The Knights had already lost influential players Kalyn Ponga and Jayden Brailey to concussion and Tyson Frizell to an ankle injury when Saifiti hit Simpkin from marker in the 65th minute of Newcastle’s 14-12 win at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

As Simpkin ran against the grain, he was struck in the head by Saifiti’s shoulder and fell to the ground, apparently unconscious.

Simpkin was eventually able to walk from the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA) and did not return, given the match had only 15 minutes to run, which is the time required for an HIA.

Saifiti, who made his State of Origin debut for NSW last year, became the first player sent off this season but Newcastle held on for a gutsy victory with only 12 men on the park.

On Monday, the NRL match review committee categorised Saifiti’s hit as a grade-three reckless high tackle, the worst grading possible for the offence.

It marks the harshest charge handed down for a high tackle since Zane Tetevano challenged his grade-three reckless charge in the final round of the 2017 season.