26-year-old Jacob Saifiti has had a whirlwind year and proved he has what it takes to play at the highest level after a shock call-up to the NSW team where he made his debut in Game 3 against Queensland.
Saifiti scored a try on debut for the Blues and his reaction to that moment is iconic even if the Blues did go on to lose the match.
Saifiti has reflected on his career in an interview with Athlete’s Voice.
The Newcastle Knights stalwart has played well over 100 games for the club and he’s been able to experience the highs and lows alongside his twin brother Daniel with the pair picked at the same time.
“We just found out that we got picked. Me and my brother drove down to the Central Coast and told my family. Everyone was there in the backyard. Tears were flowing. A lot of happiness. It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” Jacob Saifiti said.
It could have been a different story for Jacob. He admits that he would never have played in the NRL if he didn’t break his bad habits.
“We just finished year 12 and had the gap year there.”
“I probably enjoyed my food a bit too much and put on a bit of weight. Still a bit heavy to be playing any type of professional footy and we got the call.”
“That’s when I started to eat healthier. Dropped about 10 kilos.”
“Got the chance to come up here (to Newcastle). Turned my life around with my health and turned a page there.”
“I was playing local park footy and then two years later I was playing against people I idolised growing up.”
Saifiti was on top of the world but just when his career was taking off he broke his shoulder and missed most of 2018.
That was then followed by a broken leg after an off-field incident where he was involved in a fight with Dane Cordner.
“I made some poor off-field social choices,” Saifiti said.
“I really found myself in a dark hole. I didn’t know where I would end up. It sort of made me knuckle down even harder.”
You can catch Jacob’s full story at Athlete’s Voice.
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