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The Sydney Roosters are the 2026 NRL premiers, beating Newcastle 19-18 in the Grand Final at Accor Stadium after a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal and a late Knights try that fell one point short.
NRL 2026: The Grand Final in Focus
The Sydney Roosters are the 2026 NRL premiers, beating Newcastle 19-18 in the Grand Final at Accor Stadium after a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal and a late Knights try that fell one point short. It is the Roosters’ first premiership since 2019, and Newcastle, who took the wooden spoon a year ago, came within a point of a third title.
Catch up on our Grand Final preview, the preliminary final results, or the full draw on our NRL finals bracket.
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18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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Roosters 19 def Knights 18
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Match | 2026 NRL Grand Final |
| Date | Sunday 4 October 2026, Accor Stadium |
| Result | Sydney Roosters 19 def Newcastle Knights 18, by 1 point |
| Half-time | Knights 12, Roosters 6 |
| Crowd | 80,814 |
| Premiership | The Roosters’ first since 2019 |
How it unfolded
Newcastle made the better start. Francis Manuleleua scored in the first quarter and Kalyn Ponga added a second try, Sandon Smith kicking both goals, and the Knights led 12-0 before Mark Nawaqanitawase scored for the Roosters just before half-time. Newcastle went to the break 12-6 ahead, playing without the suspended Phoenix Crossland, with Harrison Graham starting at hooker.
The Roosters took control after the break. Billy Smith scored early in the second half and Nawaqanitawase went in for his second on the hour, which put them in front. At the 70th minute Daly Cherry-Evans kicked a field goal from 20 metres to make it 19-12, and at 37 years and 183 days he became the oldest player to appear in an NRL Grand Final.
Newcastle did not go away. In the 77th minute Ponga ran the ball, Manuleleua flicked it out the back to Fletcher Sharpe and Sharpe found Greg Marzhew, who scored in the corner. The conversion made it 19-18 with about three minutes left, and the Roosters held on, with James Tedesco taking a crucial catch under pressure in the closing minutes.
The NRLW Grand Final: Roosters 30 def Broncos 6
The Roosters women had already won the 2026 NRLW Grand Final, 30-6 over Brisbane in a rematch of last year’s decider, which the Broncos won 22-18. They led 26-0 at half-time and finished another perfect season. Tarryn Aiken, at halfback, won her second Karyn Murphy Medal. Brisbane’s Ali Brigginshaw played her last NRLW game in defeat.
With both wins the Roosters became the second club to take the NRL and NRLW premierships on the same day, after Brisbane.
How our tips went
Both of our Grand Final Day picks landed. We backed the Roosters to win the NRL Grand Final, and our Bet of the Weekend, the Roosters in the NRLW Grand Final, won comfortably. We also said the better market in the NRL game was a Roosters win inside 12 points, and it was decided by one.
The read that proved most useful was the one we took from last week: a one-sided head-to-head record in this fixture describes close games, not a gap in quality. The Roosters have now won all six meetings since 2023, and five of the six were decided by four points or fewer.
What it means
The Roosters finished fourth, lost their qualifying final to Penrith and then won three finals in a row, beating Cronulla, the Dolphins and Newcastle. Newcastle finished seventh and won three finals away from home before losing the Grand Final by a point. Penrith, the minor premiers, lost Nathan Cleary to a broken leg in the preliminary final, and Cleary was named the 2026 Dally M Medallist days later.
The attention now turns to the Rugby League World Cup, which opens on 15 October with Australia against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium. The Kangaroos squad is named after the Grand Final, and the full draw and our tips are on the Rugby League World Cup hub.
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#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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NRL Grand Final 2026 FAQs
Who won the 2026 NRL Grand Final?
The Sydney Roosters, who beat the Newcastle Knights 19-18 at Accor Stadium on Sunday 4 October. It is their first premiership since 2019.
How did the Roosters win the 2026 NRL Grand Final?
They trailed 12-6 at half-time, scored tries through Billy Smith and Mark Nawaqanitawase in the second half, and went seven points clear with a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal. Newcastle scored a converted try in the 77th minute to make it 19-18, but ran out of time.
Who won the 2026 NRLW Grand Final?
The Roosters, who beat the Brisbane Broncos 30-6, with Tarryn Aiken named the Karyn Murphy Medallist.