Knights hoping World Cup games count towards Crossland's ban; English clubs sign two locals

The Newcastle Knights hope to have the rest of Phoenix Crossland's suspension served in the Rugby League World Cup, freeing up the hooker to play in round one next season.

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Phoenix Crossland, right, after Sunday's grand final, and being sent off a week earlier, inset centre. Left, Logan Aoake and Lachlan Walmsley. Pictures Jonathan Carroll, AAP, Newcastle Knights

With Newcastle's 19-18 loss to the Sydney Roosters counting as one game, Crossland still has three to serve and the Knights are set to apply for New Zealand's World Cup matches to count towards the ban.

Crossland was not listed in the 23-man squad named by Kiwis coach Stacey Jones on Tuesday but the Knights will argue New Zealand were intending to pick him had he not been suspended.

The Wellington-born rake was the Kiwis' incumbent No.9, playing in their 36-14 Pacific Championships final win over Samoa last November.

Crossland playing for New Zealand in 2024. Picture AAP

New Zealand have three World Cup pool games, so Crossland would theoretically be available to play in a semi-final if required.

The Knights will write to the NRL judiciary chairman requesting the pool games count towards his ban. The application is expected to be approved, but if it isn't, Crossland would miss games at the start of next year's NRL campaign.

Crossland was part of New Zealand's broader World Cup squad submitted last month to tournament organisers ahead of the October-November tournament, which begins next week. New Zealand, the 2008 World Cup champions, take on defending winners Australia in the opening game at Sydney's Allianz Stadium on Thursday, October 15.

Meanwhile, incoming Knights forward Marata Niukore has been named a co-captain for Cooks Islands.

The 30-year-old, who is joining Newcastle on a three-year deal after departing the Warriors, should get a chance to play at his new club's home ground when Cook Islands take on Fiji in their first pool game at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday, October 18.

Marata Niukore. Picture AAP

Elsewhere, Knights lower-grade player Logan Aoake has signed a two-year deal with Huddersfield Giants. The 21-year-old, who has mostly played wing, will make the move to the English Super League club after 37 NSW Cup games over the past three years, scoring 16 tries. A Wests Rosellas junior, Aoake was an Australian Schoolboys representative in 2023 but was stuck behind a wealth of outside-backs at the Knights.

Upper Hunter product and 2026 Super League winner Lachlan Walmsley has also secured his future in England, signing a two-year contract with Bradford Bulls. A winger as well, Walmsley was part of Wakefield's title triumph at the weekend, defeating Warrington Wolves 23-10 in the Super League grand final.

In that time, he has scored a remarkable 132 tries in 142 games, including three Tests for Scotland.

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