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Newcastle chase their first premiership since 2001 against the Sydney Roosters, who are seeking a fifth title since 2000, with kick-off at 7.30pm AEDT.
The Newcastle Knights and Sydney Roosters meet in the 2026 NRL grand final at Accor Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off at 7.30pm AEDT. The decider pits fourth against seventh after a topsy-turvy campaign.
It comes down to one match after 210 games, 17,000 minutes and more than 10,000 points. Fans gathered outside Accor Stadium ahead of the match, while supporters also packed McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle for a live site watch-a-long. The day began with the NRLW grand final, where the Sydney Roosters celebrated winning the premiership.
Knights Aim for Historic Grand Final
Roosters players including Isabelle Kelly and Julia Robinson were central to the victory, played in front of Knights fans who had already gathered at Accor Stadium. Newcastle are chasing their first premiership since 2001 and a stunning rise from last year's wooden spoon. The Knights finished 2025 stone-cold last with a points difference of -300. Sydney Roosters are hunting their fifth premiership since 2000 and have appeared in a further four grand finals.
Back-rower Angus Crichton said the club demands success and players must always be at the top of their game. Suspended Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland has been cleared to celebrate with teammates if the Knights win. He cannot sit on the bench during the match under NRL rules. Crossland was banned for the hip-drop tackle that hurt Nathan Cleary last Sunday.
The 26-year-old New Zealand international was named in the No.9 jersey and attended Thursday's NRL fan-fest at Martin Place. Crossland can join the Knights in the dressing rooms and warm-up room before the game. He must remain in the players' enclosure behind the bench during the match, then can enter the field after fulltime. He can join trophy celebrations but will not be on stage for the official handover.
Newcastle's Run Transforms the City
He remains a key part of the Knights grand final week. Newcastle's run to the decider has captivated the city. The Knights have won more finals games in the past month than in the previous decade, beating South Sydney, the Warriors and Penrith. Coach Justin Holbrook, a former Robinson protege, has masterminded one of the all-time great single-season overhauls in results, mindset and style.
Forward Francis Manuleleua said the team will do anything for each other and defend with the brother next to them. Blue and red snags have sold out in record time, tattoo parlours are booked up and houses are painted in Knights colours. A live site watch-a-long at McDonald Jones Stadium sold out within minutes. Supporters Cathy and Michelle Price caught the train to the grand final from Broadmeadow station.
The club signed Parramatta's Dylan Brown on a $13m 10-year deal last year, a move many thought was rushed. Brown's capture proved a masterstroke, allowing fullback Kalyn Ponga to play at a level arguably better than his Dally M season of 2023. Brown suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in round 21 and will not play. First-choice front row pairing Trey Mooney and Jacob Saifiti are also out along with Crossland.
Sandon Smith replaces Brown at halfback. Halfback Sandon Smith said the belief in the squad and the town's backing cannot be put into words. He called it a special time with one more game to go. The Roosters have a new lease of life under a pair of Queensland halves at opposite ends of their careers.
Roosters Seek Another NRL Premiership
Daly Cherry-Evans, recruited from Manly, has the chance to bookend his NRL career with premierships. Cherry-Evans is reluctant to compare his move to Cooper Cronk's arrival from Melbourne, which powered the Roosters to the 2018 and 2019 titles. Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton are also leaving Bondi and want to sign off with silverware. No team outside the top four has won the premiership in the NRL era.
But with a city behind them and an incredible finals run, few would doubt the Knights. Peking Duk shut down rumours they would perform, but Reuben Styles revealed he will be involved in pre-match entertainment. He will then fly to Cairns to join Adam Hyde for a show later tonight. Styles said he will be shredding a solo for a special song and is nervous.
The duo joked about old State of Origin criticism before confirming they are busy playing in Cairns. NRL boss Peter V'landys said talks with Tones and I soured, declaring he would prefer to donate $1 million to junior rugby league than pay for 11 minutes of entertainment. Her management said they were approached on September 5 and negotiations never went far. Since 2019 the grand final has witnessed only one blowout.
Fans Celebrate Across Newcastle
The Clive Churchill Medal has gone to superhuman feats from Nathan Cleary and Reece Walsh in recent seasons. As fans like Daniel Dwyer showed their true colours at Accor Stadium, young Knights supporters including Mackenzie Hodson, 10, and the Lewington family soaked up the atmosphere. Newcastle fans Damien Lewington with his kids Madison, 11, Jaylen, 9, and Zayne, 7 gathered at McDonald Jones Stadium. Supporters Zac Akin and Harry Mosh were outside The Kent on Newcastle's Beaumont Street.
Alice Varley and Olivia Blissett joined thousands of other Knights supporters at McDonald Jones Stadium. Revellers also gathered at the Clovelly Hotel, the Coogee Bay Hotel, the Clock hotel in Surry Hills, the Wickham Hotel in Islington and the Hamilton Station Hotel.
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GuardianAus:NRL grand final 2026: Sydney Roosters v Newcastle Knights – live 
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smh:In pictures: The 2026 NRL and NRLW grand finalsThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
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