Doubts over Phoenix Crossland's future with Knights to land signature of Dragons halfback

Clune is under contract to the Dragons for next season but his manager sought a release earlier this week to link with Newcastle on a two-year deal. His signing is now considered a formality with the Dragons not standing in his way.

Where that leaves Crossland's future is unclear. The 21-year-old is off contract and has played just 15 matches since debuting in the NRL in 2019.

Eight of those 15 games have been this season with the side winning four and losing four with Crossland either at halfback or five-eighth.

He was one of the Knights' best in their 24-16 win over Canberra in Wagga earlier in the season when he played halfback alongside Kurt Mann in the halves.

But while his commitment and effort, particularly in defence, can never be questioned, there remain doubts over his game management skills at this stage of his career.

It's for that reason the Knights have turned to Clune, who has played 10 matches for the Dragons at halfback this season as a back-up to Ben Hunt.

The Knights are saying little about the Clune interest and won't until he is officially released and his contract registered by the NRL. There has also been no word on Crossland's future.

Crossland may yet be re-signed and given more time to develop around Pearce and Clune next season with retired playmaker Blake Green also set to join the coaching staff.

There are also suggestions he could potentially be turned into a ball-playing lock by coach Adam O'Brien if he is retained.

READ MORE: Knights prop Josh King's emotional exit

Discarding him at 21 after the club spent the past seven years developing him would appear a huge waste of resources.

Meanwhile, O'Brien rubbished talk of a rift between the Knights playing group and the coaching staff in the wake of Connor Watson signing with the Sydney Roosters and Josh King linking with Melbourne Storm.

On Tuesday, social media ran hot with irate fans not happy about their defections. There were also suggestions in the mainstream media their decision to depart was a sign of trouble in the camp.

READ MORE: DAVID KLEMMER - player departures fuel our fire

O'Brien said the rift talk was way off the mark: "It's rubbish and couldn't further from the truth."

On his decision to leave, Watson said: "For the last couple of weeks, I've just felt like I've had this big black cloud over me. It's why it took so long because it was such a big decision.

"It's a big call for me to turn my back on the Knights. I wanted to look at it from the perspective that I'm comfortable in Newcastle and I think going back to the Roosters really takes myself out of my comfort zone.

"They say when you are out of your comfort zone, that's when you make the most growth."

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