THEY may have lost the match but the Newcastle Knights won the hearts of a nation after a courageous NRL grand final performance last Sunday at Accor Stadium.
Sydney Roosters were crowned 2026 NRL champions after a pulsating 19-18 victory over the lion-hearted Knights who competed bravely until the final whistle.
Trent Robinson’s high-profile charges had to overcome the spirit of Newcastle to claim their fourth premiership since 2013, with superstar fullback and skipper James Tedesco earning the Clive Churchill Medal for best on ground.
In a phenomenal performance, Tedesco ran a staggering 387 metres to set a new NRL run metres record for a game; made 14 tackle busts; one try assist, and defused a late bomb kick and pounced on a loose ball late in the match to lead his Roosters to a deserved premiership title.
Newcastle stunned their rivals with first-half tries by forward Francis Manuleleua and skipper Kalyn Ponga after a 90 metre scoot to open up a 12-0 lead close to the half-time break.
A crowd of 83,000 witnessed a Roosters revival with departing star winger Mark Nawaqanitawase crossing twice along with centre Billy Smith to set up an 18-12 advantage.
Cool-headed Daly Cherry-Evans potted a field goal in the closing stages for a seven-point lead as he finished his illustrious NRL playing career with a second premiership title.
Spurred on by their army of loyal supporters, the brave Knights refused to budge and sent the crowd into raptures with a late try by winger Greg Marzhew in the left corner and a sideline conversion from Sandon Smith to give the Novocastrians faint hope.
But the Roosters prevailed to end Newcastle’s fairytale charge from wooden spooners to potential premiers in the space of 12 months.
It had been a sombre build-up to grand final day for both clubs after a tragic incident in Newcastle last Saturday with 10 people, including three children, injured after a car drove into a crowd of more than a thousand Knights fans gathered to farewell the team bus.
Knights coach Justin Holbrook and his courageous charges could reflect on a stellar NRL season that captured the imagination of the Australian sporting public.
In the earlier NRLW match between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos, the Roosters prevailed 30-6.
By Chris KARAS
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