Knights rookie Phoenix Crossland compared to Broncos legend Darren Lockyer
Newcastle rookie Phoenix Crossland is firming to partner Mitchell Pearce in the Knights’ season opener, with one club insider saying his ‘Darren Lockyer playing style’ will complement the NRL veteran.
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He is the New Zealand-born playmaker being compared to Darren Lockyer that is putting his hand up to partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves for the Newcastle Knights next season.
Phoenix Crossland was born in 2000 – the year Lockyer guided the Broncos to the premiership – so he doesn’t remember watching the Queensland legend.
Other than YouTube clips, Crossland also has no recollections of Newcastle great Andrew Johns, another player he has been linked to.
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Age difference aside, the 19-year-old playmaker possesses the qualities to thrive at five-eighth alongside Pearce according to his former NSW under 18s coach Mark O’Meley.
“I think there is a good match there in the halves with Phoenix and Mitch Pearce,” O’Meley told The Daily Telegraph.
“They’ve got to slowly integrate him to get him battle hardened first but Phoenix is probably a more fluid half than someone like Connor Watson.
“Connor is more of a utility expert, where Phoenix would complement Pearce.
“You’ve still got to do your apprenticeship and time to build that confidence, so I wouldn’t throw him under the bus yet and say he should be in the six.
“But I’m sure Adam O’Brien is intelligent enough to slowly progress him.”
As an ex-first-grader himself with 201 games to his name, O’Meley is well versed to comment on the qualities required to succeed at the highest level.
And the man nicknamed ‘Ogre’ has no doubts that Crossland is an NRL-calibre talent.
“I think he is more a Darren Lockyer style player,” he said.
“He floats comfortably where Joey was a more dominant player.
“Locky was more visual and Phoenix is the same.
“He is also open to learning and he always asks questions. He understands when he makes errors and he can take constructive criticism and improve.
“Sometimes young players with that potential and ability struggle to accept criticism but Phoenix naturally takes it on to become better.”
Crossland only has one NRL game under his belt – 12 minutes against the Warriors in round 16 last season – but he is aiming high.
He sees the No.6 jumper as a realistic goal this off-season, especially if he can improve his defence.
“With a bit more training and experience, I feel like I could help Pearcy out,” said Crossland, who was born in Wellington, New Zealand before moving to the Central Coast at age two.
“I feel like this off-season is a good opportunity for a lot of us to get that No.6 jumper.
“I played five-eighth in the Intrust Super Cup last year, I was able to adapt my game playing outside Mason Lino and I felt like I got better as the season went on.
“I can let him do what he needs and I can play off the back of him.”
Crossland has enjoyed working with new Knights coach Adam O’Brien – a mentor who comes from successful systems at Melbourne and the Roosters.
“You can tell he has his head down and he really wants us to do something special,” he said.
“He has put in some standards and if we want to win premierships then we have to buy into it.
“But we have a good blend of youth and experience.
“I was talking to Kurt Mann and he said he was the third oldest player in the team at 26. “It just shows how young we actually are, which is good.”
Crossland, who first joined Newcastle as a 14-year-old, is signed to the Knights until the end of 2021 but he is keen to secure a long-term deal.
“I can’t see myself playing with another club, ever,” he said.
“That is just how I am feeling at the moment.
“Newcastle is my home – the club has done a lot for me and now it is time I start paying them back.”