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Australian News | 4 October 2026
The Sydney Roosters are the 2026 NRL premiers after holding off the Newcastle Knights 19–18 in a dramatic Grand Final at Accor Stadium.
Newcastle had threatened to complete one of the great rugby league fairytales after opening a 12–0 lead, but the Roosters fought back through the middle stages of the match before surviving a desperate late Knights surge to claim their 16th premiership and first title since 2019.
Roosters recover from 12–0 down
The Knights made the stronger start and put the Roosters under sustained pressure, building a 12-point advantage before the contest began to swing.
Mark Nawaqanitawase was central to the comeback, scoring twice in his final Roosters appearance before returning to rugby union. His first try arrived just before half-time and gave Sydney a route back into the match.
The Roosters then took control after the break, with Billy Smith crossing and Sam Walker adding points before veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans kicked a field goal that ultimately became the decisive difference.
Knights nearly steal it at the death
Newcastle refused to disappear. A late Greg Marzhew try, converted to narrow the margin to a single point, set up a tense final passage with the Knights still hunting what would have been their first premiership since 2001.
The Roosters held firm to close out the 19–18 victory in front of a crowd of 80,814.
Tedesco wins the Clive Churchill Medal
Roosters captain James Tedesco was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal after an influential performance at fullback. His work carrying the ball, organising the backfield and repeatedly putting Sydney on the front foot proved crucial as the match tightened.
The result also provided a memorable NRL farewell for Cherry-Evans, who finished his Australian top-flight career with another premiership before his move to Hull FC.
A brutal ending to Newcastle’s fairytale run
For Newcastle, the defeat ends an extraordinary season. The Knights had finished the previous year with the wooden spoon and entered this finals series from seventh position, then fought through three sudden-death matches to reach their first Grand Final since 2001.
Kalyn Ponga and the Knights produced several of the night’s biggest moments and pushed the Roosters to the final siren, but Sydney’s composure and big-game experience ultimately proved enough.
Why this Grand Final will be remembered
The 2026 decider delivered the kind of finish Grand Finals rarely produce: a 12–0 early lead, a comeback, a one-point margin and two teams still capable of winning it in the final minutes.
For the Roosters, it confirms another premiership under Trent Robinson and caps a finals campaign built around experience, depth and resilience. For Newcastle, the defeat will hurt, but their rise from wooden spooners to within one point of a premiership reshapes expectations around the club heading into 2027.
Sources: Reuters, The Guardian, and NRL.com.
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