The NRL Grand Final has been run and won, with the Sydney Roosters crowned the 2026 premiers in a 19-18 triumph over the Newcastle Knights
Here is how every player ranked during the game.
1. Naufahu Whyte (Sydney Roosters)
Absolute beast to set the tone with Lindsay Collins to start the match. Led by example and showed why he is one of the premier front rowers in the competition. Roosters best in the first half with just short of 100 metres in the first 40. His second stint replicated the first and suffocated the Knights' pack as he rolled down field.
2. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights)
Was in everything to start and popped up everywhere he needed to be. Saved a try in the corner to Nawaqanitawase, sprinting to the threat and defusing the situation. Backed up all his early efforts with a 100-metre try to cap off a brilliant first half. Gave it his all in the second half but didn't have the possession to turn it into points.
3. James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
Great kick returns and fourth tackle carries to get his halves plenty of time for a fifth tackle kick. Showed his class and elite talent by constantly making the right decisions with ball in hand. Breaks tackles for fun and ran roughly 400 metres in a memorable skipper's knock. Secured the Clive Churchill in an elite performance, but could have easily gone to any of the top three.
4. Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters)
Unlucky to concede a contentious penalty to open the scoring for the Knights. Brutal in defence and gave the young Knights forward pack some 'welcome to the big leagues' moments with his hits. Almost came up with another finals try in the dying minutes. Led with his enforcer attitude and reminded everyone how important he is when he turns it on.
5. Spencer Leniu (Sydney Roosters)
Standard Spencer action, he was brought on to do what he doest best: bend the line and get the Roosters on the front foot. Forced the ball free on Young 10 metres out to the Chooks an attacking chance and created an opportunity for a try for Smith. Absolute beast stint for Leniu in his first stanza.
6. Mark Nawaqanitawase (Sydney Roosters)
Manages to create freakish tries for fun. Was kept quiet until the end of the first half, where he picked up another highlight reel with some soccer-skills on the turf to open the tri-colours account. Scored another ripper to close his NRL try scoring books, for now.
7. Fletcher Sharpe (Newcastle Knights)
Beautiful short ball to send Manuleleua over for the first try, adding plenty of confidence to the playing group in the Knights' first time down the attacking end. Saved some tries by forcing the ball dead and popped up in defence where he needed to. Outside of Ponga looked to be one of Newcastle's most dangerous.
8. Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters)
Chased every kick all night and put plenty of pressure on the Knights' back three. Oozes class and combined beautifully with Marky Mark on the right edge for the first try after some athletic efforts. Cemented himself as one of the best defensive players in the NRL with his work throughout the finals series.
9. Sam Walker (Sydney Roosters)
Kicked strongly at second fiddle to DCE, but the attack looks unsettled when linking with his outside men early. Similar to his halves partner Cherry-Evans, Walker warmed into the contest as the forwards got on top in the second half and began to gel nicely with Tedesco.
10. Francis Manuleleua (Newcastle Knights)
Ran a beautiful line off Sharpe to open the scoring, adding plenty of aggression every time he's involved in play. Still gave it all even when the possession turned against the Knights and will be a future star in the Hunter.
11. Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Textbook Tupou carries from his own end and the NRL veteran ran hard every time he could. Made a quality catch on a short drop out which saw Marky Mark cross for his second. Showed plenty of experience in his fourth premiership win.
12. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sydney Roosters)
Dominated the kicking early and failed to ice a 40/20. Put plenty of pressure on the Knights' back three all night with Roosters teammates contesting the kicks. Looked clunky in attack with Walker during the first stanza. Warmed into the match as it went on and provided a clutch grubber to set up Marky Mark for his second try. Snapped a nice field goal to put the tri-colours in front and proved to be the difference in the end.
13. Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights)
Plenty of early energy and knows how to inspire his teammates around him with his actions. Was starved of possession when the Roosters were on top and had Smith in hot pursuit during a lot of the contest.
14. Jermaine McEwen (Newcastle Knights)
Plenty of energy in the early exchanges and went at the Roosters enforcers in the middle all match. Made solid runs but failed to keep up as the Roosters grew in the match, with his impact becoming limited.
15. Billy Smith (Sydney Roosters)
Scored a crucial try after some brave Newcastle defence. Gagai met him with solid defence and had some work to do, but returned with equally bruising defence, limiting the departing Knights' power.
16. Sandon Smith (Newcastle Knights)
Kicked strongly and directed his boys around the park, despite limited ball in attacking opportunities. He kicked his heart out, but always out of his own end.
17. Lachlan Crouch (Newcastle Knights)
Came on and played his role admirably, bent the line in his carries, and the Roosters forwards stopped in their tracks when met in defence. Has a massive future and will take plenty of great learnings from 2026.
18. Reece Robson (Sydney Roosters)
Great service from Robson to his halves in Walker and Cherry-Evans, strong in defence and led the defensive line speed.
19. Angus Crichton (Sydney Roosters)
Made a costly error in the Roosters attacking zone, but in standard Crichton fashion, he brought plenty of offloads and second-phase footy to build Roosters momentum at moments throughout the match.
20. Mat Croker (Newcastle Knights)
Tough start with an error after their first points to bring Chooks into striking range. Always seems to support just in case and ends up in the right position, can't teach Croker's heart.
21. Salesi Foketi (Sydney Roosters)
Ran some solid lines off of Walker, but McEwen was in his face every time he had the Steeden. Warmed as the game went on and started to poke his nose through tackles.
22. Harrison Graham (Newcastle Knights)
Offered spark upon his entry but struggled with him running game due to the severe force of the Roosters forward pack, who suffocated the Novocastrians.
23. Thomas Cant (Newcastle Knights)
Started the match in the dummy half role and defended strongly to set the tone. Made 26 tackles in his first stint and held it down until Graham came in to replace.
24. Dominic Young (Newcastle Knights)
Great try saver in the seventh minute to jam Billy Smith from a four-pointer. Made a grave error 10-metres out courtesy of Spencer Leniu leading to a try to level the scores. Kept quiet by Young's standards.
25. Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters)
Radley was very quiet and many of his Roosters forwards such as Leniu, Whyte and Collins out-shined him.
26. Bradman Best (Newcastle Knights)
Was kept relatively quiet by Robert Toia compared to his efforts last week.
27. Nat Butcher (Sydney Roosters)
Did his job and held his own in the dominant Roosters forward pack. Generated some solid play the ball speeds to get the Roosters rolling downfield.
28. Greg Marzhew (Newcastle Knights)
Great runs out of yardage but was handled well by Nawaqanitawase in their one-on-one battle. Was kept quiet until in the final minutes he scored his 25th try of the season to keep the Knights in the contest, somehow.
29. Tyson Frizell (Newcastle Knights)
Great starting stint by Frizell, in his first Grand Final appearance in over 300+ NRL games, he didn't let anyone down. Had a tough job going up against the Roosters' pack.
30. Cody Hopwood (Newcastle Knights)
Was great without being outstanding, has a massive future as Knights enforcer.
31. Pasami Saulo (Newcastle Knights)
Ran hard every time he could, doing enough for Holbrook to be proud. Held it down in the middle despite the Roosters' forwards dominating most of the match.
32. Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)
Let in a soft try after a poor read on Manueleleua, but his right edge remained solid. Was very quiet in a forward pack that dominated the match.
33. Dylan Lucas (Newcastle Knights)
Quiet night for Lucas, but kept some strong defensive pressure and quick play the balls in his minutes. Has done incredibly well in the last two weeks, considering his injury history this year.
