The Sydney Roosters are the 2026 NRL Premiers, holding off Newcastle 19–18 in an absolute classic at Accor Stadium.
A Daly Cherry-Evans field goal ultimately separated the two sides, James Tedesco walked away with his first Clive Churchill Medal and Mark Nawaqanitawase scored twice in his final NRL game.
Not a bad night to be a Rooster.
Shop the NRL Collection.
The Roosters Have 16
Newcastle came into the Grand Final trying to complete one of the great rugby league fairytales. Wooden spooners in 2025, premiers in 2026. And, for a while, it looked like it might actually happen.
The Knights led 12–0 after tries to rookie forward Francis Manuleleua and Kalyn Ponga, before the Roosters slowly worked their way back into the contest. Mark Nawaqanitawase scored just before half-time, Billy Smith crossed after the break and Nawaqanitawase's second put the Roosters in control.
Then Daly Cherry-Evans kicked a field goal, which turned out to be fairly important.
Greg Marzhew scored for Newcastle with four minutes remaining and Sandon Smith nailed the conversion from the sideline to make it 19–18. Newcastle got one last chance, but there would be no Darren Albert moment this time.
The Roosters held on for premiership number 16.
James Tedesco Finally Gets His Clive Churchill
Where do you even start with James Tedesco's résumé at this point?
Three premierships. Two Dally M Medals. A Wally Lewis Medal. A World Cup. Origin series wins. And, now, a Clive Churchill Medal.
Tedesco ran for 385 metres from 35 runs with 14 tackle breaks, then came up with two huge kick receptions in the dying minutes as Newcastle desperately searched for a winner. It was his third premiership, his first as Roosters captain and his first Clive Churchill Medal.
He's 33 years old and somehow just had one of the best seasons of his career.
That's a pretty good reason for collectors to take another look through the Teddy cards.
The Perfect Ending for DCE
Daly Cherry-Evans won a premiership in his rookie season with Manly in 2011. Fifteen years later, his final NRL game gave him one last chance to bookend his career with another. And he actually did it.
Even better, DCE kicked the 70th-minute field goal that ultimately became the difference between the two teams. He finishes his NRL career with 379 games and two premierships, won 15 years apart with two different clubs. Sometimes the story writes itself.
Two Tries and Goodbye for Mark Nawaqanitawase
But it wasn’t only DCE playing his final NRL game.Mark Nawaqanitawase is heading back to rugby union, and he signed off with two tries in a Grand Final.
His first try dragged the Roosters back into the game before half-time. His second put them six points ahead midway through the second half. Then he became a premiership winner.
It closes the book on a brief, but brilliant, NRL stint for the enigmatic winger. It only lasted two years, but Nawaqanitawase’s rugby league career is one we’ll never forget.
What Does It Mean for Their Cards?
A Grand Final like this gives collectors plenty to work with.
Tedesco has finally added the Clive Churchill Medal to a résumé that was already running out of available achievements. DCE gets the fairytale ending and a second premiership ring. Nawaqanitawase leaves rugby league with two Grand Final tries and a premiership.
And even in defeat, Newcastle produced moments that'll stick around. Kalyn Ponga's length-of-the-field try on the biggest stage was another addition to his highlight reel, while rookie Francis Manuleleua scored the opening try in just his 15th NRL game.
Does any of that guarantee their cards are worth more this morning? No.
But this is exactly why people collect sports cards in the first place. Players have careers. Cards give you something physical to attach to the moments you'll remember from them. And last night’s Grand Final delivered plenty of those big moments.
