Daly Cherry-Evans's one-point field goal with ten minutes remaining separated the teams in a grand final that had 80,814 fans at Accor Stadium watching every moment until the final whistle. The Roosters trailed 12-0 at halftime after Newcastle scored twice against the run of play, including a spectacular 95-metre effort by Kalyn Ponga, but stormed back in the second half. Mark Nawaqanitawase scored twice for Sydney, with his second try coming after a lucky ricochet off the upright, while Billy Smith also crossed. Greg Marzhew's 77th-minute try for Newcastle set up a tense finish, but the Knights could not get into scoring range to level the match.
The victory gives Sydney their first premiership of 2026 after a dominant performance from their forward pack. Naufahu Whyte, the Roosters prop, ran 188 metres and made 78 post-contact metres, the most of any forward, while James Tedesco accumulated 385 running metres, a grand final record. Earlier the same day, the Roosters women won their third NRLW premiership, defeating Brisbane 30-6 in a rematch of the 2025 decider.
Cherry-Evans played his final NRL game in the grand final, sealing victory with his crucial field goal. The loss ended Newcastle's first grand final appearance in recent years, despite a spirited effort from their squad.