Newcastle forward Pauli Pauli is in Gosford Hospital after being one of ten people involved in a terrible seven-car pileup on the M1 overnight.

The young tyro has a broken leg and hip while another man is in a critical condition after being thrown through the windscreen of his vehicle.

“Shortly before 10pm (Wednesday), police and emergency services were called to the northbound lane of the M1, south of the Hawkesbury River Bridge, after seven vehicles were involved in the crash” a police statement said.

“It’s believed three vehicles travelling north – a Toyota MR2, a Subaru Liberty and a Mazda Tribute – were involved in the initial crash. As a consequence of that initial crash, four more vehicles – a Toyota RAV4, a VW Golf .a Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Hilux – were also impacted.”