Anthony Milford's drawn out contract registration saga this week only goes to prove something most people already knew about the Newcastle Knights.
While the Knights are constantly striving to consistently compete on the field with the NRL premiership heavyweights, off the field, the club is a lightweight when it comes to wielding any sort of influence or power at head office.
Maybe it's a by-product of being devoid of any real success over the past 20 years. Whatever the reason, the lack of a powerful voice, someone willing to stand up and rattle the cage of the game's decision-makers when it's needed, hasn't helped the club this week.
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Like just about everyone else in rugby league, the Knights were of the opinion recruitment target Milford's exile from the game would immediately end if he was cleared of assault charges in a Brisbane court on Monday.
The club had agreed to terms with the former Broncos playmaker several weeks ago on a deal for the remainder or this season with the expectation he would be cleared by the court.
But after the charges were indeed dropped this week, not only did CEO Andrew Abdo continue to block his return to rugby league until the NRL investigated the incident themselves, he even knocked back a request from the Knights to at least allow Milford to train with the club.
In a bid to finally force Abdo's hand and expedite things, the Knights lodged a contract with the NRL on Thursday.
You can't help but think if it was the Sydney Roosters trying to sign Milford and Nick Politis was involved or if it was the Storm chasing him, there would have been a different outcome.
Coaches from two other 'lightweight' clubs, Justin Holbrook [Titans] and Todd Payten [Cowboys], spoke out recently about referees favouring the "big clubs" with the 50-50 decisions on the field because of the perception they are expected to win.
The widely-held belief is the heavyweight clubs, more often than not, get the rub of the green with calls in games. But do the 'lessor' clubs suffer off the field as well?
Those without a loud voice certainly seem to.
Saifiti's slump
After starring for the NSW Blues in last season's State of Origin series, Daniel Saifiti was quite rightly rated among the best props in the game. He would have made a Kangaroos side if it was named at the time.
But if you were fair dinkum and picking a NSW side based purely on form from the first five rounds of the competition, the Knights prop would be lucky to even make the squad. No doubt a pre-season injury hasn't helped his cause. He has looked off the pace and his discipline has let him down.
The good news is no-one would be more aware of his early season struggles than DSaf. He is his own biggest critic. Expect to see a response from him against the Dragons tomorrow.
Barnett decision
The Knights have made a last ditch attempt to try and talk enforcer Mitch Barnett into staying at the club with CEO Phil Gardner meeting with the suspended forward late last week.
Privately though, the club appears resigned to losing him to a big money offer from the Warriors that will give Barnett and his young family more security.
The versatile forward, currently serving a six-game ban, is in his seventh season at the club and under contract for next season. But the two-time Danny Buderus medalist is almost certain to be allowed to go at the end of the year if he opts to accept the Warriors deal.
Pasami's plight
Young Knights prop Pasami Saulo's future at the club is under a cloud with the off-contract 23-year-old struggling to get a look in at NRL level this season.
Despite injuries and suspensions hitting the forward pack hard, Saulo is yet to get a call up, a sure sign of where he sits in the pecking order. A player in a similar boat is outside back Brayden Musgrove, who has lost ground in his battle to play NRL again.
Higgins' triumph
Just 24 hours before scoring the match-sealing try for the Sydney Roosters in the NRLW grandfinal last weekend, Newcastle's Olivia Higgins could barely run.
A serious ankle ligament injury threatened to force her out of the decider. But after initially being ruled out by the physio, she managed to convince her coach to let her play after somehow battling through the captain's run.
Olivia is the daughter of former premiership-winning Waratah captain coach Craig Higgins and the sister of Souths Lions premiership winners Luke and Liam.
Rightly so, she now holds the bragging rights in her proud family.
Memories of Jack
There will be endless stories told in the wake of sporting legend Jack Newton's sad passing on Thursday night.
Personally, I'll never forget him grabbing me outside the front of the old Newcastle Workers Club the night the Knights won the 1997 grandfinal and forcing his way, with me in tow, through a massive crowd of fans and past a burly security guard who was letting no-one in, just to get us into the players' inner sanctum.
Other yarns, like him out-driving me one handed during a friendly golf game many years ago, I don't tell as often.
A great man. Our thoughts are with Jackie, Clint, Kristie, family and friends.
