# 2026 NRL Grand Final: Roosters defeat Knights > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/2026-nrl-grand-final > Updated: 2026-10-04T11:22:23.000Z. Sources: 34. Developments: 5. The 2026 NRL Grand Final at Accor Stadium concluded with the Sydney Roosters defeating the Newcastle Knights 19-18. The match marked the Knights’ first appearance in a decider in 25 years, following a significant underdog run after finishing as the wooden-spooners the previous season. Attended by over 80,000 spectators, the event featured pre-match musical tributes from Amy Shark, Phil Jamieson, and Dave Gleeson. Despite the Roosters' victory, Knights supporters were highly visible, with jerseys reportedly outnumbering those of the Roosters two to one. After falling into an early 12-0 deficit driven by Knights players Kalyn Ponga and Francis Manuleleua, the Roosters mounted a second-half comeback. Winger Mark Nawaqanitawase played a pivotal role in the win, scoring two tries, including a notable 90m intercept try. Roosters coach Trent Robinson described the 26-year-old as a ‘generational talent’ who has ‘reinvented the role of a winger.’ Following this premiership, the dual-code international is set to return to rugby union with the Japanese side Saitama Wild Knights. The victory was ultimately secured in the 70th minute by Daly Cherry-Evans, who kicked a decisive field goal in his 379th and final NRL game. Despite a late try by Greg Marzhew, the Roosters held on to claim their first premiership since 2019. James Tedesco was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for a dominant performance that included 305 meters from 25 carries, achieving his goal of winning a premiership as captain. While the Knights fell narrowly, their performance was noted for high defensive intensity, recording 445 tackles during the championship showdown. The loss drew significant emotional responses from fans and club founders following the team's long-awaited return to the Grand Final. ## Claims - James Tedesco won the Clive Churchill Medal. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Daly Cherry-Evans kicked the decisive field goal. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Mark Nawaqanitawase scored two tries in the Grand Final. (corroborated by 2 sources) - James Tedesco ran for more than 380 meters during the match. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Daly Cherry-Evans chose to leave Manly for the Roosters to avoid merely jogging to the end of his career. (single source) - The Roosters have found a balance between halfbacks Sam Walker and Daly Cherry-Evans. (single source) - Daly Cherry-Evans will become the oldest player to play in a Grand Final in the mandatory Grand Final era. (single source) - The Roosters signed Daly Cherry-Evans to help captain James Tedesco win a third premiership. (single source) - The Sydney Roosters are the most-supported club, attracting over 478,000 attendees. (single source) - Grand Final tickets released on Monday were exhausted within two hours. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-04: Sydney Roosters win NRL premiership over Newcastle Knights The Sydney Roosters defeated the Newcastle Knights 19-18 to win the NRL premiership, with captain James Tedesco earning the Clive Churchill Medal. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sydney-roosters-win-nrl-premiership-over-newcastle-knights ### 2026-10-04: Newcastle Knights fall narrowly in NRL Grand Final The Newcastle Knights narrowly lost the NRL Grand Final 19-18 to the Roosters, while the Newcastle Yowies secured a victory in the women's competition at the Koori Knockout rugby league carnival. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/newcastle-knights-fans-gather-for-grand-final-live-site-event ### 2026-10-03: Mark Nawaqanitawase leads Roosters to NRL Grand Final victory Winger Mark Nawaqanitawase led the Sydney Roosters to an NRL Grand Final victory over Newcastle before preparing to return to rugby union with Japan's Saitama Wild Knights. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mark-nawaqanitawase-leads-sydney-roosters-to-nrl-grand-final-victory ### 2026-10-02: Sydney Roosters win 2026 NRL Grand Final 19-18 against Newcastle Knights The Sydney Roosters defeated the Newcastle Knights 19-18 to win the 2026 NRL Grand Final, secured by a late field goal from Daly Cherry-Evans in his final professional game. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/daly-cherry-evans-prepares-for-final-nrl-game-in-2026-grand-final ### 2026-09-29: McDonald Jones Stadium to host free live site for NRL Grand Final McDonald Jones Stadium will host a free live site for Newcastle Knights fans to watch the 2026 NRL Grand Final against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, October 4. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mcdonald-jones-stadium-to-host-free-live-site-for-nrl-grand-final --- Cite as: 2026 NRL Grand Final: Roosters defeat Knights. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/2026-nrl-grand-final