Newcastle prop Jacob Saifiti has been charged with striking after he was given an early shower in Friday night’s 32-2 loss to Canterbury for making contact with his head on Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney.
While it wasn’t a headbutt, Saifiti forcefully put his head onto Mahoney after the noted agitator got under his skin in the dying stages of the lopsided match at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Saifiti could be banned two matches if he challenges the charge at the judiciary but he can evade a suspension by copping a $3000 fine.
Canterbury’s No.9 was already a marked man before he entered McDonald Jones Stadium following his run-in with Newcastle’s Jack Hetherington when the two sides met in April.
Mahoney on that occasion also received a yellow card for inciting the prop forward and the pair squared off in a fiery exchange in the tunnel.
A week later, he found himself at the centre of a melee with Wests Tigers’ prop Alex Seyfarth as he helped his side to a 22-14 win.
But Mahoney was evasive when asked about what he made of the incident with Saifiti.
“I’m not sure. We’ll enjoy the win and get back Monday. We’ve got a big game coming up into a bye, so we’ll be looking forward to that,” he said.
There were no other charges from the match or Parramatta’s victory over Cronulla on Thursday night.
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