Phoenix Crossland wants to be a one-club player with 300 plus games to his name.
The 18-year-old half is aiming high.
You have to admire the dream in him.
As halfback of the nib Newcastle Knights' Jersey Flegg side, Crossland is viewed as a long-term prospect.
The Jersey Flegg player with big aspirations.
He's recently signed a contract extension which keeps him at the Club until at least the end of 2021 and will train fulltime with the NRL squad as part of his development contract.
"I've signed until 2021 and I want to be here a lot longer than that," Crossland said.
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"I want to be here until I've hopefully retired with 300 plus NRL games. That's the goal."
Crossland got a taste of training with the NRL roster earlier in the 2018 season, spending some one on one time with Mitchell Pearce.
In a funny turn of events, Crossland confesses that Pearce was his idol as a child and is still pinching himself that they are now training partners.
"No one is going to believe me but he's actually my favourite player," he said of the Knights' NRL captain.
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"I've looked up to him since I was 10. I remember watching him in the 2010 grand final. I was a Dragons supporter and he was playing for the Roosters and I still loved him.
"'I've had a few sessions with him this year kicking the footy and it's just a dream come true.
"I can't wait to come every day and be around Pearcey. It's going to be awesome."
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The 18-year-old is a product of the Central Coast and captained the SG Ball side in 2018 before moving into the 20s side.
"We identified him at 15 and he's been a mainstay of the Knights and NSW rep teams since," Knights Player List Manager Troy Pezet said.
"He is so extremely diligent in all aspects of his preparation and is continually working with the coaches to improve himself.
"We are looking forward to seeing him progress alongside Junior, Kalyn and Connor as part of the NRL squad during the next few seasons."
Having played NSW under 16s and 18s, the half said becoming a leader of men is something he's working on.
"I wouldn't say it comes naturally," Crossland said.
"It was a really big learning curve with the SG Ball team. I'm really good mates with all of them, so I guess that helped but I'm not a big talker.
"I talk on the field but off the field, it's something I struggle with. I lead by example. It as a good learning curve and helped a lot with me coming through the age groups."
