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Phoenix Crossland earns a little more than 10 per cent of Kalyn Ponga’s 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.

Which is just how he likes it.

Because, alongside fellow playmaking bargain Tyson Gamble, the self-declared Knights underdogs bring serious value to Newcastle’s roster and balance to a rejuvenated attack, allowing Ponga to deliver as the game’s highest earner.

Crossland’s estimated $150,000 wage ranks among the lowest of spine players in this year’s finals, with Canberra’s Matt Frawley and Gamble ($180,000) opposing each other as cut-price five-eighths in Sunday’s elimination final.

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’s spine has come together in quick time due to injuries and selection shake-ups.

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.

Phoenix Crossland (right) and Tyson Gamble celebrate a Knights try.Credit: NRL Photos

“We’re not a big pay packet spine,” Crossland says.

“We’re pretty low-key and we like that. We like being underdogs, that’s what Newcastle’s built on, that blue collar, underdog status.

“That 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.”

Gamble’s 22 games this year have triggered bonuses that take his salary beyond $200,000 next year and extension talks loom in the off-season.

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.

Gamble too enjoys the upside of not only playing alongside Ponga, but making the most of his talent and profile.

“Kalyn can do some really freakish things obviously, but he’s also a really good decoy,” Gamble says.

“Defenders don’t 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’s opened it up for Jacko [Hastings] and myself at the same time.

“And some of our outside backs are having career-best seasons with the extra space that they’ve already helped earn for us.

“For me, I love playing around him and it keeps my role nice and simple, which is when I play my best footy.”

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.

The 23-year-old local junior has followed Knights icon and football manager Danny Buderus in leading Newcastle’s defensive line, and leant on the champion hooker, as well as Brailey, in his new role.

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’s passion last season.

“Last year was definitely tough,” he says.

“That was my first full year in first grade and it was a tough year for the whole team. I wasn’t playing the footy I wanted to. And when you get criticised around town, it’s usually warranted.

“People in Newcastle, they know their footy pretty well and they’ll let you know if you’re falling short. But when you are doing well, they’re the first ones to congratulate you too.

“You’ve got to take the good with the bad and the tough years didn’t sit well with anyone here.To turn it around, it’s a very proud thing for us.”

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