NRL Grand Final: Sydney Roosters surge to 19-12 lead over Newcastle Knights in final minutes
The 2026 NRL Grand Final in Sydney went down to the wire — the Sydney Roosters built a 19-12 lead over the Newcastle Knights in the second half, but ABC News reports Newcastle scored a try in the 77th minute, and the final result is not confirmed in the available reports.
The match in Sydney
On October 4, 2026, Accor Stadium (also known as Stadium Australia) in Sydney hosted the National Rugby League (NRL) Grand Final between the Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights. As SMH.com.au notes, Newcastle were chasing their first premiership in 25 years.
Newcastle dominate the first half
Newcastle controlled the opening half. Manuleleua scored in the 16th minute, followed by Kalyn Ponga in the 31st, both converted, putting the Knights 12-0 ahead. The Roosters hit back just before the break through Mark Nawaqanitawase in the 35th minute, making it 6-12 at half-time.
Roosters take control after the break
The second half told a different story. Billy Smith scored in the 47th minute to level it at 12-12. Sam Walker kicked a penalty goal in the 55th minute (14-12), and in the 60th minute Nawaqanitawase scored his second try of the match, making it 18-12 — Walker missed the conversion this time. In the 70th minute, veteran Daly Cherry-Evans, described by The Guardian as the oldest grand finalist in NRL history, added a field goal to stretch the lead to 19-12. The Guardian also notes that James Tedesco looked set to be named the match's best player.
Several sources highlight that Newcastle's defence was resilient through this stretch, repeatedly denying the Roosters further points despite Sydney's clear dominance of possession and territory.
Uncertainty over the final result
The available sources diverge on the closing minutes. The Guardian and SMH.com.au's latest updates both put the score at 19-12 to the Roosters between the 70th and 76th minutes, with Newcastle held up repeatedly near the try line. However, ABC News reports that Newcastle scored a try through Greg Marzhew in the 77th minute, stating the game was "still alive." The final score following that try is not specified in the available reports.
Other events
The Guardian notes that a pre-match tribute was held for rugby league figure Jai Arrow, featuring a performance by singer Amy Shark alongside a group of musicians. According to Mashable, the match was available to stream for free in Australia via 9Now. The same day, at the same venue, the NRLW (women's league) Grand Final also took place, with the Sydney Roosters defeating the Brisbane Broncos 30-6 to complete an undefeated season; Tarryn Aiken was named player of the match, as reported by NRL.com.
