NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Daniel Saifiti of the Knights looks on during the round 24 NRL match between the Newcastle Knights and the Melbourne Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
The Newcastle Knights will have to do things the hard way on the run into the NRL finals, with State of Origin representative Daniel Saifiti sustaining a knee injury against the Cronulla Sharks.
While the club are yet to officially comment on the severity of the impact, it's thought Saifiti sustained a knee injury.
Coach Adam O'Brien spoke to the injury at the post match press conference, with Saifiti originally able to retake his position in the game for a few moments before being brought from the field.
"Potential medial (cruciate ligament)," O'Brien said.
"The positive is he got back up in the line.
"The negative is he didn't stay in the line for too long. But he's in there getting assessed now so we'll see where he's at."
Saifiti is expected to be out for a couple of weeks if the injury is confirmed, meaning he will be racing the clock to play again before finals.
The Knights are currently in a mid-table scrap to make the finals, but yesterday's victory over the Sharks, combined with losses for the Canberra Raiders (to the Melbourne Storm) and Gold Coast Titans (to the South Sydney Rabbitohs) this weekend mean the Knights are two points clear and on pole position to finish in the top eight given their easy run home.
O'Brien's side will play the Canterbury Bulldogs this week, before facing the Gold Coast Titans in a crunch Round 24 match, then will finish their season with the Brisbane Broncos.