Roosters Edge Knights in Thrilling NRL Grand Final

The Sydney Roosters have emerged victorious in a thrilling NRL grand final, holding off a spirited Newcastle Knights outfit that threatened to complete one of the greatest premiership wins in history.

In a match where the Roosters statistically dominated but the Knights managed to lead in the second half, several key moments decided the outcome of the 2026 NRL grand final.

Early drama: Bomb hits Spidercam wire

One of rugby league's favorite camera angles, the Spidercam, was involved in an early incident. Sydney Roosters five-eighth Daly Cherry-Evans, in his final NRL match, hoisted an early kick that hit the cable holding the Spidercam.

Newcastle Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga, cool under pressure, adjusted well and caught the ball after its trajectory changed suddenly. A knock-on would have been a major controversy.

Teddy fumes as Ponga avoids sin-bin for high shot

Ponga was involved in an incident that sparked controversy midway through the first half. The Knights captain may have been lucky to avoid a spell in the sin bin when his shoulder collected the head of Victor Radley in the tackle.

The Roosters were clearly unhappy with the tackle, with Naufahu Whyte scuffling with Jermaine McEwan. However, referee Adam Gee and the bunker opted against sending Ponga to the bin.

"If we're consistent with the rules, that's a shoulder to the head," Roosters captain James Tedesco was heard on the broadcast telling Gee. "It's been a sin bin all year."

From dislocated elbow to first GF try in five weeks

Francis Manuleleua dislocated his elbow in Newcastle's final home and away match on August 30. Just 35 days later, the 22-year-old from Auckland scored the first try of the NRL grand final.

The Roosters seemed to have the better of the early momentum, but it was the Knights who scored first, with Manuleleua running through a huge gap to score under the posts.

"It looked way too easy – didn't look like there was anything wrong … absolutely brilliant football, outstanding pass, but it all looked too easy for the Knights," two-time premiership winner Luke Lewis said.

Ponga runs 95 metres as Knights fans go wild

If the Knights were going to win the grand final, Ponga needed to have a big impact. He made a diving effort midway through the first half to knock the ball out of the grasp of Mark Nawaqanitawase, denying a certain Roosters try.

A few minutes later, Ponga produced a moment of individual brilliance. He sprinted across the field as the Roosters put up a kick to the opposite corner, then swooped on the bouncing ball and ran 95 metres in the opposite direction as Knights fans went wild at Stadium Australia.

Nawaqanitawase with one more for the highlight reel

Few have made such an impact on the NRL in two seasons as Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase. Nawaqanitawase got the Roosters on the scoreboard in the grand final, showing off his soccer skills for the Tricolours' opening try.

DCE shows his experience with a clutch field goal

Daly Cherry-Evans, the former Queensland State of Origin captain, had his decision to leave Manly for the Sydney Roosters vindicated by guiding the Roosters to the grand final. Cherry-Evans put the Roosters in a match-winning position with 10 minutes to play.

Cherry-Evans showed off his years of experience to slot a smartly taken field goal, giving the Roosters a vital seven-point lead.

Marzhew scores and Knights fall one-point short

The Newcastle Knights never gave up. They fought until the final second as they tried to become the first team since the 1930s to go from wooden-spoon to premiers.

Down by seven points with less than four minutes to play, the Knights showed a never-say-die attitude that will define their 2026 campaign. Left winger Greg Marzhew broke two tackles to score in the corner, giving the Knights a glimmer of hope.