Crossland expected to miss grand final with guilty plea over Cleary tackle
The Newcastle Knights are expected to be without Phoenix Crossland for the NRL grand final after he pleads guilty at the judiciary over the tackle that snapped Nathan Cleary's leg.
Newcastle Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland is expected to miss the club's first men's grand final in 25 years after pleading guilty to dangerous contact for a tackle that broke Nathan Cleary's leg. A judiciary hearing is scheduled for 6pm AEST tonight to determine the severity of Crossland's punishment, which will likely result in his absence from the game.
Cleary, who suffered a compound fracture, has urged fans to stop abusing Crossland online, stating that the tackle was an accident and Crossland does not deserve the hate. Newcastle Knights football director Chris James described the incident as a horrible accident at speed under fatigue. Crossland has a history of making tackles in the NRL, and he acknowledged that this was his one wrong decision.
Despite the severity of the injury, the club and Crossland himself have expressed their support and well-wishes for Cleary's recovery.
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