Claims extracted
26
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
8%
2 of 26 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
61/100
The Sydney Morning Herald's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
3
Sports
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
A remorseful Phoenix Crossland has described the fallout to a tackle that broke the leg of Nathan Cleary as “the worst couple of days of my life” as he was suspended for Sunday’s grand final.
asserted
he → describe → final
The Newcastle hooker was banned for four matches at a judiciary hearing on Tuesday night, stripping him of a place in the Knights’ title decider against the Sydney Roosters and the start of New Zealand’s World Cup campaign.
asserted
hooker → ban → campaign
The 26-year-old joins an unfortunate list of players to have sat out grand finals with suspension, among them Cameron Smith in 2008 with Melbourne, Latrell Mitchell with South Sydney in 2021, Steve Roach with Balmain in 1988 and Arthur Beetson with the Tigers in 1969.
asserted
old → join → 1969
Crossland’s destiny was all but sealed from the moment Cleary’s left leg was twisted in a hip-drop tackle during the first half of Sunday’s preliminary final and he was sent off.
asserted
he → seal → final
The Panthers halfback suffered a compound fracture of his ankle and faces months of recovery after undergoing surgery.
asserted
halfback → suffer → surgery
“It’s been the worst couple of days of my life,” Crossland said.
asserted
Crossland → say → life
“He’s my favourite player by a mile so to be the reason he’s in hospital … it’s killing me.”
asserted
it → ’ → me
Having been referred directly to the judiciary without a charge or grading, the only question to be answered was how many games Crossland would be suspended for.
asserted
Crossland → refer → games
He took full responsibility for a tackle gone wrong as he was trying to save a try and revealed he had phoned Cleary’s father and Penrith coach Ivan Cleary to apologise on Monday, as well as the champion No.7 himself.
asserted
he → take → No.7
“I had to apologise first and foremost to make sure he’s doing all right,” said Crossland, who became emotional when asked about the prospect of missing a grand final.
asserted
who → have → final
“It’s a horrific incident and he’s our best player.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
I reached out to his dad as well.
asserted
I → reach → dad
I apologised to him.
asserted
I → apologise → him
It ruined a great game and left a sour taste in everyone’s mind.”
asserted
It → ruin → mind
Crossland, who was the awarded the Danny Buderus medal as the Knights’ best and fairest player for the season, has been the subject of online abuse since being given his marching orders on Sunday which Cleary has condemned.
asserted
Cleary → award → which
In his absence, Harrison Graham is set to be promoted to start at dummy half against the Roosters, but teenage hooker Diesel Hagan was also named in the Knights’ extended grand final squad for what could be a remarkable entry to the NRL.
uncertain
what → set → NRL
If Hagan plays on Sunday he would be the first player to make his debut in a grand final since Eddie Lockhart for Balmain against the Roosters in 1936.
asserted
he → play → 1936
He is no relation to Michael Hagan, Newcastle’s coach when they last won a premiership in 2001.
asserted
they → win → 2001
Michael Hagan and former Newcastle grand final winner Mark Hughes provided character references for Crossland to judiciary panel members Ryan James, Paul Simpkin and chairman Geoff Bellew, who were shown 12 angles of the offending tackle.
asserted
who → provide → tackle
During an 80-minute hearing, Knights lawyer James McLeod had proposed a two- to three-game sanction but the panel imposed the four-match ban suggested by NRL counsel Patrick Knowles SC after deliberating for 17 minutes.
uncertain
panel → propose → minutes
A gracious Crossland said he would turn his attention immediately to supporting his teammates.
asserted
he → say → teammates
“I want to thank everybody inside for a fair hearing,” he said.
asserted
he → want → hearing
“I apologise to Nathan and the Panthers and more importantly the game and the fans.
asserted
I → apologise → Nathan
“It’s a terrible start to the most important week of the year due to myself.
asserted
It → ’ → myself
As soon as I walk out of this building my focus goes to the Newcastle Knights winning this grand final [and] helping Harrison Graham prepare as best as he can and get a win on Sunday.”
asserted
he → walk → Sunday
Crossland’s suspension will be completed during the pool stage of the World Cup if New Zealand notifies the International Rugby League that he would have been selected.
asserted
he → complete → League
The Aporia
