Crossland referred straight to judiciary over Cleary hip-drop tackle

Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland has been referred straight to the NRL judiciary after being sent off for the hip-drop tackle that resulted in Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary suffering a broken ankle on Sunday.

The decision by the match review committee not to attach a grading to the incident indicates that the Knights dummy-half is facing a lengthy suspension.

That would rule him out of Sunday’s grand final as well as the start of next season.

Cleary was taken to hospital in an ambulance from Accor Stadium after his ankle was broken in the tackle in the first half of the preliminary final.

The Knights defeated Penrith 22-14 to book an unlikely place in the decider against the Sydney Roosters.