What changed
Sydney Roosters beat Newcastle Knights 19-18 in the NRL Premiership Grand Final, securing their 16th title and first since 2019. Mark Nawaqanitawase scored twice, once in each half, in his final Roosters match before returning to rugby union in Japan.
Newcastle led 12-0 early, but the Roosters recovered before 80,814 people at Stadium Australia. Daly Cherry-Evans added a drop goal in his final NRL appearance before moving to Hull FC for the 2027 season.
Why it matters
This was a grand final decided by exits as much as by the trophy. Nawaqanitawase leaves league with the perfect farewell: two tries and a title after a two-year Roosters contract. His next chapter is in union, and he could be in contention for Australia at next year's World Cup, though his club and selection are not confirmed.
For Newcastle, the defeat ends a remarkable challenge. The Knights were chasing their first title since 2001 after finishing three places below the Roosters in the regular season. A late try from Greg Marzhew cut the gap to one point, but Sydney held on. One more clean finish would have turned Newcastle's comeback into one of the competition's great upsets.
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