Crossland appreciation thread

[Yosh]

Brandon Smith and Marshall-King would likely be the hooker rotation for the Kiwis but he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.

Would Crossland be 3rd in line? Brandon Smith is quite injury prone so we might actually see Crossland play rep footy. What a world we live in.

 

[Old dog]

Think we have gone a bit far with Crossland and his improvement, yes he is much better than he was early in season. But he is not the complete hooker but is on his way. Not that long ago he was picked on as not any good, why did we resign him, coaching staff haven’t a clue etc etc.
Can’t believe we are talking international, playing for NZ, yes I wish him well, think his efforts and improvement are to be admired.
I’m sure he isn’t in the top 10 No9’s in NRL or the top 3 for NZ but he will likely get there if he keeps up the effort and improvement.
Unfortunately there are some that get carried away with results and then pick out individuals for those results.
The team as a whole is why we are going well and Crossland along with others are showing improvement because of it.

 

[PhilGould]

Not an overreaction to say NZ will want him in the squad at all, he's by far the most in-form eligible hooker and they have almost no other hookers available. Smith will be there but isn't an 80 minute player and JMK is injured. Beyond that you're looking at Danny Levi or similar level. Even if they go with Nikorima as #14 behind Smith they're going to want another genuine hooker option in the squad.

 

[Yosh]

Think we have gone a bit far with Crossland and his improvement, yes he is much better than he was early in season. But he is not the complete hooker but is on his way. Not that long ago he was picked on as not any good, why did we resign him, coaching staff haven’t a clue etc etc.
Can’t believe we are talking international, playing for NZ, yes I wish him well, think his efforts and improvement are to be admired.
I’m sure he isn’t in the top 10 No9’s in NRL or the top 3 for NZ but he will likely get there if he keeps up the effort and improvement.
Unfortunately there are some that get carried away with results and then pick out individuals for those results.
The team as a whole is why we are going well and Crossland along with others are showing improvement because of it.

I reckon you're being way too harsh on Crossland there. His defense and effort are up there with the best in the league for any position and he hasn't missed placed a pass in many games now. He also offers a sneaky kicking game which has lead to at least 2 tries this season. He isn't as tricky or as dynamic as Cook, Api or Grant but I'd rate him close to Brailey both senior and junior.

 

[Old dog]

Wasn’t harsh, didn’t say anything against him, said he was getting better and likely to keep improving.
My comments were mainly at the hyped up comments about becoming an international even though he is new to position and still learning and developing.
I think he has been very good for us and plays with a lot of effort.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Like Phil has pointed out, NZ doesnt have a lot of depth at hooker and Phoenix has been receiving a lot of praise lately and not just from the Knights fanbase. Its not at all out of the question that he gets a squad position with them

Its certainly a quick rise though. He was maligned around here not so very long ago

 

[aqua_duck]

I'm gonna go out on a crazy limb here but will Crossland ever get an Origin jersey? If he was a Queenslanders I reckon he would get a call up in a couple of years because he is a hardworking passion player.

Will be hard for him to leapfrog the guys like Reece Robson and Blayke Brailey who seem to be anointed next in line after Cook and Koroisau.

 

[Yosh]

Anyone catch the interview with Kemp, Cam Smith and Crossland? Good to see him get recognition from around the league.

 

[Yosh]

Did this guy play the whole 90 minutes and make 60 tackles against that Raiders pack on the weekend? I can't see Brailey getting the 9 jersey back next season.

 

[drizzy drake]

What about his try saving tackle near the line that he won’t get credit for since the play got called back. Never been so wrong about a player, f**king love him.

 

[Nuke]

I'm another convert to Crossland. I have a lot of respect for those that try their guts out but just don't have what it takes, so up until about 11 weeks ago, Phoenix was on top of that group. On a few occasions this year in particular, we saw glimpses of what he can do, so the potential was there.

Then July 2023 occurred and all the pieces just fit at the same time. Wow.

As others have said or suggested, injury-prone Brailey is in for a fight for his #9 jersey ... and I don't know that he's the better option anymore.

 

[Yosh]

Maybe Crossland, Brailey and Elliot can share 9 and 13? That's 160 minutes for 3 players. 60 minutes for Crossland and Elliot and 40 for Brailey? Crossland can shift into 13 for a while when Elliot gets a rest?

 

[Knight Tales]

It’s Brailey who will be fighting for his spot next year. I could see him leaving early TBH. Lot’s of clubs need a good dummy half. Not a chance in hell AOB moves Phoenix.

 

[ryan.a87]

With Mann leaving to doggies, it makes perfect sense for Crossland to play 14

Brailey plays the first 20 or so when the game is really grindy…..then Crossland comes on when the forwards are tired and does all his zippy gutsy plays. Then Brailey can come back on to close out the game

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Right now I'd be playing Brailey at 14. That's how good Crossy is going.

 

[Nuke]

Right now I'd be playing Brailey at 14. That's how good Crossy is going.

Likewise.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

I'd be playing Brailey at 14 at the start of 2024 purely because he's played 2/10ths of FA footy the last 12 months and will need to be eased back in.

Whether Phoenix deserves a starting spot over him doesn't come into it imo

 

[Mr_Knightside]

I think moving forward Brailey needs to have his minutes managed carefully, he doesn't need to be playing 80 minute stints anymore. He is still an excellent player when he's fit but Crossland has grown into a proper first grader now and I can see them doing 40 minutes each per game from next year onward. It makes sense for Crossland to be in the no.14 long term because he can come on and spell Brailey from 9 but also covers halves if we have an injury, we then have KPP/Lucas/Cartwright all competing for a starting second row spot or bench spot.

I can potentially see us having this as our bench next year:
14 - Crossland
15 - Lucas/KPP/Cartwright
16 - DSaf
17 - Hetherington

 

[Yosh]

Crossland should play at least 60 minutes a game. I don't know if all those minutes should come at hooker or he should play some 13 as well but he is the gel holding the middle together.

 

[Tom155]