‘Worst couple of days of my life’: Crossland cops four-match ban for Cleary tackle

A remorseful Phoenix Crossland has described the fallout to a tackle that broke the leg of Nathan Cleary as “the worst couple of days of my life” as he was suspended for Sunday’s grand final.

The Newcastle hooker was banned for four matches at a judiciary hearing on Tuesday night, stripping him of a place in the Knights’ title decider against the Sydney Roosters and the start of New Zealand’s World Cup campaign.

The 26-year-old joins an unfortunate list of players to have sat out grand finals with suspension, among them Cameron Smith in 2008 with Melbourne, Latrell Mitchell with South Sydney in 2021, Steve Roach with Balmain in 1988 and Arthur Beetson with the Tigers in 1969.

Crossland’s destiny was all but sealed from the moment Cleary’s left leg was twisted in a hip-drop tackle during the first half of Sunday’s preliminary final and he was sent off.

The Panthers halfback suffered a compound fracture of his ankle and faces months of recovery after undergoing surgery.

“It’s been the worst couple of days of my life,” Crossland said. “He’s my favourite player by a mile so to be the reason he’s in hospital … it’s killing me.”

Having been referred directly to the judiciary without a charge or grading, the only question to be answered was how many games Crossland would be suspended for.

He took full responsibility for a tackle gone wrong as he was trying to save a try and revealed he had phoned Cleary’s father and Penrith coach Ivan Cleary to apologise on Monday, as well as the champion No.7 himself.

“I had to apologise first and foremost to make sure he’s doing all right,” said Crossland, who became emotional when asked about the prospect of missing a grand final.

“It’s a horrific incident and he’s our best player. I reached out to his dad as well. I apologised to him. It ruined a great game and left a sour taste in everyone’s mind.”

Crossland, who was the awarded the Danny Buderus medal as the Knights’ best and fairest player for the season, has been the subject of online abuse since being given his marching orders on Sunday which Cleary has condemned.

In his absence, Harrison Graham is set to be promoted to start at dummy half against the Roosters, but teenage hooker Diesel Hagan was also named in the Knights’ extended grand final squad for what could be a remarkable entry to the NRL.

If Hagan plays on Sunday he would be the first player to make his debut in a grand final since Eddie Lockhart for Balmain against the Roosters in 1936. He is no relation to Michael Hagan, Newcastle’s coach when they last won a premiership in 2001.

Michael Hagan and former Newcastle grand final winner Mark Hughes provided character references for Crossland to judiciary panel members Ryan James, Paul Simpkin and chairman Geoff Bellew, who were shown 12 angles of the offending tackle.

During an 80-minute hearing, Knights lawyer James McLeod had proposed a two- to three-game sanction but the panel imposed the four-match ban suggested by NRL counsel Patrick Knowles SC after deliberating for 17 minutes.

A gracious Crossland said he would turn his attention immediately to supporting his teammates.

“I want to thank everybody inside for a fair hearing,” he said. “I apologise to Nathan and the Panthers and more importantly the game and the fans.

“It’s a terrible start to the most important week of the year due to myself. As soon as I walk out of this building my focus goes to the Newcastle Knights winning this grand final [and] helping Harrison Graham prepare as best as he can and get a win on Sunday.”

Crossland’s suspension will be completed during the pool stage of the World Cup if New Zealand notifies the International Rugby League that he would have been selected.

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