PHOENIX Crossland says he was "blown away" to get a phone call from new Kiwis coach Stacey Jones.
But the Wellington-born Knights utility admits the choice to play for New Zealand, and potentially forego other representative routes, was ultimately made 12 months ago.
Crossland finds himself on the verge of an international debut during the upcoming Pacific Championships, having missed out in 2023 due to a knee injury.
"Kiwis was always the path I wanted to take for me and my family," Crossland told the Newcastle Herald following Tuesday's squad announcement.
"When Madge [then New Zealand coach Michael Maguire] gave me that call last year it sort of solidified that, but unfortunately I couldn't play. So I'm twice as keen to play this year, knowing I'm in and I didn't get my shot last year. Stars have aligned again and I'm ready to go."
Crossland was contacted by Jones recently.
"He called me and asked what my thoughts would be around playing for the Kiwis," the 24-year-old said.
"I was like '110 per cent'. I was so blown away and so pumped and so excited that I was given that opportunity. I couldn't really believe it to be honest."
Crossland has now made 84 NRL appearances, most of them over Newcastle's last three seasons after shorter spells across various positions between a 2019 debut and 2021.
"I've only missed one game the last two years so I've played a fair bit of footy and got a fair bit of load at the top level," he said.
"Hopefully I can take everything to another level and just being around that calibre of players will be pretty cool.
"I'm just going in there with an open mind and seeing what the best of the best do, how they go about their games and approach rep footy."
Crossland has mainly settled into hooker at the Knights and, with Kiwi duo Brandon Smith (knee) and Jeremy Marshall-King (knee) both in the casualty ward, he could well find himself wearing the No.9 jersey.
"I'd love to get there and play a bit of nine, looking at the team it's sort of what I'm there for," he said.
"We've got some great halves there in Kodi [Nikorima] and Jahrome [Hughes], so either nine of 14 would be my guess.
"Nine is my favourite position, so if I get to play rep footy at nine it would be pretty special for me."
Former Kangaroos captain and Knights legend Danny Buderus reckons Crossland will only benefit from the experience.
"Just getting in and around that environment," Buderus said.
"There's so many players there to learn from and getting to experience something so few get to do - representing their country - will only benefit Phoenix and the Knights."
Crossland will join Knights prop and Kiwis incumbent Leo Thompson on international duty.
"Leo has been awesome for me," Crossland said. "We've been training together still now [post NRL season] to try and keep fit for the games.
"He's been so supportive and when he was in there last year I asked him so many questions. I had FOMO [fear of missing out] to be honest, wishing I was there so bad."
New Zealand's skipper will be departing Panthers prop James Fisher-Harris, now a four-time premiership winner after last weekend's NRL decider.
The Kiwis open against Australia, potentially featuring Knights centre Bradman Best, in Christchurch on October 27.
Newcastle second-rower Tyson Frizell didn't appear in the Tongan squad announced on Tuesday, having represented them on three occasions last year.
Central junior Kurt Donoghoe, now at the Dolphins, and Wyong's Nathan Kegg-King, now playing Queensland Cup with the Brisbane Tigers, were both picked for Fiji.
In the women's Test arena Knights centres Shanice Parker and Abigail Roache, who has been linked with the Cowboys, each got the nod for New Zealand. Warriors-bound Laishon Albert-Jones was also part of the extended Kiwi Ferns group.
