Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)— The Newcastle Knights have had an incredible season—and two former students, Phoenix Crossland and Mat Croker, of Hunter Sports High have been part of it.

Twenty-three year old Phoenix, who was born in New Zealand before moving to Newcastle with his family, played junior rugby league for the Erina Eagles before being signed by the Knights.

He made his debut for the Knights in round 16 of the 2019 NRL season. He plays as a hooker, halfback or five-eighth and, over the course of the 2023 season, has appeared for the Knights twenty-two times, made six tries and earned twenty-four points for the club.

Twenty-four year old Mat Croker is a native of Nabiac on the Mid-North Coast, and played for the Taree City Bulls and Taree Panthers before joining the Knights in 2021. He made his debut against Parramatta in 2021—but the less said about the outcome of that game, the better!

He plays as a prop and, over the course of the 2023 season, has played twenty-three games, and made four tries for a total of sixteen points. Congratulations to Phoenix and Mat.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!