Newcastle say NRL prop Jacob Saifiti has been cleared of any wrongdoing after suffering a broken leg in a late-night altercation outside a pub.
Saifiti is facing months on the sidelines for the Knights after being injured in an incident allegedly involving Dane Cordner, the brother of NSW captain Boyd, early on Sunday morning outside a Newcastle bar.
He was knocked out after celebrating with Knights teammates who were farewelling England-bound forward Luke Yates.
The 22-year-old remains in hospital and NSW Police on Thursday said they had charged a 28-year-old from Adamstown with grievous bodily harm after he handed himself in on Wednesday.
The Knights said Saifiti was an innocent bystander and was not facing charges.
"Newcastle Knights player Jacob Saifiti has been exonerated by the police investigation from any culpability following an incident outside the Greenroof hotel last week," the Knights said in a statement.
"Saifiti attempted to defuse a situation involving other innocent bystanders, which led to his assault and charges have been laid.
"As such, this matter will be resolved in the courts and the club will make no further comment until the court case has run its course."
Saifiti underwent surgery and is facing three months on the sidelines, meaning he is likely to miss the start of the season and leaving him at a disadvantage to earn a first-grade spot after the recruitment of David Klemmer and Tim Glasby.
It comes after he was restricted to just eight NRL appearances this year because of shoulder surgery.
