights-21850/#5bfOuc3lMiYXC6Uu.97|title=Saifitis extend contracts with Knights|work=Zero Tackle |date=12 May 2016|accessdate=2016-05-12 |last1=Au |first1=Newcastleknights. com }} In his 8th game of first-grade, he ran for a game-high 237 metres against the Wests Tigers.{{cite web|first1=David|last1=Sygall|url=http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3921069/trent-hodkinson-in-state-of-origin-frame-as-wests-tigers-pinch-win-over-newcastle-knights/?cs=2452|title=Trent Hodkinson in State of Origin frame as Wests Tigers pinch win over Newcastle Knights|publisher=The Advocate|date=22 May 2016|accessdate=2016-05-22}}
Saifiti finished his debut season with Newcastle making 20 appearances as the club finished last on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/other-sports/list/the-worst-teams-in-nrl-history-newcastle-knights-rugby-league-wooden-spoon-parramatta-eels-salary-cap-semi-radradra-kieran-foran/1k2c6o18od8431jen234fqd91u/4/|title=The worst teams in NRL history|website=Sporting News}}
Saifiti played 23 games for the Knights in the 2017 season,{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/Custom/MTUtMTY5Ni00LS0tLS0tMjE1MTYtLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0t|title=Custom Match List - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org|accessdate=23 October 2017}} before having his contract extended until the end of 2020. Newcastle would finish the year on the bottom of the table for a third straight season.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/saifiti-twins-re-sign-newcastle-knights-29958/|title=Saifiti twins re-sign with Newcastle Knights - Zero Tackle|date=23 October 2017|publisher=|accessdate=23 October 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2017/12/12/knights-2017-by-the-numbers/|title=Knights: 2017 by the numbers|website=NRL|date=12 December 2017}}
Saifiti played 21 games for Newcastle in the 2018 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/05/newcastle-knights-2018-season-review/|title=Newcastle Knights 2018 season review|website=NRL|date=22 October 2018}}
Saifiti was selected in the starting side for Game 2 of the 2019 State of Origin series.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/16/state-of-origin-game-two-teams |title=Latrell Mitchell dumped as NSW make seven changes for State of Origin Game 2|newspaper=Guardian |date=17 June 2019}}
File:Jacob Saifiti & Daniel Saifiti.jpg waits to play the ball in 2021]]
Saifiti was retained for Game 3 of the 2019 State of Origin series which was won by New South Wales 26-20 at ANZ Stadium. It was the first time since 2005 that New South Wales had won back to back series.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/origin/emotional-blues-legend-wayne-pearce-opens-up-on-his-son-mitchells-battle/news-story/0bdd173d0bf51730d60783a379922735/|title=Emotional Blues legend Wayne Pearce opens up on his son Mitchell's battle|website=www.news.com.au}}
At club level, he played 21 games for Newcastle as the club finished a disappointing 11th on the table after being expected by many to qualify for the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/newcastle-knights-2019-preview-draw-squad-changes-news-every-player-odds-ticketing/c5drq2vctw2p1bq1oj9rmspwc/|title=Newcastle Knights: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing|website=Sporting News|date=20 February 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://nothingbutleague.com/2019/10/03/2019-season-review-newcastle-knights/|title=2019 SEASON REVIEW NEWCASTLE KNIGHTs|website=Nothing But League|date=3 October 2019|access-date=7 January 2020|archive-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203133211/https://nothingbutleague.com/2019/10/03/2019-season-review-newcastle-knights/|url-status=dead}}
He was selected for New South Wales in the 2020 State of Origin series. He played in all three games as New South Wales suffered a 2-1 series defeat to Queensland.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2020/nov/18/state-of-origin-game-3-qld-maroons-v-nsw-blues-live-scores-queensland-teams-results-kick-off-start-time-2020-series-decider-dates-news-updates-suncorp-stadium/|title=State of Origin 2020 game 3: Qld Maroons beat NSW Blues – as it happened|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 November 2020|last1=Howcroft|first1=Jonathan}}
For round 1 of the 2021 NRL season, Saifiti was announced as a Knights co-captain alongside Jayden Brailey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/news/2021/03/02/saifiti--brailey-earn-rd1-co-captaincy-roles/|title=Saifiti & Brailey earn Rd1 co-captaincy roles|date=2 March 2021|website=Newcastle Knights}}
He was selected for game one of the 2021 State of Origin series. Saifiti scored his first try for New South Wales in game one as the Blues defeated Queensland 50-6. Saifiti played in the first two games during the series but was ruled out of the third due to injury. New South Wales went on to win the series 2-1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/05/30/nsw-blues-origin-i-team/|title=NSW Origin team: Luai gets nod for Freddie's fresh-faced Blues|website=www.nrl.com|date=30 May 2021}}{{Cite news|title=NSW Blues win State of Origin series opener 50-6 against Queensland Maroons|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-09/state-of-origin-i-live-blog-queensland-maroons-vs-nsw-blues/100199016|access-date=2021-06-09|newspaper=ABC News|date=9 June 2021|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/state-of-origin/teams/queensland/state-of-origin-2021-qld-maroons-report-card-paul-green-hamiso-tabuaifidow-cameron-munster-daly-cherryevans-kalyn-ponga/news-story/5e8cea13d42e10a7267d3ad2b0a047d6/|title=Green's rookie call pays off big time... but questions remain over Origin future|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=14 July 2021}}
Saifiti caused a shock when he ruled himself of World Cup selection for Fiji, citing covid and injury issues earlier in the year as the reason.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/knights-stars-shock-world-cup-call-im-not-going-to-play/news-story/fe26d7b5f99eb5cc3b4167cf1c3ea88b|title=Knights star's shock World Cup call: 'I'm not going to play'|date=15 July 2022|website=Fox Sports}}
Saifiti played 19 games for Newcastle in the 2022 NRL season as the club missed the finals finishing 14th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2022-newcastle-knights-season-review/zuanch2lkdlbojvv3rtaafcg/|title=NRL 2022: Newcastle Knights season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=6 September 2022 }}
Saifiti played a total of 22 games for Newcastle in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 5th on the table. Saifiti played in Newcastle's golden point extra-time victory over Canberra in week one of the finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-newcastle-knights-season-review/eb7fed33aeb7f61ca8030120#:~:text=The%20Knights'%20season%20was%20languishing,rugby%20league%20fans%20in%20general./|title=NRL 2023: Newcastle Knights season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=19 September 2023 }}
=Dolphins <small>(2025–)</small>=
Late in the 2024 season, Saifiti was given permission by the Knights to negotiate with a new club for the 2025 season. In October, he signed a three-year contract with the Dolphins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2024/10/01/saifiti-joins-the-dolphins/|title=Saifiti joins the Dolphins|date=1 October 2024|website=The Dolphins}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2016
| rowspan="9" |{{leagueicon|Newcastle|16}} Newcastle Knights |20 |1 |4 |
| 2017
|23 |2 |8 |
| 2018
|21 |3 |12 |
| 2019
|21 | | |
| 2020
|14 |3 |12 |
| 2021
|20 |3 |12 |
| 2022
|19 |2 |8 |
| 2023
|22 |2 |8 |
| 2024
|23 |3 |12 |
| 2025
|{{leagueicon|Dolphins|16}} Dolphins |8 |2 |8 |
| |Totals
|191 |21 |84 |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/newcastle-knights/daniel-saifiti/ Newcastle Knights profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/knights/daniel-saifiti/ NRL profile]
{{Dolphins squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saifiti, Daniel}}
Category:Australian people of Fijian descent
Category:Australian sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Fiji national rugby league team players
Category:New South Wales Rugby League State of Origin players
Category:Newcastle Knights captains
Category:Newcastle Knights players
Category:Dolphins (NRL) players
Category:Rugby league players from Newcastle, New South Wales