NRL

This is it rugby league fans.

The NRL Grand Final is finally here and after 30 weeks of action the 2026 Premiers are set to be crowned at Accor Stadium next Sunday night.

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Will it be the Sydney Roosters or the Newcastle Knights?

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NRL 2026 Grand Final

Sydney Roosters vs. Newcastle Knights

(Sunday, October 4 at Accor Stadium, 7:30pm AEDT)

Roosters predicted team:

1. James Tedesco (c)
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Billy Smith
4. Robert Toia
5. Mark Nawaqanitawase
6. Sam Walker
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Naufahu Whyte
9. Reece Robson
10. Lindsay Collins
11. Salesi Foketi
12. Siua Wong
13. Victor Radley

14. Connor Watson*
15. Angus Crichton
16. Nat Butcher
17. Spencer Leniu 
18. Hugo Savala
19. Cody Ramsay

Roosters team news:

With Sam Walker making a successful return from ankle surgery there are unlikely to be many unforced changes from Trent Robinson, if any. Utility Connor Watson left the field with an upgraded Category 1 HIA late in first half of the preliminary final win over the Dolphins and it may be touch and go for him to get a medical clearance to play. Look for either Benaiah Ioelu or Egan Butcher to come into the 19 if he’s ruled out. Victor Radley went on report for an awkward tackle on English teammate Herbie Farnworth, but is free to play after copping a $3,000 fine.

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Newcastle predicted team:

1. Kalyn Ponga (c)
2. Dom Young
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Greg Marzhew
6. Fletcher Sharpe
7. Sandon Smith
8. Tyson Frizell
9. Phoenix Crossland*
10. Cody Hopwood
11. Jermaine McEwen
12.Francis Manuleleua
13. Mat Croker

14. Harrison Graham
15. Lachlan Crouch
16. Pasami Saulo
17. Dylan Lucas
18. Fletcher Hunt
19. Thomas Cant

Knights team news:

The biggest selection news this week is sure to surround the fate hooker Phoenix Crossland who was sent off for the hip-drop tackle that saw Nathan Cleary taken to hospital. The Knights are likely to roll the dice at the NRL judiciary, but it’s hard to see Crossland escaping with anything but a multiple-week suspension that would rule him out of the grand final and at least the start of the Rugby League World Cup with the Kiwis. If star playmaker Dylan Brown (ACL) was healthy Sandon Smith would slot straight in at No.9 in Crossland’s expected absence, however Harrison Graham is likely to get the nod at hooker for just his third start of the season.

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