Knights prop Saifiti receives season-ending ban after sending-off

Jacob Saifiti’s NRL season is effectively over after the Newcastle prop received a four-game suspension for a high tackle on Warriors winger Luke Laulilii.

Saifiti was sent off during Sunday’s 46-32 loss in Auckland. The NRL match review committee later charged him with a grade-two reckless high tackle. Newcastle has a bye in the final round of the regular season, so the suspension would begin with the Knights’ first finals game.

Newcastle currently sits seventh and is due to play an elimination final in the opening week. Even if the Knights reach the grand final, Saifiti would remain suspended. His only chance of playing again this season is to challenge the charge before the judiciary on Tuesday. If he appeals and loses, one additional week will be added to the ban.

Cronulla prop Tom Hazelton is also set to miss his team’s final regular-season game against Melbourne after receiving a citation for a hip-drop tackle on Ronald Volkman. Hazelton was sin-binned during Sunday’s loss to Parramatta. An early guilty plea would result in a one-game ban, allowing him to return for the first week of the finals.