Crossland puts nerves aside to keep Knights rolling

He kept his feelings to himself, but Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland battled nerves and self-doubt after being knocked out against Melbourne earlier this month. 

In a typically whole-hearted performance in his comeback match, Crossland made 52 tackles and almost scored a try as the Knights made it five wins from their past six outings with a 22-20 defeat of the Dragons.

A fortnight earlier at AAMI Park, the 25-year-old New Zealand international was taken from the field on the medicab and spent most of the night under observation in hospital after a head clash with Storm centre Joe Chan in the first five minutes. 

“I guess I can say it now, I was very nervous for this game, but I wouldn’t tell the lads or anyone, so I’m glad I got through it," Crossland told NRL.com after the Knights hung on to down the Dragons. 

Crossland played all 80 minutes against the Dragons, starting at hooker and shifting to lock during the game to allow Harrison Graham to play dummy half, and expects to play a similar role when the Knights welcome Wests Tigers to McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. 

It is the second of three straight home games for the Knights, who have won their past three in Newcastle against the Dragons, Eels (28-20) and Rabbitohs (42-38). 

“We’ve got the Tigers up here next week and they’re going well this year too,” he said. 

“This year’s been good because teams have been coming up here knowing they’ve got to put their best foot forward now. 

“We’re expecting the Tigers to be red-hot but we’ve got a long turnaround, we’ll have a good review of this game with the team and get ready for next Sunday.” 

Crossland praised Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook and the club’s medical staff for allowing him to recover from his head knock under no pressure to rush back. 

The Knights had their second bye after their 32-30 loss to the Storm, so Crossland did not miss a game during his mandatory 11-day stand-down period, then was eased through training in the lead-up to the Dragons match. 

He left hospital around 4am on the Saturday morning after the Storm game and rejoined his teammates at their Melbourne hotel in time to fly back to Newcastle with them. 

“It took me a good week to probably start feeling like myself again,” he said. “I didn’t really tell anyone but I was pretty nervous coming into this game. 

“I guess anyone that’s been knocked out understands the danger around it, and you sort of doubt yourself, but after a few tackles in the first five minutes, I was back. 

“I was probably more nervous this game than most, as far as defence and contact go, but I got through it, so I’m happy. 

“You’ve got your 11-day stand-down where you’ve got to go by the book, and we did that, but as far as contact goes throughout the week, the coaches and staff really looked after me and I’m very grateful to them.

“I guess that helps as well, not being pushed to play when you’re not ready, but they let me take my time and see how I was feeling, and I was good to go.” 

Crossland has endured a rough first half of the season, having suffered a broken nose in Newcastle’s 24-16 victory over the Bulldogs in Round 4, and a broken finger in their season-opening 28-18 win against the Cowboys in Las Vegas four weeks earlier. 

“I saw an old photo of myself the other day and I look like a completely different person,” he said.

“I’ve got a broken nose, broken face, I’ve been knocked out a couple of times, so I’m definitely starting to look like a hooker, but it’s all good fun, and I love it.” 

Holbrook said Crossland was one of several senior players who helped cover the absence of captain Kalyn Ponga and second-rowers Dylan Lucas and Jermaine McEwen. 

“He was terrific. He’s an 8.5, nine out of 10 for us every single game,” Holbrook said of Crossland, who has not missed a game this year despite his spate of injuries. 

“He’s so consistent, and he was excellent. 

“I love him in our footy team, and you’ve got to rely on all these boys to really step up when a couple of those key guys don’t play, and they did that.”