Newcastle Knights star faces judiciary showdown after send-off for horror tackle that ended Nathan Cleary’s season

Newcastle Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland will face the judiciary in a bid to keep his NRL Grand Final dream alive. 

Crossland was sent from the field in Sunday’s preliminary final after a hip-drop tackle resulted in Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary suffering a compound fracture to his leg.

Crossland was expected to be dealt a high-range charge, but was instead referred straight to the NRL judiciary, where he will have to fight for his chance to play in the decider.

He has been charged with dangerous contact over the 35th-minute incident. 

Crossland’s hearing is likely to be held at the NRL’s Moore Park headquarters on Tuesday night. 

The outcome could also affect Crossland’s World Cup hopes, with a lengthy suspension potentially ruling him out of New Zealand’s squad.

The Knights star was sent off in the 35th minute of Sunday’s preliminary final at Accor Stadium after a hip-drop tackle left the Penrith halfback in agony.

Newcastle overcame his dismissal to win 22-14 and book a showdown with the Sydney Roosters, securing the club’s first grand final appearance since 2001.

But the victory was overshadowed by the distressing scenes involving Cleary, whose mother Rebecca cried in the stands as medical staff rushed to her son.

The four-time premiership winner was given green whistle pain relief before being taken from the field on a medicab, with teammates gathering around him.

Knights second-rower Francis Manuleleua spotted the injury and urgently called for help.

Cleary was taken to hospital, with his father and Panthers coach Ivan later revealing he required surgery on both the newly injured ankle and an existing broken foot.

‘He’s in hospital now just waiting for surgery,’ Ivan said.

‘He will have to get the other foot done as well because that was broken.

‘I think that’s why I was even more emotional on what happened to him, how hard he worked and what he put himself through to get himself to play today.’

Cleary had started on the interchange bench because of the injury to his right foot, entering the contest in the 25th minute.

Just 10 minutes later, his season was over.

The scores were locked at 6–6 when Crossland brought him down near Newcastle’s try-line.

Referee Gerard Sutton explained his decision to dismiss the hooker in an exchange with Crossland and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga.

‘Initially he’s up high, he makes a definite action to twist,’ Sutton said.

‘He comes down on the leg with weight. There’s extreme risk of serious injury. You’re off.’

Crossland was later shown looking devastated in the dressing room as his teammates fought to keep their premiership campaign alive.

The incident sparked immediate discussion about the send-off, with former Melbourne Storm and Roosters champion Cooper Cronk backing Sutton’s call.

‘I cannot really argue with what Sutton has done there. It’s one of the rare rules where if there’s severe injury, it’s severe force,’ Cronk said on Fox League.

Former premiership-winning playmaker Luke Keary admitted the extent of Cleary’s injury had changed his assessment.

‘I’m speechless,’ Keary said.

‘I didn’t think it was a send-off initially, but you’ve got to take into account the severity of the injury.’

Cleary will also miss Australia’s World Cup campaign, while Crossland’s availability for New Zealand is another consideration arising from the incident.

The Knights hooker had been expected to fill the Kiwis’ bench utility role behind starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King.

Penrith’s injury toll extended beyond its star halfback, with Ivan revealing Dylan Edwards had ruptured his PCL during the first half and continued playing.

Captain Isaah Yeo had also been playing with a fully ruptured pectoral muscle, leaving both players’ World Cup participation in doubt.

For Newcastle, attention now turns to the Roosters and the chance to claim the club’s first premiership in 25 years.