NRL 2026: Nathan Cleary injury sparks hip-drop debate, Phoenix Crossland send-off, Mark Nawaqanitawase contract, preliminary finals analysis

The Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights are into the 2026 grand final after a dramatic weekend that saw Nathan Cleary’s season end in heartbreaking fashion.

Get the expert take on NRL Grand Final Day with FOX LEAGUE’s extensive coverage, plus full and mini replays available post-game on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

The distressing scenes sparked a send-off debate and had one media personality calling for drastic action to end the NRL’s hip-drop problem.

Elsewhere, one NRL great has made a big call as the league looks to farewell Mark Nawaqanitawase.

SEND-OFF SPARKS DRASTIC CALL FOR CHANGE TO SOLVE HIP-DROP ISSUE

Phoenix Crossland put an illegal hip drop tackle on Nathan Cleary which broke his leg badly in Sunday’s preliminary final, but should he have been sent off?

The ugly incident in the 35th minute of the grand final qualifier rubbed Cleary and Crossland out of the game after one was stretchered off while the other was given his marching orders by referee Gerard Sutton.

The officials had time to think about what to do with Crossland as the Bunker watched replays of the horror tackle.

Sutton told Crossland and Knights captain Kalyn Ponga: “Initially he’s up high. He makes a definite action so (he) twists, comes down on the leg with weight. It’s extreme risk of serious injury. You’re off.”

It was the first-ever send-off for a hip drop tackle.

After the game on Finals Footy with Matty Johns, former Test forward Nathan Hindmarsh thought it was only worth a sin-bin.

“Was it worth the send off though?” Hindmarsh asked.

“For what it’s done to Nathan, I get that, but it’s not an intentional act. It’s sometimes unavoidable.

“I understand if it’s intentional and they’ve done it on purpose, sure send them off. I thought 10 in the bin was enough.”

Johns wasn’t feeling good about the incident from the moment it occurred.

“When it happened my gut feel was that it was a send off,” Johns said.

“As soon as the Medicab came on the Bunker had a look at it and it’s unfortunate that they use the injury (to judge if it was a send-off),” Bryan Fletcher added.

At halftime the send off was debated by Fox League’s Luke Keary, Greg Alexander and Cooper Cronk.

“I didn’t think it was a send-off initially, but you’ve got to take into account the severity of the injury,” Keary said.

Cronk felt Sutton and the Bunker got together to make the right call.

“I cannot really argue with what Sutton has done there. It’s one of the rare rules where if there’s severe injury, it’s severe force,” Cronk said.

Fox League’s Steve Roach felt Crossland had the chance not to drop down into Cleary’s leg.

“I thought he beat him then he dropped down on the leg. I thought it was a fair call. There was a fair amount of pressure on the leg which is why it was broken,” Roach said.

Meanwhile, Fox League’s Warren Smith went as far as to declare all hip drop tackles should become mandatory send-offs if the NRL is to stamp out the tackle once and for all.

Crossland is almost certain to miss next week’s grand final given the extent of Cleary’s injury.

Earlier this year, Ryan Couchman was suspended for four weeks after a hip drop tackle caused J’maine Hopgood to tear his ACL, while Mitch Kenny copped a week for a hip drop on Isaiah Iongi which resulted in a syndesmosis injury.

On Friday night Victor Radley and Isaiya Katoa were charged with hip drop tackles but escaped suspension because the on-one got injured.

“We’ve seen players get injured with hip drop injuries this year and the player at the centre of it, I don’t think anyone’s got off when there’s been an injury,” Alexander said.

“You don’t want to see anyone miss a grand final and I’m sure they’ll try and get him off and they can roll the dice.”

Hindmarsh felt that Crossland had been punished enough with the send-off.

“Will he miss the grand final? I hope he doesn’t. He didn’t come in and take his head off. I know Nathan’s broken his leg and a lot of people are going to say ‘Hindy you’ve got no idea what you’re talking about’ but it’s just rugby league, it just happens,” Hindmarsh said.

BIG SBW CALL AS NRL PREPARES TO FAREWELL ‘FREAKISH’ STAR

Farewell Mark Nawaqanitawase – after the grand final, that is.

It’s fair to say the former Wallabies flyer has left a huge mark on the NRL during his three years in rugby league.

So much so, league legend Michael Ennis delivered this staggering statement: “I have not been as disappointed to lose someone as Sonny Bill Williams.

“Peter (V’landys) would not want to lose him either. We are losing a big star.”

Nawaqanitawase joined the Roosters mid-way through the 2024 season, going on to make his NRL debut that year before cementing his spot in the Tricolours’ backline.

From there, the 26-year-old has gone from strength to strength, utilising his skills from the 15-man code to become one of rugby league’s best wingers.

However, there was a time when doubts were cast over his ability to cut it in the NRL.

“It’s phenomenal, when he came over from rugby it was, this transition may take a while,” Ennis explained.

“There’s so much expected of the modern winger, not only to be able to finish and we knew the aerial ability he had… but the defensive movements, the tough carries.

“Not only has he got that right at club level, he has gone on to play for Australia and play Origin.”

As aforementioned, Nawaqanitawase has not only put those doubts to bed, but gone on to play representative football and join an elite club as a dual international.

“He is such a joy to watch, he looks like he is having the time of his life out there. Flick passes, chip and chases, he can do it all,” Adam Reynolds said.

“It’s going to be a shame that we lose him… young kids would be out in the backyard trying to replicate him. He has been an outstanding player for us.”

PRESS CONFERENCES

PANTHERS: Ivan’s heartbreaking Nathan call — and admission he ‘can’t explain’ loss

KNIGHTS: Holbrook’s powerful response to question… and cheeky Ponga moment

Meanwhile, for Roosters legend Cooper Cronk – Nawaqanitawase’s ability to pick up the nuances of rugby league has been the most impressive aspect of his short stint.

“Yes, there’s athleticism. Yes, there’s natural ability and freakish moments,” Cronk said.

“But on the other side, his defensive play. I think we need to give Trent Robinson and the Roosters coaching staff a wrap here because he didn’t have that when he came.

“The awareness to put his mit out and pop up, he’s done that twice now in the finals series. Big moments, so yes he’s got the X-factor but he has this footy intelligence.”

Nawaqanitawase has signed a two-year deal with Japanese Japanese rugby club Saitama Wild Knights – but it may not be the end of his NRL career.

The gun flyer has consistently suggested he would be open to a return in 2029, and Robinson didn’t pour cold water on that move in his post-match press conference.

“It’s incredible to watch him play,” he said.

“It’s pretty rare for what he’s doing, to be such a free and carefree player, and instinctive.

“He faked to stop the defender (Farnworth), and then he grabbed the ball, and then he moved. The stuff he comes up with every week is very rare. I haven’t seen anything like it.

“It would be nice if he hung around the Roosters for a bit longer, but the time he’s had here and the impact he’s had on the game is very special.”

WHY WALKING WOUNDED PANTHERS WILL BE BACK

The Panthers lost Nathan Cleary to a horrific leg break in their preliminary finals loss to the Knights.

Now the champion halfback joins what shapes as a mammoth casualty ward for Penrith — especially when you take a look at their salary cap.

Isaah Yeo played the final weeks of the season with a ruptured pectoral muscle, while Ivan Cleary revealed post-game that Dylan Edwards also also wounded.

“The guy sitting next to me (Yeo) is also playing with a fully ruptured pec and I’m not sure it has been done before. Dylan Edwards ruptures PCL in the first half tonight and played on, so we we’re probably just falling apart a little bit,” Cleary said.

“That’s why I was probably even more emotional after what happened to him (Nathan) because I knew how hard he worked and what he put himself through to actually get himself to play today.

“I want to just pay full credit to the Knights and their supporters, it was just a great day for their club and sets up a pretty good grand final.”

Throw in the mix a ruptured Achilles suffered by Blaize Talagi and pre-existing injuries that sidelined Izack Tago and Paul Alamoti for Sunday’s clash — and the Panthers end their season with an estimated $4.6 million recovering in the casualty ward.

And while battling through that staggering deficit, albeit with Edwards and Yeo on the field, their coach was still baffled by their attacking output to close out the game.

“I can’t really explain what happened in the second half,” Cleary said.

The Panthers bow out of the title race as a team wounded to the extreme, but their loss on Sunday marked their seventh straight preliminary finals appearance.

It’s hard to think that the juggernaut at the foot of the mountain won’t be there again next season, even if they have a big hurdle to overcome.

Depending on the severity of Cleary’s injury, he could be missing for a period at the start of the 2027 season while Talagi is set for a lengthy recovery stint.

Jack Cole is departing for the Perth Bears, leaving Jack Cogger as Penrith’s only remaining recognised playmaker in their top 30.

The arrival of Jett Cleary, who showed promise in his NRL debut earlier this year, could be a timely one for Penrith.

Meanwhile, the duo of Kurt Falls and Haami Loza steered the Panthers to a NSW Cup title and both could push to start the year in the top grade.

AWKWARD QUESTION HANGS OVER DOLPHINS AFTER BIG YEAR

Despite the disappointment of Friday night, the Dolphins can hold their head up high after the season they’ve had.

In just their fourth season, Kristian Woolf’s men progressed to a prelim and were one win from a decider.

“They can be proud of the season they’ve had. They came from outside the eight and gave the comp a red-hot shake,” premiership winning halfback Adam Reynolds said on Fox League.

“If they keep the majority of that squad together for the next couple of years, there’s no reason why they can’t go further. There’s loads of talent in that team, it’s just about keeping them together.

“They’re such a good team to watch, they have strike across the park and their fans can be proud, but unfortunately tonight, it was a hurdle too far.

However, a bunning question looms. Is the premiership window closing?

With several stars off contract at the end of next season, including Herbie Farnworth, Jack Bostock and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, it’s unlikely the club’s explosive backline will stay intact beyond 2027 due to a salary cap crunch.

In addition, five-eighth Kodi Nikorima is out the door, heading to the Dragons in the off-season while winger Jamayne Isaako will be at the Storm next year.

Nikorima will be replaced by veteran half George Williams.

All of this has former NRL star Michael Ennis concerned.

PLAYER RATINGS

PANTHERS: Enforcer’s defining act to leave regrets; injury-ravaged stars fall apart

KNIGHTS: Unsung hero’s game for the ages; ex-Panther haunts former side

“The loss of Kodi Nikorima is a significant one because of the chemistry behind he and Katoa. George Williams will have to pick up where Kodi left off,” Ennis said.

“There’s also talk that the contracts of Farnworth and Bostock are not going to be able to keep this backline together plus Jamyane Isaako is out the door to the Storm.”

The Roosters were simply the better team and as Woolf said in his press conference, deserved to win.

However, as NRL legend Cooper Cronk noted, there was a key moment which changed the game completely in the Roosters’ favour.

At the time, the Dolphins had all the momentum and ascendancy over the Roosters.

“This game changed in the 18th minute when Mark Nawaqanitawase took that intercept and ran the other way. If Selwyn Cobbo gets that ball, I’m pretty certain he scores,” Cronk said.

“They were dominant for the first 15 minutes, they were winning the field position battle and if Cobbo scores, it’s a completely different mindset because they let a couple of tries in and it was 16-0 after 30 minutes.”

History suggests it could turn out to be a loss the Dolphins need before going on with it.

Given there were a few players taking part in their first prelim, lessons will be learned as Cronk noted.

“When you haven’t experienced something before, it’s hard to be confident, be brave and when you hesitate in a prelim, you get caught out,” he said.

“I don’t believe in the theory that you have to lose one to win one, but I tell you what, it helps. This moment for the Dolphins, could be the reason they win the next grand final because a lot of those young men would’ve learnt a lot of lessons on what it takes.”

WHY ‘SELFLESS’ DCE DESERVES PRAISE

Five weeks ago, the odds of Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans combining to win the NRL title were fairly long.

Walker came off in a loss to the Dolphins at home with what looked like a season-ending syndesmosis injury.

It required surgery, which normally means a player is out for eight weeks or more, but Walker said after the operation that he’d be back in a month if the Roosters made a preliminary final.

Not only did he do that against the Dolphins on Friday night, but he set up a try and scored one himself to get the Roosters into their first grand final since 2019.

“They targeted Sam Walker because he’s come off a syndesmosis injury but he was strong,” Fox League’s Kevin Walters said.

“He didn’t just run out on the field and pass the ball, he had a hand in a couple of tries and kicked well and hats off to him.

“What an effort by Sam Walker to get himself not only back on the field and playing but it’s a prelim final, one of the biggest games of the year. A lot of his attacking work was smart and very tactical.”

Broncos two-time premiership winner Adam Reynolds praised Walker’s return, saying “there was no sign of rust at all”.

Cooper Cronk said Walker only came back so quickly because he would’ve been rehabilitating his injured ankle around the clock.

“The physio and the doctors at the Roosters are first class. They would have done everything two times over to get him right,” Cronk said.

“The mindset of Sam Walker, you tell him that he can’t do something, he’ll say, no, I can do it twice as hard as you think again. He was in a hospital bed and said he’ll come back.”

What about the attitude of Cherry-Evans?

With all his experience it would’ve been hard to come in and allow the younger Walker to run the footy side.

Cherry-Evans had been running Manly since 2011, but he put his ego aside to allow Walker to take control while he played a supporting role.

“I think it’s selfless from Cherry-Evans to say, ‘hey, he is the guy, he is the future. I’m coming here to help out and play a role, but he’s your main guy’,” Cronk said.

“I think Daly Cherry-Evans needs to get a lot of raps for the way that he’s been selfless, team first, and done his bit.

“He’s been okay this year, but his last six weeks have been his best football in five years.”

It’s been a breakthrough year for Walker after proving himself at State of Origin level and he is not only 80 minutes away from a premiership, but he could be wearing green and gold next month.

Nathan Cleary won’t be at the World Cup after breaking his leg in Sunday’s preliminary final loss to the Knights.

Walker may be running the Australian Test side soon.

“What started out as just a club season could end up with an Origin, a premiership, and a potential Australian jersey,” Fox League’s Michael Ennis said.

MORE NRL NEWS

‘PENRITH’S PROBLEM’: Controversial moment that flipped prelim… and had Panthers fuming

‘SPEECHLESS’: Cleary rushed to hospital, horrific prelim incident sparks send-off debate

HOW KNIGHT WENT FROM $13M ‘AFTERTHOUGHT’ TO PRELIM HERO

It was the signature that stole all the headlines.

Dylan Brown and his $13 million price tag coming to Newcastle. Even Kalyn Ponga admitted earlier this week it was a key “turning point” in making him believe the Knights were capable of a run like this.

But when Brown went down with a season-ending injury earlier in the year, it was on the unheralded Sandon Smith to step up.

Few people gave him a chance. Few people gave the Knights a chance.

But few players are as symbolic of this Newcastle team as Smith.

Smith had previously been one of those players whose utility value almost worked against him. The Central Coast junior struggled to lock down regular starting minutes because of it and even when he arrived at Newcastle, he was again largely restricted to a bench role.

But when injuries hit, it was always Smith that got the call-up and on Sunday afternoon, he produced one of the finest games of his career to upstage the Panthers.

Most notably, Smith showed high footy IQ and instincts on the contentious quick tap that caught the Panthers off-guard and turned momentum in Newcastle’s favour.

“I think Sandon Smith really stood up today. There were a couple of big moments from him,” Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters said post-game on ‘Finals Footy with Matty Johns’.

“I mean, the quick tap… you might get away with that against some teams in the NRL but to get away with that against Penrith, who are the most well-drilled team in the NRL, just showed it was their day.”

Sometimes the stats don’t tell the full story of a player’s impact, but in the case of Smith they perfectly captured just how heavily involved the underrated halfback was.

While halves partner Fletcher Sharpe is usually the running threat of the two, it was Smith who was constantly taking on the Panthers line on his way to 165 run metres.

Of course, nearly half of those came on that late intercept try but even 80 metres against this Panthers defence is some feat and Smith also chipped in just under 300 kick metres too.

“You kind of forget they are missing Dylan Brown, who was playing such good footy,” Broncos hooker Billy Walters said.

“He’s done a good job to come in and pretty much take over. You can barely tell they are missing him (Brown). He (Smith) was unbelievable.”

Knights legend Matty Johns, who was overcome by emotion in the aftermath of the win, said it was great to see a local junior come back to the club and have so much success.

“Peter O’Sullivan got him to the Knights and it was in the shadow of the Dylan Brown signing. It was almost an afterthought,” Johns said.

“He’s a Central Coast boy, grew up not too far from Newcastle. What he has done at the back-end of the year for Newcastle has been pretty amazing.”

While the Panthers were obviously hampered by the devastating injury to Nathan Cleary, there was very much still a team stacked with big-game experience.

It was Smith, however, who looked the most poised under pressure and while the grand final stage is a completely different beast he seems like he is ready for the challenge.

“He had to step up for us and he did and he’s staying so calm in situations and is a big part in the reason we’ve been winning games, that’s for sure,” Knights coach Justin Holbrook said of Smith.