One of the Newcastle Knights‘ most promising young forwards, Wil Sullivan, has been forced to medically retire at just 22, following a series of worrying head knocks. The Newcastle Herald’s Barry Toohey reported that Sullivan’s heartbreaking decision to cut his rugby league career short came on the advice of medical experts after a number of concussions cruelled his progress.
The former Queensland under-19s prop was signed from the North Queensland Cowboys last year and relocated to Newcastle to chase his dream of playing in the NRL. Sullivan was contracted with the Knights until the end of the 2028 season and played 11 games for the Knights’s NSW Cup side in 2025.
Knights young gun Wil Sullivan (L) has been forced to medically retire at 22, having previously been considered a big chance to crack Justin Holbrook’s (R) first-grade squad at Newcastle. Pic: Getty
But the 22-year-old endured a difficult campaign last year after suffering five separate head knocks that raised major questions around his playing future. Those concerns were exacerbated ahead of the 2026 season when Sullivan suffered a fresh concussion during pre-season training which prompted the young gun to seek the advice of medical specialists.
He underwent a series of tests before it was ultimately decided that the best thing for Sullivan’s long-term health would be to hang up the boots. The sad decision comes a little over 12 months after Knights Head of Recruitment Peter O’Sullivan hailed the young gun’s signing from North Queensland and touted him for a bright future in the NRL.
“Wil brings great leg speed, aggression and a carry that will suit our squad,” O’Sullivan said last year. “He is a junior Queensland representative player, who will challenge for NRL spots at some stage throughout the year.
“Wil is a country boy from Laidley who has progressed nicely through the ranks at the North Queensland Cowboys, he will fit into our system perfectly and we are very excited to welcome him to the Newcastle community.”
Knights fans rocked by two retirements in one week
Sullivan’s career-ending news comes just days after former Newcastle fan favourite Daniel Saifiti was also forced to medically retire from the NRL. The 30-year-old Dolphins forward said he didn’t want to be a burden on the club after making the sad announcement on Monday, having played 183 games for Newcastle and eight for the Dolphins.
Dolphins and former Knights forward Daniel Saifiti said he had to decide what was best for his family and teammates after announcing his medical retirement from the NRL this week.
The front-rower hadn’t played since Round 8 last year due to a shoulder injury. The former NSW State of Origin forward has undergone multiple surgeries and extensive rehab, but the shoulder hasn’t responded. And Saifiti said he had to put his teammates and family first by deciding to hang up the boots.
“It would have been unfair on me and the team if I had tried to keep going,” Saifiti told reporters this week. “If I risked any more damage it would have affected my quality of life after footy with two young kids, and I want to have more with my beautiful partner. It would have been selfish for me to keep going. When the surgeon went inside he said it was one of the worst he had seen.”