Given that Daniel Saifiti is expected to leave the Newcastle Knights at the end of the season, the team is expected to make a big splash in the NRL free agency market.
The 28-year-old has a contract with the Knights that would keep him among the highest paid players at the team until the end of 2026, but according to reports from The Newcastle Herald and The Mole, Saifiti has been given permission to shop about and will likely sign a new contract with a rival team at the beginning of the following season.
The unexpected transfer comes after Saifiti’s poor play this season, as he has only averaged 87 meters per game in 13 games for Adam O’Brien’s team.
That comes after the Knights played 22 games in the previous season with little success, and the team is now looking to take a fresh approach in light of what the former New South Wales Origin player can provide.
With 173 NRL games played since making his debut in 2016, the 28-year-old has only played for one club thus far in his career.
Saifiti, who has always desired to play for just one club, claimed in an interview with the Newcastle Herald that the club has requested him to find a new place to live because of pressure from the salary ceiling.
According to Saifiti, “I believe Stevie Wonder could see that our salary cap is not in the best position.”
“But they’ve been upfront and honest, and I have to respect that. “I could stay if I really wanted to dig in and stay put.
“But if that’s the direction they want to go, I love this club too much. I’ll act in my family’s and my own best interests, but I also have this club’s interests in mind.”
The veteran forward’s departure from the Hunter still depends on him signing a new contract with a different team before the 2019–20 season begins.
Though there have been identified vulnerabilities on the middle third of the free agency market since November 1, there is no assurance that this will occur.
Most of the prominent names have found new homes, including two Addin Fonua-Blake and James Fisher-Harris who were released from their present teams.
The St George Illawarra Dragons were reportedly considering a high-ball offer for Stefano Utoikamanu, but they were also in the running for two of those players, including Saifiti.
The Tigers prop, who has contract terms that let him to depart at the conclusion of the season, is reportedly the target of a big money offer from the Canberra Raiders.
In the event that they lose Utoikamanu, the Tigers themselves have reportedly stated that they will go after Nelson Asofa-Solomona. However, should they lose their present forward pack leader, they may be inclined to split apart or perhaps turn their attention to Saifiti.
The Storm may try to acquire Saifiti as they have also been looking for props.
Given that Saifiti is reportedly signed to a contract worth about $750,000 annually, the Knights’ wage cap situation will be severely strained if he is unable to find a new team during his two-year stay.