Dolphins and former Newcastle forward Daniel Saifiti has reportedly played his last NRL game, with the 30-year-old expected to announce his immediate retirement this week. Saifiti hasn’t played in over 12 months due to a debilitating shoulder injury, after only managing eight games in 2025.
Reports emerged last week that Saifiti could be facing medical retirement, and on Sunday night leading NRL reporter Barry Toohey revealed the decision has been made. Toohey of the Newcastle Herald wrote on social media: “‘DSaf’ has played his last game. Medically retiring.”
Daniel Saifiti played seven State of Origin games for NSW.
(Getty Images)
Toohey reported that an official announcement would be made on Monday. Saifiti has played 191 NRL games since debuting for Newcastle in 2016. He played 183 games for the Knights before moving to the Dolphins in 2025.
A Fijian international, Saifiti also played seven State of Origin games for NSW between 2019 and 2021. The front-rower helped the Blues win the Origin series in 2019 and 2021, scoring a try in Game 1 of the 2021 series.
A medical retirement allows a team to get compensation from the NRL for the remainder of the player’s contract. The Dolphins will continue to support Saifiti while the NRL remunerates the club.
Daniel Saifiti in action for the Dolphins in 2025.
(Getty Images)NRL fans heartbroken for Daniel Saifiti
NRL fans were left shattered to learn of his medical retirement on Sunday night. One person wrote: “That is so sad. That kid lifted us out of a ditch in the worst days. Once a Knight….” Another wrote: “That is sad news. I can only wish him well for his future.”
A third added: “That’s awful news. Hopefully he can return to the Knights in some capacity soon in a coaching role or something.”
Saifiti underwent surgery on his shoulder at the end of 2025, after he initially suffered the injury in April that year. He was expected to return in the first few games of the 2026 season, but hasn’t managed to get back on the field.
“It’s a real shame as Daniel is a great guy and a fine player,” a source from the Dolphins told Wide World of Sports last week. “He still has a few options, and we will help him any way we can – we just have to wait and see.”