The 2026 NRL Grand Final is set after a dramatic preliminary finals weekend. The Sydney Roosters ended the Dolphins’ historic season with a clinical performance at Suncorp Stadium, while Newcastle’s remarkable rise from wooden spooners to title contenders continued with a stunning upset of Penrith. As the Roosters prepare for their first Grand Final since 2019 and the Knights chase their first premiership decider since 2001, the stage is set for an unforgettable season finale.
Preliminary Finals
Review
The Sydney Roosters and Newcastle will play in the 2026 NRL Grand Final after winning their preliminary finals.
While there were no points in the opening 17 minutes, the Roosters scored three tries in nine minutes to lead the Dolphins 16-0 at Suncorp Stadium. Then, with their lead reduced to 16-10 early in the second half, they scored three more tries in 11 minutes to put the game away (Mark Nawaqanitawase scoring his second double of the finals series). Over 52,000 attended Suncorp Stadium as Queenslanders rallied around the Dolphins in their first home final. Jamayne Isaako scored 12 points (two tries and two goals), finishing as the season’s leading points-scorer with 310.
Though the Dolphins won both regular season games (48-10 and 26-12), the Roosters won the game that mattered most. The Dolphins’ first home final was a rematch of their first NRL game, when they beat the Roosters 28-18 (Round 1, 2023).
It was a disappointing end to the Dolphins’ best season in the NRL, getting to this point with eight straight wins from Round 20 to the qualifying final. While they lose Jake Averillo (Wests Tigers), Isaako (Melbourne), Kodi Nikorima (St George Illawarra), Daniel Saifiti (retired), and Ray Stone (retired) for 2027, can Kristian Woolf keep the Dolphins in the top four next season?
The Roosters will play their first Grand Final since 2019 and can potentially send Daly Cherry-Evans (Hull FC), Angus Crichton (rugby union), Nawaqanitawase (rugby union), and Connor Watson (St George Illawarra) off with a premiership. And they can break the “50-point curse” (conceding 50 against South Sydney in Round 27 when they were resting half their first-grade squad).
GAME BREAKER: Nawaqanitawase again showed why he’s one of the most exciting players in the NRL: scoring two tries, passing for Robert Toia’s try (though the legality of the pass was debatable and his heel may have touched the sideline before passing the ball), and running for 329 metres. His first try was a 90-metre intercept off Herbie Farnworth, outrunning Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who came across in cover defence.
Newcastle reached their first Grand Final in 25 years after beating Penrith at Accor Stadium.
Wooden spooners in 2025, the Knights joined North Queensland (2017) and Parramatta (2009) in making the Grand Final from outside the top four in the current top eight finals system. While the Cowboys and Eels both lost their Grand Finals, the Knights can be the first team to win a premiership from this position.
Sandon Smith scored 14 points (two tries and three goals) as the Knights came from 14-6 down at half-time in front of over 57,000 fans: his first try was off a quick tap and a 50-metre run; his second off an 85-metre intercept to seal the win in the final minute. Smith will play his former club – the Roosters – in next Sunday’s Grand Final (with 46 games for the Roosters from 2023-25).
It was 6-6 when Nathan Cleary left the field with a compound fracture late in the first half: battling a foot injury from the Panthers’ qualifying final win, Cleary started on the bench and entered the game in the 25th minute. He only played 10 minutes before the fracture, with Phoenix Crossland sent off for a hip drop. Cleary will miss the World Cup and potentially the start of the 2027 season, while Blaize Talagi also left the field in the second half with a suspected Achilles injury.
GAME BREAKER: Following Crossland’s send-off, Newcastle only conceded one try in the next 45 minutes, and kept Penrith scoreless in the second half.
- The 2026 NRLW Grand Final will be a rematch of 2025, with the Sydney Roosters and Brisbane Broncos winning their preliminary finals. The Roosters beat Canberra 20-10 (Allianz Stadium) and the Broncos beat the Gold Coast 20-8 (Cbus Super Stadium). Tarryn Aiken’s try in the 67th minute sealed the Roosters’ win, while the Broncos scored four first half tries (Tamika Upton, Romy Teitzel, Lauren Dam, Julia Robinson) to lead 20-4 at half-time.
Results
| Full Time | Dolphins 20 – 36 Sydney Roosters |
| Scorers | Dolphins 20 (Tries: Jamayne Isaako 33′, Jamayne Isaako 42′, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 74′, Herbie Farnworth 76′. Goals: Jamayne Isaako 34′, Jamayne Isaako 76′) Sydney Roosters 36 (Tries: Mark Nawaqanitawase 17′, Victor Radley 23′, Daniel Tupou 26′, Robert Toia 45′, Lindsay Collins 54′, Mark Nawaqanitawase 56′, Sam Walker 66′. Goals: Sam Walker 18′, Sam Walker 24′, Daly Cherry-Evans 47′, Daly Cherry-Evans 55′) |
| Half-Time | Dolphins 6 – 16 Sydney Roosters |
| Date | Friday, 25th September 2026 |
| Venue | Suncorp Stadium |
| Players | Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jamayne Isaako, Jack Bostock, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Kodi Nikorima, Isaiya Katoa, Thomas Flegler, Jeremy Marshall-King, Tom Gilbert, Max Plath, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Morgan Knowles, Kurt Donoghoe, Ray Stone, Francis Molo, Connelly Lemuelu 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, Connor Watson, Angus Crichton, Nat Butcher, Hugo Savala |
| Full Time | Penrith Panthers 14 – 22 Newcastle Knights |
| Scorers | Panthers 14 (Tries: Blaize Talagi 11′, Lindsay Smith 38′. Goals: Dylan Edwards 13′, Blaize Talagi 35′ (Penalty Goal), Blaize Talagi 39′) Newcastle Knights 22 (Tries: Francis Manuleleua 7′, Dominic Young 41′, Sandon Smith 58′, Sandon Smith 79′. Goals: Sandon Smith 8′, 60′, 79′) |
| Half-Time | Panthers 14 – 6 Newcastle Knights |
| Date | Sunday, 27th September 2026 |
| Venue | Accor Stadium |
| Players | Penrith Panthers: Dylan Edwards, Tom Jenkins, Blaize Talagi, Casey McLean, Brian To’o, Jack Cole, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo, Jack Cogger, Scott Sorensen, Liam Henry, Nathan Cleary, Lindsay Smith, Isaiah Papali’i, Billy Phillips, Luke Garner Newcastle Knights: Kalyn Ponga, Dominic Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Fletcher Sharpe, Sandon Smith, Tyson Frizell, Phoenix Crossland, Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua, Mat Croker, Harrison Graham, Lachlan Crouch, Pasami Saulo, Dylan Lucas |
