The Sydney Roosters secured their 16th premiership and completed a historic NRL-NRLW double after edging Newcastle in a gripping Grand Final at Accor Stadium. While the Knights threatened to produce one final miracle in their remarkable rise from wooden spooners to title contenders, the experience of James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans and Mark Nawaqanitawase ultimately proved the difference on rugby league’s biggest stage.
Review
It was mission accomplished for the Sydney Roosters at Accor Stadium on Sunday night, winning their 16th premiership, their fifth in the NRL era, and their first in seven years.
The strong support for Newcastle in the 80,000+ crowd paid off in the first half, with Francis Manuleleua and Kalyn Ponga (scoring a 95-metre try) giving the Knights a 12-0 lead.
Mark Nawaqanitawase’s try (the first of two) cut the lead to six points heading into the break, finally breaking Newcastle’s resistance. It’s no surprise that this momentum swing came during Spencer Leniu’s 25-minute stint off the bench. The game was tied 12-12 by the time he came off in the 52nd minute. Speaking of Nawaqanitawase, he finished his two-year stint in the NRL as one of the breakout stars and arguably the greatest rugby union convert of the NRL era: he won the 2025 Ken Irvine Medal, had a highlight reel of astonishing tries where he made the impossible look easy (helped by his Rugby Sevens background), made his Kangaroos debut during last year’s Ashes, his State of Origin debut for NSW this year, and now won a premiership.
As well as winning the NRL/NRLW double, the Roosters also broke the “50-point curse”, having conceded 50 in Round 27 against South Sydney. Now we can finally put those “can’t win the premiership if you concede 50” social media posts to bed and move on.
Though James Tedesco won the Clive Churchill Medal (running for 385 metres), Daly Cherry-Evans again showed his big-game experience and also why the Roosters signed him for September footy: 400 kicking metres and the 69th minute field goal to give the Roosters a 19-12 lead. DCE bookended his career with premierships after winning one with Manly Warringah in his debut season in 2011.
Based on stats alone, the Roosters should have won this game comfortably, but Newcastle kept showing the spirit that got them this far, with Greg Marzhew cutting the lead to one point with four minutes left. There wasn’t one last miracle for the Knights in an incredible season, but fans can be proud of their club and the culture that Justin Holbrook has created, taking Newcastle from wooden spooners to the Grand Final in his first season. Can they channel this goodwill and become a premiership force over the next few years?
- The Sydney Roosters completed their perfect NRLW season, beating the Brisbane Broncos 30-6 and reversing last year’s Grand Final loss to the Broncos. Brydie Parker’s hat-trick capped the Roosters’ 13th win from 13 games.
- The Redcliffe Dolphins won the NRL State Championship, beating Penrith 68-14, with a hat-trick to Jake Averillo.
Grand Final Talking Points
- Roosters win their 16th premiership and first since 2019.
- Daly Cherry-Evans finishes his NRL career with a second premiership.
- Newcastle’s rise from 2025 wooden spooners to 2026 grand finalists.
- Roosters complete the NRL-NRLW premiership double.
- Mark Nawaqanitawase signs off from rugby league as a premiership winner.
- Dolphins claim the State Championship with a 68-14 win over Penrith.
Results
NRL Grand Final
| Full Time | Sydney Roosters 19 – 18 Newcastle Knights |
| Scorers | Sydney Roosters 19 (Tries: Mark Nawaqanitawase 35′, Billy Smith 47′, Mark Nawaqanitawase 59′. Goals: Sam Walker 37′, 48′, 54′; Daly Cherry-Evans FG 69′) Newcastle Knights 18 (Tries: Francis Manuleleua 15′, Kalyn Ponga 29′, Greg Marzhew 76′. Goals: Sandon Smith 17′, 30′, 76′) Clive Churchill Medal: James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters) |
| Half-Time | Roosters 6 – 12 Knights |
| Date | Sunday, 4th October 2026 |
| Venue | Accor Stadium |
| Players | Sydney Roosters: James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Billy Smith, Robert Toia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Daly Cherry-Evans, Sam Walker, Naufahu Whyte, Reece Robson, Lindsay Collins, Salesi Foketi, Siua Wong, Victor Radley, Angus Crichton, Nat Butcher, Spencer Leniu Newcastle Knights: Kalyn Ponga, Dominic Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Fletcher Sharpe, Sandon Smith, Tyson Frizell, Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua, Mat Croker, Thomas Cant, Harrison Graham, Lachlan Crouch, Pasami Saulo, Dylan Lucas |
NRLW Grand Final
| Full Time | Sydney Roosters 30 – 6 Brisbane Broncos |
| Scorers | Sydney Roosters 30 (Tries: Brydie Parker 4′, Tarryn Aiken 16′, Isabelle Kelly 20′, Jayme Fressard 22′, Brydie Parker 26′, Amber Hall 31′, Brydie Parker 56′. Goals: Jocelyn Kelleher 17′) Brisbane Broncos 6 (Tries: Jesse Southwell 63′. Goals: Jesse Southwell 65′) Karyn Murphy Medal: Tarryn Aiken (Sydney Roosters) |
| Half-Time | Roosters 26 – 0 Broncos |
| Date | Sunday, 4th October 2026 |
| Venue | Accor Stadium |
| Players | Sydney Roosters: Corban Baxter, Brydie Parker, Jessica Sergis, Isabelle Kelly, Jayme Fressard, Jocelyn Kelleher, Tarryn Aiken, Millie Elliott, Keeley Nizza, Otesa Pule, Sariah Paki, Jasmin Strange, Olivia Kernick, Taina Naividi, Aliyah Nasio, Rima Butler, Amber Hall Brisbane Broncos: Tamika Upton, Kerri Johnson, Deleni Paitai, Georgia Bartlett, Julia Robinson, Ali Brigginshaw, Jesse Southwell, Shannon Mato, Jada Ferguson, Brianna Clark, Lauren Dam, Romy Teitzel, Lillian Yarrow, Rhemy Hinckesman, Chelsea Lenarduzzi, Reegan Hicks, Harlem Walker |
State Championship
| Full Time | Penrith Panthers 14 – 68 Redcliffe Dolphins |
| Scorers | Penrith Panthers 14 (Tries: Jaxen Edgar 13′, Zakauri Clarke 53′, Jirah Liddiard 63′. Goals: Zakauri Clarke 54′) Redcliffe Dolphins 68 (Tries: Jake Averillo 3′, 35′, 43′; Joven Gyemore 11′, 73′; Kyle Coghill 18′, 57′; Tevita Naufahu 25′; Brian Pouniu 28′; Sam Elliott 33′; Trai Fuller 46′; Jude Saldanha 68′. Goals: Joshua James 5′, 12′, 26′, 30′, 34′, 37′, 45′, 47′, 59′, 69′) |
| Half-Time | Panthers 4 – 40 Dolphins |
| Date | Sunday, 4th October 2026 |
| Venue | Accor Stadium |
| Players | Penrith Panthers: Jaxen Edgar, Nick Murphy, Patrick Moimoi, Jesse McLean, Jirah Liddiard, Keahn Skipps, Kurt Falls, Tom Ale, Billy Scott, Josh Ruxton, Zakauri Clarke, Kalani Going, Luron Patea, Vea Tapa’atoutai, Jakeb Vailalo, Buster Hindmarsh, Tuaomaliemavaitoelau Patea Redcliffe Dolphins: Trai Fuller, Joven Gyemore, Jude Saldanha, Kyle Coghill, Tevita Naufahu, Jake Averillo, Joshua James, Sebastian Su’a, Brent Woolf, Felise Kaufusi, Brian Pouniu, Sam Elliott, Brad Schneider, Jordan Plath, Sheldon Pitama, Domenico De Stradis, Jaron Purcell |
