A nod from twin brother Jacob as he was stretchered from the field spurred Daniel Saifiti to a devastating display in Newcastle’s shock 34-20 NRL win over Canberra.
With Jacob taken to hospital with concerns over his neck as a result of an innocuous bump, Daniel ran 191 metres to help the Knights snap a seven-game losing streak and record just their second win in 28 matches.
“I was worried for him but he just said ‘I’m sweet’,” Daniel said.
“After that, I cleared my head and got the nod. After that I just went on with my performance and it helped me kick on.”
Saifiti was one of a number of stars for the Knights.
Second-rower Sione Mata’utia claimed two tries, including a vital one in the 60th minute when he chased through on a Brock Lamb grubber.
It was one of two assists for Lamb, who combined well with halfback Jaelen Feeney and scored one of his own to ice the match in the 79th minute.
But the hero was undoubtedly Saifiti in trying circumstances.
“He was sensational,” Newcastle coach Nathan Brown said.
“He was outstanding today against Test front-rowers and quality players.
“What he did today was that of a person that’s got a big future ahead of him if he gets everything right.”
The news also got better for Daniel after the match, with the Knights hopeful over Jacob.
The 21-year-old was stretchered from the field on a medi-cab, but could be seen moving his fingers while being assessed by the trainer for around five minutes.
He appeared to have his head jolted as he rolled out of an innocuous tackle on Joseph Tapine, and was accidentally bumped by the Raiders attacker as he wriggled out.
“It’s more precautionary,” Brown said.
“I don’t think they’re expecting the worse.
“He had some pins and needles down the side of his neck and arm.”
Prop Josh Starling also suffered a potential broken hand, while Lachlan Fitzgibbon could spend time on the sideline with a knee injury.
But there was to be no marring the Knights’ victory.
After they led 10-8 at halftime, they fell behind early in the second half when Canberra’s Elliott Whitehead busted over.
But they responded with three tries in 10 minutes with four-pointers to Joe Wardle, Sione Mata’utia and his brother Peter.
It marked their biggest win since August 2015, but continued a trend of troubling the Raiders after they twice took them to golden point last year.
And while Newcastle were handling error-free in the second half, Canberra struggled to make the most of their opportunities.
They completed at less than 50 per cent in the second period, and only had a late faint hope when winger Nick Cotric completed a double in the 76th minute, before they eventually let the Knights in again.
