Recalled Blues prop Jacob Saifiti says a cryptic pre-game message at Magic Round played on his mind and led to his “worst half of footy” of the year as he pondered whether he was in the mix to play State of Origin again this year.
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Knights and Blues assistant coach Brett White was speaking to Saifiti in the Suncorp Stadium sheds ahead of Newcastle’s game against the Titans when he dropped a simple line that actually rattled the prop forward.
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“‘Whitey’ sort of tipped me up before the game,” he said.
“We normally talk before the game because he wants to give me some directions and stuff, and then he said something along the lines of, ‘you know, it’s a big game for the Knights but maybe especially for you’.
“I could have been reading the room completely wrong but I was like, is he insinuating that I’m in the mix for Origin?
Jacob Saifiti knew he was in the mix for Origin after he received a cryptic message from assistant coach Brett White at Magic Round. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
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“It definitely didn’t work. It’s probably the worst half of footy I played this year, so lucky I came out the second half and we played some pretty good footy and got the win.
“I came out the second half and played pretty well. And then Loz (Blues coach Laurie Daley) gave me the call and that was pretty surreal as well.”
Saifiti scored a try on Origin debut but was devastated after the Blues lost the 2022 decider. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
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Next Wednesday’s series opener will be his third Origin game for the Blues, with Saifiti coming off the bench in 2022 and 2023.
He’s playing better now than he was back then, with the 30-year-old averaging as many minutes as he did when he set his career high in his debut season a decade ago.
“I just think I wasn’t ready,” he replied when asked how he’d changed as a player to the man who earnt a late call-up after an injury to Jordan McLean.
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“At the time, I actually wasn’t even meant to play. Jordan McLean did his hamstring and I got chucked in the deep end.
“Although I handled it pretty well I thought, I was still a kid and pretty raw. So this time around I’m a lot more experienced and I just can’t wait to get out there.
“I’m just so grateful to be back in here. Laurie’s trusted me to come in and do a job, so I’m going to do my best to repay him and repay the state and do my job for the team.”
Saifiti will provide size and strength off the bench for the Blues. Picture: Matt King/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
The Knights enforcer is the only recognised prop forward on the NSW bench, which suggests the Blues will look to play a more up-tempo style of footy under the game’s new rules.
But size still matters in the Origin arena, with Saifiti keen to make an impact in the middle before superstar Payne Haas likely returns from injury in game two.
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Next week’s game will hold extra meaning for Saifiti after twin brother Daniel was forced to medically retire earlier this month due to a chronic shoulder injury.
“I’ve got that last name on my back already, but especially with what happened with him recently, I’m going to be trying a little bit harder,” he said.