The Sydney Roosters have claimed the 2026 NRL premiership, defeating the Newcastle Knights 19-18 in a breathtaking grand final at Stadium Australia on Sunday night — with a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal ultimately separating the two sides in front of 80,814 spectators.
The Roosters looked to have the game wrapped up heading into the final minutes, only for Knights winger Greg Marzhew to score in the 76th minute and set up a grandstand finish. Sandon Smith landed a pressure conversion from wide out to bring Newcastle within a single point, sending the large contingent of Knights fans into delirium. But the Roosters held firm, with captain James Tedesco producing two crucial kick receptions late in the match to preserve the victory and claim the Clive Churchill Medal as player of the match.
The result denied Newcastle their first men's premiership in 25 years and ended a finals campaign that had captured the imagination of the rugby league world.
How the grand final unfolded
The Knights drew first blood in the 15th minute when Francis Manuleleua ran a sharp angle off a Fletcher Sharpe short ball to cross for the opening try, with Smith adding the conversion for a 6-0 lead. The momentum shifted when the bunker disallowed a Roosters try to Mark Nawaqanitawase, ruling he had knocked on while attempting to ground a Sam Walker kick in the corner.
Newcastle's lead grew in the 29th minute via one of the moments of the match — Kalyn Ponga sprinting 95 metres to score after pouncing on a Nawaqanitawase tap-back from an aerial contest near the Knights' own line. Smith's conversion pushed the lead to 12-6, which Newcastle held into the break.
The Roosters applied relentless pressure early in the second half and finally broke through in the 47th minute when Billy Smith touched down to level the scores, with Walker converting. A 54th-minute penalty goal gave the Roosters the lead for the first time in the contest, before Nawaqanitawase — producing a dual-code international's grand final performance — scored his second try midway through the second half to push Sydney's advantage to 18-12.
Cherry-Evans then slotted a field goal to make it a seven-point gap, before Marzhew's late try set up the frenetic finale. The Roosters' experience proved the difference, with Tedesco's composure under the high ball ensuring the one-point margin held.
Tedesco, Cherry-Evans and a fitting farewell for Roosters stars
Tedesco's Clive Churchill Medal performance was the centrepiece of a Roosters team that refused to panic despite trailing for long periods. At 33, the fullback continues to perform at an elite level, and his ability to defuse the Knights' last-ditch pressure was ultimately decisive.
The victory also brought the curtain down on Daly Cherry-Evans' NRL career in the best possible fashion. Signed by the Roosters for one final season to provide experience and leadership, the 37-year-old delivered precisely what was asked of him — finishing with a second premiership ring to complement the one he won with Manly back in 2011. He will now join English Super League club Hull FC.
The grand final was also a farewell of sorts for Angus Crichton and Nawaqanitawase, both of whom are departing for rugby union. Utility Connor Watson, who missed the match through concussion, will join the Dragons.
Coach Trent Robinson claimed his fourth NRL premiership with the Roosters, cementing his status as one of the modern era's great coaches. The win also completed a historic double for the club, which earlier in the day secured its third NRLW title with a dominant 30-6 victory over the Brisbane Broncos.
Holbrook 'couldn't be prouder' despite heartbreak
Knights coach Justin Holbrook addressed the media alongside captain Ponga after the match, refusing to dwell on the defeat and instead celebrating the character his side had shown throughout the season.
"The players — we never cared who wasn't playing, we just focused on who was. Thomas Cant was terrific tonight," Holbrook said, acknowledging the hooker's contribution after stepping in for the injured Phoenix Crossland.
"We needed a bit of luck in that second half, but unfortunately they got it. We needed the footy gods on our side," he added.
The Knights had entered the decider on the back of a stunning run through the finals, including a memorable preliminary final victory over Penrith. Despite the loss, the future looks bright for Newcastle, with key players including Dylan Brown, Trey Mooney, Jacob Saifiti and Phoenix Crossland all set to return next season. The core of the squad remains intact, and the wave of supporter enthusiasm that filled Accor Stadium throughout the finals series — and was evident again on Sunday with the majority of the 80,000-plus crowd backing the Knights — shows no sign of abating.
Meanwhile, with the Roosters retaining quality through Sam Walker, prop Naufahu Whyte and centre Robert Toia — all signed for multiple seasons — and the Panthers potentially facing a player exodus in coming years, questions are already being asked about whether Sydney's Tricolours are positioned to build a dynasty of their own.
