Roosters v Knights: Watson races clock; Graham set to step up
After 27 rounds and three pulsating weeks of finals, it all comes down to 80 minutes at Accor Stadium this Sunday to decide the 2026 NRL champions.
The pride of the Hunter taking on the boys from Bondi in an epic decider that no one saw coming and no one wants to miss.
The Knights have come from seventh spot to qualify for their first grand final since 2001 and are chasing just the third premiership in club history.
The Roosters are into their first decider since 2019 and will look to add a 16th premiership to one of the game's most glittering trophy cabinets.
In many ways the most unlikely of grand final pairings but also the most romantic as last year’s wooden spooners Newcastle look to complete a fairytale revival.
The last team to climb from the dungeon one year to decider the next was their opponents the Roosters, who dusted themselves off after a disastrous 2009 season to charge into the 2010 grand final, where they lost to the Dragons.
Do the underdogs have one more upset left in them or have they spent all their chips? All will be revealed on Sunday night at Accor Stadium in front of a heaving crowd befitting the occasion.
- One play can define a season. These are the moments that matter. Don't miss a second of the action with kick-off at 7.30pm Sunday night live on Nine, 9Now and Sky Sports NZ.
Match: Roosters v Knights
Grand Final -
home Team
Roosters
4th Position
away Team
Knights
7th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Team News
Roosters: No changes for the Roosters from the squad that rolled the Dolphins to progress to the club's first decider in seven years. Utility Connor Watson failed a HIA at Suncorp Stadium last Friday night but will visit an independent neurologist on Thursday in a bid to be cleared for the decider. Watson has been named on bench. Benaiah Oelu, Tommy Talau and Egan Butcher round out the extended squad.
Knights: Coach Justin Holbrook sticks with the same 19-man squad that pulled off a miraculous win over the Panthers in the preliminary final. Hooker Phoenix Crossland has been named to play pending his appearance at the NRL Judiciary on Tuesday night to answer a Dangerous Contact charge for his hip drop tackle on Nathan Cleary. Should Crossland be banned, Harrison Graham will start the grand final at hooker and one of the reserves will join the interchange - Diesel Hagan, Kyle McCarthy or Elijah Salesa Leaumoana.
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James TedescoFullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
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Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel TupouWinger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
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Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy SmithCentre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
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Centre for Roosters is number 4 Robert ToiaCentre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
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Winger for Roosters is number 5 Mark NawaqanitawaseWinger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
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Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Daly Cherry-EvansFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
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Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Sam WalkerHalfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith
Forwards
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Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu WhyteProp for Knights is number 8 Tyson Frizell
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Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Reece RobsonHooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
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Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay CollinsProp for Knights is number 10 Cody Hopwood
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Salesi Foketi2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jermaine McEwen
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2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Siua Wong2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Francis Manuleleua
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Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor RadleyLock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker
Interchange
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Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor WatsonInterchange for Knights is number 14 Harrison Graham
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Angus CrichtonInterchange for Knights is number 15 Lachlan Crouch
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat ButcherInterchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Spencer LeniuInterchange for Knights is number 17 Dylan Lucas
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Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Hugo SavalaInterchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt
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Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Cody RamseyInterchange for Knights is number 19 Thomas Cant
Reserves
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Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Benaiah IoeluReserve for Knights is number 20 Kyle McCarthy
-
Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Tommy TalauReserve for Knights is number 21 Diesel Hagan
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Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Egan ButcherReserve for Knights is number 22 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Roosters Ins
- Benaiah Ioelu
- Egan Butcher
- Tommy Talau
Knights Ins
- Diesel Hagan
- Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
- Kyle McCarthy
Roosters Outs
Knights Ins
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Tyson Brough
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Roosters have won their last six games against the Knights.
- The Knights are aiming to become the first team since Western Suburbs in 1934 to go from last to first.
- Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has scored five tries in his last three games.
- The Knights have only one player with grand final experience (Dane Gagai).
- Roosters prop Lindsay Collins will make his 150th NRL appearance.
- Knights winger Dominic Young has scored five tries in three games at Accor Stadium this season.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
