sport, local-sport, Phoenix Crossland, Newcastle Knights, Nathan Brown, Mitchell Pearce

Phoenix Crossland will turn 19 on Sunday but Newcastle coach Nathan Brown is set to hand him a very special birthday present a day early. The Newcastle Herald has learned the teenage playmaker will make his NRL debut against the Warriors off the bench on Saturday night at McDonald Jones Stadium. Crossland came into the squad yesterday after skipper Mitchell Pearce was called up into the NSW Blues side for next Wednesday night's Origin decider against Queensland at ANZ Stadium. The Knights have been decimated for the Warriors game with seven regular starting players out. Along with Pearce, David Klemmer, Daniel Saifiti and Tim Glasby will all miss the game because of Origin duties while fullback Kalyn Ponga and winger Edrick Lee are injured and suspended backrower Mitch Barnett still has two games to serve. In a major reshuffle, Mason Lino and Kurt Mann will play in the halves in Pearce's absence, backrower Sione Mata'utia is expected to shift to left centre to partner Hymel Hunt with the experienced Jamie Buhrer likely to come into the pack for his first starting role this season on the right edge. Just what role Crossland will be expected to play is unclear but it is likely he will come on in the halves to partner Lino when hooker Danny Levi is given a spell. Five-eighth Mann would slip back into the fullback role with Connor Watson deputising at hooker for Levi. Crossland and Lino already have developed a good understanding with the pair playing together on several occasions in NSW Cup this season. READ MORE: Newcastle Knights Given that Pearce is tipped to be rested for the Knights clash with the Bulldogs just two days after Origin, it's likely Crossland will find himself in the top squad for consecutive games unless Ponga makes an early return from his calf strain. Brown's decision to promote his promising young halfback will come at a price with Crossland almost certain to have to relinquish his spot in the NSW Under 20's side to meet Queensland Under 20's next Wednesday night prior to Origin III.

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