Phoenix Crossland restricted from NRL Grand Final presentation

Newcastle Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland will be restricted by NRL rules during the upcoming Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters following a four-match ban. The suspension was issued due to a hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary that required the Penrith player to undergo emergency surgery.

While Crossland is permitted to be in the dressing rooms, the warm-up room, and the players’ enclosure during the match, he is prohibited from sitting on the Knights' bench. If Newcastle wins, Crossland is allowed to celebrate with his teammates on the field and join in trophy celebrations, but he will be barred from participating in the official on-stage presentation.

Knights coach Justin Holbrook supported the player by naming him in the No. 9 jersey for the final game despite the ban. Following the incident, Crossland reached out to Cleary to apologize; Cleary subsequently used social media to defend Crossland, describing the tackle as an accident and urging fans to stop abusing the player.