Roosters v Knights: The battle for ultimate glory
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Can last year's wooden spooners Newcastle complete an epic revival and secure the club's third premiership or will the Roosters pack too many punches?
Can Daly Cherry-Evans, Angus Crichton and Mark Nawaqanitawase get the perfect farewell or will Kalyn Ponga etch his name into Knights folklore alongside Andrew Johns and Paul Harragon as the only three men to take the club to a premiership?
A mouth-watering showdown of contrasting styles as the ruthless and controlled Roosters look to put the clamps on a free-flowing Knights side that look dangerous every time they get the ball to the edges.
Bradman Best ready to go
Will the Knights be battle hardened or battle weary after three sudden-death encounters against the Rabbitohs, Warriors and Panthers?
Will the Roosters be cherry ripe after a nine-day break or ripe for the picking when the Knights faithful crank up the volume and the stadium turns into a colosseum?
Follow all the action of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on NRL.com's live blog.
Roosters v Knights at Accor Stadium
Match: Roosters v Knights
Grand Final -
home Team
Roosters
4th Position
away Team
Knights
7th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Roosters v Knights: Grand Final
7.20pm Dave Gleeson from the Screaming Jets takes to the stage with Amy Shark to belt out the classic 'What's Going On' before Phil Jamieson from Grinspoon kick starts the Tina Turner rugby league anthem 'The Best'. The packed crowd gets right into the classic hit as Amy Shark and Dave Gleeson get stuck in as well.
7.15pm The game again stands with Jai Arrow and other sufferers of MND. The fans at the game get to their feet and make the sign of an arrow. Amy Shark leads the singing of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' as Jai Arrow heads around Accor Stadium on a lap of honour in a special vehicle. He is accompanied by former Wallaby Nathan Charles who has been diagnosed with MND.
6.45pm Class of Champions - a tribute to retiring NRL and NRLW players of 2026 - Adam Reynolds, Josh Papalii, Tazmin Rapana, Jordan Rapana, Corey Jensen, Jorge Taufua, Britanny Breayley-Nati, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Lachlan Croker, Reimis Smith, Ryan Matterson, Daniel Saifiti, Steph Hancock, Elliott Whitehead, Tariq Sims, Mark Nicholls, Konrad Hurrell, Moses Mbye, Kyle Feldt, Tui Kamikamica, Tallisha Harden.
Late Mail
Roosters: No further game day changes after Benaiah Ioelu joined the six-man bench on Friday when Connor Watson's late bid for a clearance to line up in the grand final was denied by an independent neurologist. 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. Egan Butcher remains in the squad as the reserve.
Knights: A late change from Justin Holbrook with Thomas Cant to start the game at hooker and Harrison Graham reverting to the bench. Youngster Diesel Hagan has been added to the bench and could make his NRL debut. Kyle McCarthy has been omitted 90 minutes before kick-off. Star centre Bradman Best sat out training on Wednesday but that was merely a precaution and he is primed to press his claims for a Kangaroos jersey in a mouth-watering battle with Rob Toia.
Numbers Game
- 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.
