Crossland referred straight to judiciary over Cleary hip-drop tackle
Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland has been referred straight to the NRL judiciary after being sent off for the hip-drop tackle that left Penrith star Nathan Cleary with a broken ankle on Sunday.
The match review committee’s decision not to attach a grading to the incident indicates the Knights dummy half faces a lengthy suspension.
That would rule him out of Sunday’s grand final, a stretch of the World Cup with New Zealand and potentially the start of next season.
Cleary was taken to hospital by ambulance from Accor Stadium after his ankle was broken in the tackle in the first half of the preliminary final.
The Knights defeated the Panthers 22-14 to book an unlikely place in the decider against the Sydney Roosters.
Cleary started from the bench in the grand final qualifier after sustaining a foot injury in the Panthers’ previous finals game a fortnight earlier.
Nathan Cleary is treated by Penrith medical staff on Sunday.Getty ImagesHis father and Penrith coach Ivan Cleary revealed after Sunday’s defeat that the halfback had carried a broken bone in his right foot into Sunday’s game, and he would need surgery on that as well as for the compound fracture in his left leg.
The competition’s best player was escorted from the field on a medicab while being administered pain relief in a shattering end to his season.
For Crossland, the tackle could also have significant ramifications, almost certainly costing him a spot in a grand final after Newcastle’s fairytale finals run.
The 26-year-old has been outstanding for Justin Holbrook’s team this season, particularly in defence, making more tackles than any other player in the league.
Phoenix Crossland was sent off for the bone-breaking hip-drop tackle on Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.Getty ImagesHe is said to have been left devastated by the moment gone wrong.
The judiciary hearing will be held on Tuesday night.
Newcastle will decide on a plea on Tuesday morning.
Two hip-drop tackles that caused injuries during the past two seasons are potential precedents in determining the duration of any suspension for Crossland.
One was in March when Dragons forward Ryan Couchman pleaded guilty and was hit with a four-game ban after he was charged for the tackle that ended the season of Parramatta forward J’maine Hopgood with a serious knee injury.
Manly’s Toafofoa Sipley also copped four matches for a hip-drop tackle that left St George Illawarra winger Mathew Feagai with a broken leg in 2025.
One possible mitigating factor for Crossland is that he will miss a grand final, which could carry additional weighting compared to a regular-season game.
Roosters lock Victor Radley was cleared to take his place in the grand final after escaping with a $3000 fine for a hip-drop tackle on Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth in Friday’s preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
Harrison Graham, who has played most of the season off the bench, appears best placed to be handed the No.9 jumper in Crossland’s absence. The 25-year-old joined Newcastle this year from the Dolphins.
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