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Phoenix Crossland earns a little more than 10 per cent of Kalyn Ponga\u2019s record $1.4 million salary and has worn more than his fair share of social media and face-to-face criticism already in his short NRL career.<\/p>\n
Which is just how he likes it.<\/p>\n
Because, alongside fellow playmaking bargain Tyson Gamble, the self-declared Knights underdogs bring serious value to Newcastle\u2019s roster and balance to a rejuvenated attack, allowing Ponga to deliver as the game\u2019s highest earner.<\/p>\n
Crossland\u2019s estimated $150,000 wage ranks among the lowest of spine players in this year\u2019s finals, with Canberra\u2019s Matt Frawley and Gamble ($180,000) opposing each other as cut-price five-eighths in Sunday\u2019s elimination final.<\/p>\n
Along with halfback Jackson Hastings, who like Ponga (shoulder) is on limited training duties this week to ensure they take their place against the Raiders, Newcastle\u2019s spine has come together in quick time due to injuries and selection shake-ups.<\/p>\n
The result though has been a thrilling nine-game winning run to the finals and the most stability Ponga has known in six years at the club, translating into career-best form across the playmaking board in the Hunter.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Phoenix Crossland (right) and Tyson Gamble celebrate a Knights try.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>NRL Photos<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not a big pay packet spine,\u201d Crossland says.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re pretty low-key and we like that. We like being underdogs, that\u2019s what Newcastle\u2019s built on, that blue collar, underdog status.<\/p>\n \u201cThat suits us just fine. We had people writing us off at the start of the year, picking us for the wooden spoon, so to prove those people wrong and keep proving them wrong is a very nice feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Gamble\u2019s 22 games this year have triggered bonuses that take his salary beyond $200,000 next year and extension talks loom in the off-season.<\/p>\n Along with the likes of upstart winger Greg Marzhew ($180,000) and prop Leo Thompson (believed to be less than $150,000), the Knights are getting bang for buck from their lower-tier earners.<\/p>\n Gamble too enjoys the upside of not only playing alongside Ponga, but making the most of his talent and profile.<\/p>\n \u201cKalyn can do some really freakish things obviously, but he\u2019s also a really good decoy,\u201d Gamble says.<\/p>\n \u201cDefenders don\u2019t want Kalyn with the ball in his hands too early because he can step left, step right and burn people. But as much as we want to give him the ball in the right position … a lot of our game plan has been about opening the field up for Kalyn, and it\u2019s opened it up for Jacko [Hastings] and myself at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd some of our outside backs are having career-best seasons with the extra space that they\u2019ve already helped earn for us.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, I love playing around him and it keeps my role nice and simple, which is when I play my best footy.\u201d<\/p>\n Crossland especially has come to the fore after taking up full-time dummy-half duties only when co-captain Jayden Brailey suffered a season-ending ACL rupture in April.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old local junior has followed Knights icon and football manager Danny Buderus in leading Newcastle\u2019s defensive line, and leant on the champion hooker, as well as Brailey, in his new role.<\/p>\n With an unprecedented third-straight sell out game looming at McDonald Jones Stadium, Crossland is revelling in the local fervour around the Knights, especially after seeing the other side of the town\u2019s passion last season.<\/p>\n \u201cLast year was definitely tough,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was my first full year in first grade and it was a tough year for the whole team. I wasn\u2019t playing the footy I wanted to. And when you get criticised around town, it\u2019s usually warranted.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople in Newcastle, they know their footy pretty well and they\u2019ll let you know if you\u2019re falling short. But when you are doing well, they\u2019re the first ones to congratulate you too.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to take the good with the bad and the tough years didn\u2019t sit well with anyone here.To turn it around, it\u2019s a very proud thing for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Stream the NRL Premiership 2023 live and free on <\/b>9Now<\/b>. <\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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