’Ball’s in my court’: Knights star confirms Dolphins interest but insists he’s ‘in no rush’ to leave
Ex NSW forward Daniel Saifiti has put his foot down, indicating “he is in no rush” to leave the Newcastle Knights amid rumours he’s signed with the Dolphins.
It comes as reports suggesting the 28-year-old was on the outer and in talks to sign with the Dolphins, after the club gave him permission to speak to rival teams as part of their roster rebuild.
Speaking to the media earlier this week, Saifiti confirmed the interest of the Dolphins but reassured that he was in control of his future at the Knights.
“I had a meeting up there and it went well. I saw it was announced (in the media) that I was signed, but that’s not true,” he said.
“If the club thinks I am taking a pay cut to go somewhere else, it’s not happening.
“I think someone from the club got an agenda so they could pay less money, but it is what it is. At the moment I am still signed at Newcastle for two years.
“At the end of the day the ball is in my court and I can do what I want.”
Saifiti is currently contracted to Newcastle for the next two seasons on a whopping $850,000 per year. He has indicated that this plays into his hands.
“I am in no rush,” he admitted.
“I feel like I am in a position where I have two years left on good coin. It’s not like I’m getting rushed out by the club.
“I have had talks with other teams. If I do go, I go. If I stay, I stay.
“The ball is in my court.”
During the forward’s nine-year tenure with the club he has been through ups and downs collecting two wooden spoons, but also playing in three finals series. This, plus his connection to the area, makes it hard to see him leaving unless he’s pushed out the door.
“It’s hard to leave Newcastle. My partner is from Newcastle, her family is from Newcastle. I’m from the Central Coast,” Saifiti said.
“If I do leave to go somewhere, even though I have been given permission to go, I don’t have to go. I have to be impressed to leave.
“I’m not going to go somewhere where I have to rebuild all over again. It just wouldn’t make sense.
“I have done that my whole career. I have been through wooden spoons. So for me to leave, I want to go to a good club.”
The Dolphins appeared to be a likely move for Saifiti due to his relationship with incoming Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf, who used to be an assistant coach at the Knights.
Woolf will take over from Wayne Bennett, who will leave the NRL’s latest club to return to the Rabbitohs on a three-year deal beginning next season.
Bennett has taken Dolphins forwards Euan Aitken and Lachlan Hubner with him to Redfern, significantly depleting the club’s forward pack for next season.
Meanwhile, the future of Tom Fleger remains up in the air after the Maroons star suffered nerve damage in his shoulder earlier this season, with Bennett indicating earlier this year the 24-year-old’s NRL future was not guaranteed.
Jesse Bromwich is also expected to call time on his career at the end of the season, while Tevita Pangai Junior – signed mid-season as cover for Flegler – is leaving for Catalan Dragons as season’s end.
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki joins the club from next season, bolstering the club’s forward pack ranks, but Saifiti would certainly bolster the club’s middle forward ranks.
It comes as Leo Thompson is considering taking himself to the open market, according to The Daily Telegraph.