Long before going toe to toe with the Burgess brothers, a young and fearless Daniel Saifiti stood up to international prop and now Newcastle teammate David Klemmer.
"We had a couple of run-ins in one of his earlier games," Klemmer told the Herald. "I think I was running with my elbows or knees, and he called me a 'dog'."
No backward steps: Rookie NSW prop Daniel Saifiti at Origin training in Perth on Tuesday.Credit:AAP
"It was a good battle. He was only young. He's mentally tough, he's been through injuries and setbacks, but he's more than ready for Origin.
"That game against the Rabbitohs and the Burgess boys, he took them all on. There was a kick-off and Sam came at him again. He won't shy away from that stuff."
Advertisement
Saifiti, who has been given his Origin chance because of Klemmer's wrist injury, will not take a backward step against the Queensland pack if they try to put one over him.
Physically, that would be difficult given Saifiti stands at 196cm and weighs in at 117kg.
The fearless 24-year-old Knight made a name for himself a couple of weeks ago when he took the fight to the famous Burgess boys and even survived a headbutt from Tom.
Saifiti maintains it was that night which went a long way to helping him seal his first Blues jersey.
He asked me if I wanted to play State of Origin footy, and I said to him, 'let's go'.
Daniel Saifiti on his call-up by Brad Fittler
"Before that game there was a bit of talk, and after it I was talked about a lot more,'' Saifiti said.
"On the field, it's personal. They're trying to get one over our forward pack, but after the game you shake hands.
"When you play against the best forwards, it brings out your best. I'm definitely ready for Sunday. I don't shy away from the [contact]. It's a physical game these days. Things happen."
Saifiti learned of his Blues call-up as he was about to board a plane back from Melbourne on Saturday evening after Newcastle's heavy loss.
Two to tango: Daniel Saifiti goes at it with South Sydney's Tom Burgess in round 13. Both players were sin-binned. Credit:AAP
"I was at the airport with 'Pearcey' [Mitchell Pearce] and he said, 'someone wants to speak to you', he had a smile on his face, so I sort of knew who it was, and it was 'Freddy','' Saifiti said.
"He asked me if I wanted to play State of Origin footy, and I said to him, 'let's go'.
"It ended up being the longest plane trip of my life. I had so many thoughts in my head. It was so surreal knowing I was about to play Origin.
'It's the pinnacle of our game. My best memory of Origin was my first game. It was the night Gallen and Nate Myles punched on. It was full on.&Read More – Source
Long before going toe to toe with the Burgess brothers, a young and fearless Daniel Saifiti stood up to international prop and now Newcastle teammate David Klemmer.
"We had a couple of run-ins in one of his earlier games," Klemmer told the Herald. "I think I was running with my elbows or knees, and he called me a 'dog'."
No backward steps: Rookie NSW prop Daniel Saifiti at Origin training in Perth on Tuesday.Credit:AAP
"It was a good battle. He was only young. He's mentally tough, he's been through injuries and setbacks, but he's more than ready for Origin.
"That game against the Rabbitohs and the Burgess boys, he took them all on. There was a kick-off and Sam came at him again. He won't shy away from that stuff."
Advertisement
Saifiti, who has been given his Origin chance because of Klemmer's wrist injury, will not take a backward step against the Queensland pack if they try to put one over him.
Physically, that would be difficult given Saifiti stands at 196cm and weighs in at 117kg.
The fearless 24-year-old Knight made a name for himself a couple of weeks ago when he took the fight to the famous Burgess boys and even survived a headbutt from Tom.
Saifiti maintains it was that night which went a long way to helping him seal his first Blues jersey.
He asked me if I wanted to play State of Origin footy, and I said to him, 'let's go'.
Daniel Saifiti on his call-up by Brad Fittler
"Before that game there was a bit of talk, and after it I was talked about a lot more,'' Saifiti said.
"On the field, it's personal. They're trying to get one over our forward pack, but after the game you shake hands.
"When you play against the best forwards, it brings out your best. I'm definitely ready for Sunday. I don't shy away from the [contact]. It's a physical game these days. Things happen."
Saifiti learned of his Blues call-up as he was about to board a plane back from Melbourne on Saturday evening after Newcastle's heavy loss.
Two to tango: Daniel Saifiti goes at it with South Sydney's Tom Burgess in round 13. Both players were sin-binned. Credit:AAP
"I was at the airport with 'Pearcey' [Mitchell Pearce] and he said, 'someone wants to speak to you', he had a smile on his face, so I sort of knew who it was, and it was 'Freddy','' Saifiti said.
"He asked me if I wanted to play State of Origin footy, and I said to him, 'let's go'.
"It ended up being the longest plane trip of my life. I had so many thoughts in my head. It was so surreal knowing I was about to play Origin.
'It's the pinnacle of our game. My best memory of Origin was my first game. It was the night Gallen and Nate Myles punched on. It was full on.&Read More – Source
