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Crossland banned four games for Cleary tackle
Margie McDonald & Scott Bailey, AAP •  September 29th, 2026 11:55 pm
Newcastle's Phoenix Crossland has received a four-game ban for his hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary | Photo: Mark Kolbe/AAP
Newcastle forward Phoenix Crossland apologised to "everyone" in rugby league as the NRL judiciary handed him a four-match ban for the hip-drop tackle that broke the leg of his favourite player, Penrith's Nathan Cleary.
During 85 minutes of evidence on Tuesday night at the NRL's Moore Park headquarters, Crossland said the incident had taken the focus off grand final week.
"Apologies to everyone involved in the game. I hope after tonight we can get back to the football," he said, holding back tears.
"If I could change the circumstances in any way, I would."
The suspension over the tackle in Newcastle's win over the Panthers in last Sunday's preliminary final, means Crossland will not only miss this Sunday's grand final against the Sydney Roosters but also the majority of the World Cup for New Zealand.
Phoenix Crossland prepares for his hearing at NRL headquarters | Photo: Mark Kolbe/AAP
Crossland, who has played six Tests for New Zealand, will now miss all three pool games for the Kiwis against Australia, the Cook Islands and Fiji. New Zealand would have to make the semi-finals for him to feature.
The 26 year-old emerged from the hearing to make a statement without taking questions.
"I want to thank everybody inside for a fair hearing. I apologise to Nathan and the Panthers and more importantly to the game and the fans," he said.
"It's a terrible start to the most important week of the year due to myself.
"As soon as I walk out this building my focus goes to the Newcastle Knights and winning this grand final, helping Harrison Graham prepare as best he can and get a win on Sunday."
Graham stepped into the hooking role against the Panthers after Crossland was sent off and has been named on the bench for Sunday.
Phoenix Crossland said he had apologised to Nathan Cleary, who acted like 'a real gentleman' | Photo: Mark Kolbe/AAP
Crossland also revealed he had contacted Cleary and his father, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, to apologise.
"It was a tough phone call and I just wanted to reach out and apologise," Crossland told Judiciary chair Geoffrey Bellew and panel members Ryan James and Paul Simpkins.
"It's been the worst couple of days of my life.
"He's my favourite player by a mile and the only reason he's in hospital is because of me.
"He was such a gentleman and told me not to worry and to stop saying sorry because these things just happen.
"He is a class act."
Nathan Cleary's horrific injury was one of the worst in the NRL this year | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Knights counsel James McLeod had asked for a penalty of no more than three matches but said a two-game ban would be appropriate given Crossland had shown deep remorse and pleaded guilty.
NRL counsel Patrick Knowles SC said that while there were mitigating circumstances, a penalty of four matches was appropriate, comparing it to a four-game ban handed to St George Illawarra prop Ryan Couchman earlier this year.
His hip-drop tackle on Parramatta's J'maine Hopgood resulted in a season-ending ACL tear.
Cleary's injury was one of the worst suffered on an NRL field this season.
He underwent emergency surgery in Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital on Sunday night.
Penrith staff had to hold Nathan Cleary's left foot in place as he was taken off the field | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Cleary is also Australia's incumbent halfback but will also miss the four-week World Cup, which starts on October 15.
The Knights submitted two character references for Crossland from 2001 premiership coach Michael Hagan and club legend Mark Hughes.
McLeod also drew attention to the fact Crossland had played 132 games for the Knights but never a grand final.
But Bellew said the game's judiciary code did not distinguish between matches.
"The fact a grand final will be missed is irrelevant," he said.
Crossland's 1077 tackles this year are the most of any player in the NRL, with the incident on Cleary only the second time he had been charged in 2026.
Tuesday night's decision came after Cleary called out those peppering the embattled Knight with social-media abuse and threats.
"Please don't be one of those people writing comments like this to Phoenix," Cleary posted alongside a graphic of some of the abuse Crossland had received.
"It was a complete accident and he doesn't deserve the unwarranted hate. He reached out to apologise and I have nothing but respect for him.
"He's a competitor and our game is made up of split-second moments that sometimes lead to unfortunate circumstances.
"Comments like this are so unfair. Spread love, not hate."
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