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Gutted, proud Crossland warns Knights can fire in 2027
Annabelle Banfield, AAP •  October 5th, 2026 5:30 pm
The Knights were a dejected crew after their grand final defeat but they've vowed to bounce back | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
Phoenix Crossland has admitted it was difficult to watch from the sidelines as Newcastle went down by a single point to the Sydney Roosters in the NRL grand final.
The Knights hooker received a four-match suspension after a hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary in the preliminary final as the Penrith star dislocated and broke his ankle.
Whilst Crossland was hugely disappointed not to be on the field for the decider, he shared his deep pride in his teammates after their courageous performance against mounting statistical odds in Sunday's 19-18 defeat.
"It was difficult to not be part of it, couldn't have my hands on the result but they didn't need me out there," Crossland told AAP.
"It's not about me. It's about the the 17 that take the field so I know we fell short but we made plenty of people proud."
Phoenix Crossland was reduced to a support role after his send off a week earlier | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
The suspended star savoured the excitement around the team leading up to the game despite his ban.
"Probably the the most exciting week of my life as far as community and and fan base, so, it was really special," Crossland said. "I loved every minute."
Crossland warned the Knights could take plenty of stopping in 2027, after also entering the grand final without key players Dylan Brown, Trey Mooney and Jacob Saifiti through injury or suspension.
"I think we just got to get so close to winning...we fought so hard and played so well as a team that people forget the players we've had out. So when we get everyone back, we're going to be firing."
Captain Kalyn Ponga warned future success won't come easy despite this year's fairytale finals run from wooden spooners in 2025.
Knights' ace Kalyn Ponga reflects after his team's gut-wrenching loss | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"Nothing is given, we still have to earn everything we get next year," Ponga warned.
"The youth that is coming through, it gives us evidence we can do it."
Halfback Sandon Smith believed the result will only add fuel to the team's pre-season preparation.
"I always say, if we're going to lose one or win one, we'll nurture this feeling and it can only help us," the former Rooster said.
"It's so disappointing because it's hard to get here. It's not going to happen every year, but we'll use this feeling of motivation next year."
The gutting loss couldn't diminish coach Justin Holbrook's immense pride in the team's performance.
"I've never watched a harder game of footy, I am so proud but you just felt for them," Holbrook said.
"I've never seen a gutsier performance."
"To still be in it at the end there was an enormous effort from the boys."
Roosters' Daly Cherry-Evans and Daniel Tupou hug amid the Knights' desolation | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
But in the end, the relentless Roosters' punishing defence was simply too much to overcome.
"We were coming off our own line facing baseball bats there," said Holbrook.
"If you can win anything on heart and effort, then we definitely won that because it was the hardest game of footy I have ever coached."
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