Phoenix Crossland will have to argue his case at the NRL judiciary if he is any chance of playing in the grand final after he was cited for the hip drop that broke Nathan Cleary's leg .
Well, folks, it seems like the rugby league gods have decided to throw us a curveball—or should I say a hip-drop? In a turn of events that has left fans and players alike shaking their heads, Newcastle Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland has been sent packing to the NRL judiciary after a tackle gone wrong during Sunday’s preliminary final. Yes, you heard that right. A tackle that not only broke Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary’s ankle but also sent Crossland on a one-way ticket to the judiciary, where he’ll face the music.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Knights managed to pull off a surprising 22-14 victory against the Panthers, which is fantastic news for Newcastle fans. But the celebration was quickly overshadowed by the unfortunate injury to Cleary. I mean, who doesn’t want to see a grand final showdown with all the star players healthy and ready to rumble? Instead, we’re left with the sad image of Cleary being whisked away in an ambulance, likely contemplating life choices like, “Maybe I should have taken up knitting instead of rugby?”
Now, let’s talk about the tackle itself. A hip-drop tackle is about as popular as a soggy biscuit at a tea party, and Crossland’s move was deemed a textbook example of why it’s not just frowned upon, but also punishable by law—well, NRL law, at least. For those uninitiated, a hip-drop involves a player dropping their weight onto an opponent’s legs in a way that can lead to serious injury. And boy, did this one deliver.
With Cleary’s broken ankle now a hot topic of discussion, the NRL judiciary will have to decide Crossland’s fate. The stakes are high; he could be facing a lengthy suspension that not only keeps him out of the grand final but might also have repercussions for part of next season. Talk about a bad day at the office!
As for the Knights, they’ll be holding their breath, hoping that Crossland’s absence won’t derail their momentum as they head into what could be a historic grand final. Meanwhile, fans are probably already digging into their conspiracy theories about how the NRL might be rigging things to make the finals more exciting—or at least that’s what the internet will have us believe.
So, what’s the takeaway from this whole debacle? First, rugby is a tough sport, and injuries are part of the game. Second, we should probably add ‘hip-drop’ to our lexicon of phrases that make us cringe. And lastly, let’s hope Nathan Cleary has a speedy recovery because no one wants to see a grand final without the best players on the field.
As we await judgment day for Crossland, let’s keep our fingers crossed for Cleary and hope for a thrilling final showdown that doesn’t involve any more ambulances—unless, of course, they’re bringing in more snacks for the fans.
Inspired by: “Breaking: Knights star sent to NRL judiciary for tackle that broke Cleary’s leg” (r/News)