NRL Late Mail: Grand Final - Roosters sweat on Connor
Official late mail, updates and injury news for the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final.
NRL Late Mail: Grand Final
Roosters v Knights, Sunday 7.30pm AEDT at Accor Stadium
Team Lists
Backs
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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 14 Harrison Graham
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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 15 Lachlan Crouch
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Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Angus CrichtonInterchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
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Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat ButcherInterchange for Knights is number 17 Dylan Lucas
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Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Spencer LeniuInterchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt
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Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Hugo SavalaInterchange for Knights is number 19 Thomas Cant
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Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Cody RamseyInterchange for Knights is number 20 Kyle McCarthy
Reserves
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Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Benaiah IoeluReserve for Knights is number 21 Diesel Hagan
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Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Tommy TalauReserve for Knights is number 22 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
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Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Egan Butcher
Roosters Ins
- Benaiah Ioelu
- Egan Butcher
- Tommy Talau
Knights Ins
- Diesel Hagan
- Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
- Kyle McCarthy
Roosters Outs
Knights Ins
- Phoenix Crossland
Match Officials
- Referee: Adam Gee
- Touch Judge: Tyson Brough
- Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Roosters: The Roosters' only concern heading into their first decider in seven years is bench utility Connor Watson who failed a HIA at Suncorp Stadium last Friday night and was set to visit an independent doctor on Thursday in a bid to be cleared for the decider. Should Watson not be cleared, Benaiah Oelu or Egan Butcher would join the interchange. In his last ever NRL game, Daly Cherry-Evans will become the oldest player in grand final history at 37 years and 183 days, surpassing the record set by Melbourne's Cameron Smith, who was 37 and 130 days old when he took the field against the Panthers in the 2020 decider.
Roosters v Knights: Grand Final
Knights: The loss of Phoenix Crossland to suspension could see Thomas Cant start the game at dummy half with Harrison Graham coming from the bench as he has done so successfully in 17 of his 19 games this season. Harrison has entered the game around the 35-minute mark in the past two games so coach Justin Holbrook may well choose to keep him out of the early exchanges and give Cant the starting role. Star centre Bradman Best sat out training on Wednesday but that was merely a precaution and he will be ready to go on Sunday as he presses his claims for a Kangaroos jersey. Diesel Hagan looks the man most likely to be added to the six-man interchange bench.
- Don't miss a moment of the 2026 NRL decider on Nine, 9Now and Sky Sports NZ.
