The stage is set for a blockbuster 2026 NRL Grand Final as the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights battle for premiership glory at Accor Stadium. The Roosters are chasing their first title since 2019 and enter as favourites after an impressive finals campaign, while the Knights are aiming to complete one of the greatest fairytale runs in modern NRL history after rising from last year’s wooden spoon to the premiership decider.
Read Full Previews
- NRL Grand Final: Roosters vs Knights → roosters-vs-knights-grand-final-preview-2026
- NRLW Grand Final: Roosters vs Broncos → roosters-vs-broncos-nrlw-grand-final-preview-2026
Matchday Details
Sunday, 4 October 2026 – 7:30pm AEDT (6:30pm AEST) – Accor Stadium, Sydney
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now
Referee: Adam Gee | Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Sydney Roosters: 1. James Tedesco (c), 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Salesi Foketi, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Angus Crichton, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Spencer Leniu, 18. Hugo Savala, 19. Cody Ramsey, 20. Benaiah Ioelu, 21. Tommy Talau, 22. Egan Butcher
Newcastle Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga (c), 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Sandon Smith, 8. Tyson Frizell, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Cody Hopwood, 11. Jermaine McEwen, 12. Francis Manuleleua, 13. Mat Croker, 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Lachlan Crouch, 16. Pasami Saulo, 17. Dylan Lucas, 18. Fletcher Hunt, 19. Thomas Cant, 20. Kyle McCarthy, 21. Diesel Hagan, 22. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Grand Final Snapshot
| Stat | Roosters | Knights |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder Position | 4th | 7th |
| Premierships | 15 | 2 |
| Last Premiership | 2019 | 2001 |
| Grand Final Appearances | 13 (6 wins, 7 losses) | 2 (2 wins) |
| Finals Record 2026 | 2-1 | 3-0 |
| Head-to-Head Since 2020 | 9 wins | 1 win |
More: Roosters vs Knights History: Head-to-Head Record, Finals Meetings and Recent Results
Match Preview
Premiership glory awaits whichever team emerges victorious on Sunday night at Accor Stadium, in a mouth-watering Grand Final clash between the Roosters and the Knights.
The Roosters are aiming to send Daly Cherry-Evans out as a premiership winner in his final NRL match, while the Knights are attempting to become the first team in the NRL era to win the premiership one season after claiming the wooden spoon.
The Roosters will start favourites as the only top four team left standing. After losing to the Panthers in the first week of the finals, they’ve recorded back-to-back wins over the Sharks and Dolphins to qualify for their first Grand Final since 2019. They looked slick against the Dolphins and are hitting their straps when it matters most.
The Knights, on the other hand, came into the finals in seventh position, and have stunned the rugby league world to qualify for their first Grand Final since 2001. They’ve knocked off the Rabbitohs, Warriors (in New Zealand), and Panthers in three straight weeks and are riding a wave of belief and momentum into this game.
For the Roosters, coach Trent Robinson has named an unchanged squad from last week’s demolition of the Dolphins. One late out to keep an eye on will be Connor Watson. He failed his HIA on Friday last week and is seeking approval from an independent neurologist to play. If he’s unable to play, expect Benaiah Ioelu to take his place on the bench.
Coach Justin Holbrook has largely retained the squad that defeated Penrith last week. However, Phoenix Crossland will miss the Grand Final after being suspended for his hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary. Expect Harrison Graham to start at hooker in his place.
The keys for a Roosters victory start in the middle with Naufahu Whyte, Lindsay Collins, and Victor Radley. The Knights’ defence has evolved into one of the competition’s best over the past month, and these three will be crucial to breaking it open. Their power running, second-phase play, and going the extra mile for their teammates are non-negotiables if the Roosters are going to outwork the Knights in the middle.
In the halves, Daly Cherry-Evans has been particularly impressive, proving that even at 37 years old, he’s still capable of taking over a game and delivering the right play at the right time. He’s been the perfect foil for Sam Walker, and the two of them have a plethora of attacking options at their disposal to trouble the Knights, particularly on their edges. Speaking of their edges, the right edge of Mark Nawaqanitawase and Robert Toia has become their go-to option. If the Roosters find themselves in a tight spot, look for a kick or spread to the right and watch the freakish talent fly. It’s going to take some special plays to overcome this gritty Knights team, and these two are more than capable of creating those from anywhere on the field.
On the flip side, the Knights have overcome the odds and possess something the Roosters do not: the underdog tag. The keys to victory for them revolve around their staunch defence and strike weapons in their outside backs. Over the last three weeks, the Knights have turned into a defensive powerhouse. They’ve only conceded 34 points, which averages out to 11.3 points per game. Even more impressive is the fact they’ve done this against the three best attacking teams in the competition. Last week, they survived a 45-minute onslaught with 12 men to beat the Panthers, a feat that can only be possible with a serious amount of belief and resilience in their young forward pack.
If you couple that resilience with their willingness to spread the ball early and often, and they could create some headaches for the usually tough Roosters defence. Kalyn Ponga is the central link man in getting early ball to both edges, and choosing his moments to chime in himself. On the right, Dom Young has proven to be invaluable in this strategy. He’s created a mismatch every week with his speed, and his inside men of Sandon Smith and Dane Gagai have done great work as facilitators, allowing him to break the line and set up some long-distance Knights tries. They’ll be looking to exploit the Roosters’ edge of Billy Smith and Daniel Tupou with this strategy again.
Recent head-to-head stats favour the Roosters — they’ve won their last six games against the Knights. Two try-scoring streaks will be on show, with Nawaqanitawase scoring five tries in his last three games, and Young scoring five tries in his last three games at Accor Stadium. Collins plays in his 150th NRL game.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Knights by 2.
Grand Final tips → /nrl-preliminary-finals-tips-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Bradman Best scores the match-winning try in the final few minutes to seal a Knights premiership.
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Related
- Full Grand Final coverage → /nrl/2026-season/grand-final/
- NRL Grand Finals Team Lists →
- NRL Injury List → /nrl/injuries/
- NRL Preliminary Finals Review →
