Harrison Graham has been backed to get the job done at dummy-half for Newcastle in Sunday’s grand final after regular No.9 Phoenix Crossland was referred straight to the judiciary for his hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary.

Crossland was sent off late in the first half for a tackle that resulted in the world’s best player suffering a compound fracture of the ankle.

He became the first player in the NRL to be sent off for a hip-drop tackle and will front the judiciary on Tuesday night.

Dragons forward Ryan Couchman received a four-match ban for a tackle that ended J’maine Hopgood’s season earlier in the year.

The Knights defended stoically without Crossland on the field as they stunned the Panthers in the grand final qualifier, but they now have to do it again without the 2026 Danny Buderus Medal winner.

“I think the best thing that we could have done for Phoenix is win,” skipper Kalyn Ponga said.

“Otherwise, it probably would have been a lot worse for him. He’s going to be shattered and gutted and everything, but we’ve got his back.”

The suspension means Graham will likely start in the grand final against the Roosters after he came on and got through a mountain of work on Sunday.

“He’s crafty,” Ponga said.

“I think even out there tonight when he came on you could hear Penrith talking about him. He’s crafty but he’s got a ton of heart and he’s all effort in a lot of areas as well, so there’s plenty to like.”

Graham has only started two matches this year and will need to punch out huge minutes, with the 25-year-old playing 50 minutes just three times this season.

But the man who famously signed the first contract with the Dolphins is ready to fill the void in the biggest game of his life.

“Yeah, definitely (I can play 80),” he said.

“We’ll obviously have to wait and see what the Phoenix situation is. I don’t really know what’s going to happen, but I’m ready and let’s hope for the best.

“He’s been our best player all year. He’s been someone who’s been here since the younger grades with the Newcastle Knights and he epitomises what the team is.

“If he’s not playing next week, then we’ll have him on our shoulder and that’s what we’ll be playing for.“

Originally published as ‘We’ve got his back’: Phoenix Crossland referred straight to NRL judiciary following Nathan Cleary hip-drop tackle