The Sydney Roosters claimed a 19-18 NRL premiership over the Newcastle Knights on Sunday night at Accor Stadium, rallying from a 12-0 deficit behind two tries from Mark Nawaqanitawase and a decisive 70th-minute field goal from Daly Cherry-Evans in front of 80,814 fans. The win delivered the club a 16th title and capped Cherry-Evans’ final NRL appearance with the premiership medal that eluded him for most of his career at Manly.
How the match turned
Newcastle raced to leads through Francis Manuleleua and Kalyn Ponga tries, with Sandon Smith converting both. The Roosters answered through Billy Smith and a pair of Nawaqanitawase finishes, the second after a grubber rebounded off the posts into James Tedesco’s hands. Sam Walker’s conversions kept the Tricolours within striking distance before Cherry-Evans nailed the one-pointer that proved the margin.
Knights winger Greg Marzhew scored with three minutes left to set up a grandstand finish, but the Roosters defended the restart chain to secure Tedesco’s second Clive Churchill Medal. Newcastle’s fairy-tale run from wooden spoon territory in 2025 ended one point short, though coach remarks praised the squad’s resilience.
Context off the field
The grand final weekend was shadowed by Saturday’s incident in Newcastle, where a vehicle drove into supporters gathered to farewell the team, injuring ten people including children. Security around Accor Stadium was visibly heightened, and both clubs acknowledged the community trauma in pre-match ceremonies. Amy Shark led a tribute to late forward Jai Arrow during the pre-game entertainment.
Earlier Sunday, the Roosters’ NRLW side completed a perfect 13-0 season with a 30-6 win over Brisbane, giving the club a rare women’s-men’s double on grand final day.
Legacy storylines
Nawaqanitawase, bound for rugby union, finished his league career as the headline act. Cherry-Evans, 37, replicated his 2011 rookie-premiership arc with a field goal, silencing critics who questioned his move to Bondi. For Newcastle, Kalyn Ponga’s brilliance was not enough to overcome the Roosters’ star density built through aggressive recruitment.
Bookmakers had installed the Roosters favourites despite sentimental support for the Knights. The one-point margin validated pre-game predictions of a tight contest after Newcastle knocked off Penrith in the preliminary final.
What’s next
Victory parades will move through eastern Sydney this week while Newcastle hosts a welcome-home event for runners-up. Representative season debates begin immediately, with several Roosters and Knights named in early Kangaroos speculation. For the wider league, the finish underscores how salary-cap savvy recruiting can rebuild a contender within a season—an uncomfortable lesson for rivals planning 2027 roster overhauls.