NRL Grand Final Day 2026: Roosters Complete Historic Double

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The 2026 NRL season came to a spectacular end on Sunday, with Accor Stadium hosting three major matches and delivering a Grand Final Day packed with history, dominant performances, dramatic finishes and emotional farewells.

The Sydney Roosters emerged as the biggest winners of the day, claiming both the NRLW and NRL premierships, becoming only the second club to complete the men's and women's premiership double on the same day.

The Redcliffe Dolphins also produced one of the most extraordinary performances in State Championship history, while Daly Cherry-Evans signed off his legendary NRL career with another premiership.

State Championship: Dolphins 68 def Panthers 14

Grand Final Day began with an extraordinary mismatch as the Redcliffe Dolphins demolished the Penrith Panthers 68-14 to claim their first NRL State Championship.

The Dolphins were virtually unstoppable, running in 12 tries in a record-breaking performance that saw them score the most points in State Championship history.

Jake Averillo was the star of the show in his final game for Redcliffe, scoring a hat-trick and producing three line breaks and two try assists.

The former Bulldogs and Dolphins back was subsequently awarded Player of the Match.

The result was particularly significant for Redcliffe, who had previously lost the State Championship final to the Bulldogs in 2018.

It also completed a remarkable season for the Dolphins, who had already claimed the Hostplus Cup premiership the previous weekend.

Final: Redcliffe Dolphins 68 def Penrith Panthers 14

Player of the Match: Jake Averillo

NRLW Grand Final: Roosters 30 def Broncos 6

The first major premiership of the day went to the Sydney Roosters, who produced a devastating first-half performance to defeat the Brisbane Broncos 30-6.

The Roosters scored six unanswered tries before half-time and effectively ended the contest inside the opening 40 minutes.

Brisbane simply could not handle the Roosters' intensity, completing just three of their first 10 sets and having only 25 per cent possession during the opening half.

The Broncos eventually found the scoreboard through Jesse Southwell, but the damage had already been done.

The victory completed a perfect season for the Roosters, who went through the entire campaign undefeated winning all 11 regular-season matches before adding two finals victories.

It was the Roosters' third NRLW premiership and moved them within one title of Brisbane's competition record of four.

The match was also an emotional occasion, with Broncos legend Ali Brigginshaw playing her farewell game.

Roosters star Tarryn Aiken was awarded the Karyn Murphy Medal as the NRLW Grand Final's best player.

Aiken was one of the key figures in a Roosters performance that overwhelmed Brisbane from the opening whistle.

The victory also provided redemption for the Roosters after Brisbane had beaten them in last year's Grand Final.

Final: Sydney Roosters 30 def Brisbane Broncos 6

Karyn Murphy Medal: Tarryn Aiken

NRL Grand Final: Roosters 19 def Knights 18

If the NRLW Grand Final was one-sided, the men's decider could not have been more different.

The Sydney Roosters delivered a stunning comeback win beating the Newcastle Knights 19-18, claiming their first men's premiership since 2019.

Newcastle entered the match as the fairytale story of the finals series, having transformed from wooden spooners into Grand Finalists in the space of a year.

The Knights started brilliantly, taking a 12-6 lead into half-time after Francis Manuleleua crossed in the 15th minute.

Kalyn Ponga was at the centre of Newcastle's attacking threat as the Knights looked capable of completing one of the greatest turnarounds in NRL history. But the Roosters gradually wrestled control back.

With the match locked in a tense battle late in the second half, veteran halfback Daly Cherry-Evans produced the decisive moment, slotting a field goal to give the Roosters a 19-12 advantage.

It appeared to have sealed the premiership. It hadn't.

With just minutes remaining, Knights winger Greg Marzhew scored in the 76th minute, and Sandon Smith converted from out wide to reduce the margin to just one point. Newcastle suddenly had a chance to steal the premiership.

The Roosters held their nerve, however, with captain James Tedesco producing two crucial kick receptions in the dying stages to prevent the Knights from creating another scoring opportunity.

The final siren confirmed a 19-18 Roosters victory.

Tedesco was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal after producing a huge performance in both attack and defence.

It was the Roosters captain's third premiership but his first Clive Churchill Medal.

The award completed an extraordinary collection of individual honours for Tedesco, who already had two Dally M Medals and a Wally Lewis Medal from his career.

His late defensive contributions ultimately proved just as important as anything he did with the ball.

Final: Sydney Roosters 19 def Newcastle Knights 18

Clive Churchill Medal: James Tedesco

A perfect farewell for Daly Cherry-Evans

While Tedesco took the individual honour, one of the night's biggest stories belonged to Daly Cherry-Evans.

The 37-year-old veteran played his final NRL match and walked away with another premiership ring. Cherry-Evans' first premiership came with Manly in 2011.

Fifteen years later, he added a second this time as a Rooster, with his field goal proving to be the difference in one of the most dramatic Grand Finals of the modern era.

It was an extraordinary way for one of the game's great halfbacks to finish his career.

Trent Robinson adds another premiership

Roosters coach Trent Robinson also added another chapter to his remarkable coaching career.

The victory was his fourth NRL premiership as Roosters coach, further cementing his place among the most successful coaches of the modern era.

Combined with the NRLW triumph earlier in the day, the Roosters finished Grand Final Day as undisputed kings of the competition.

The Roosters' historic double

The Roosters' achievement was the defining story of Grand Final Day.

They defeated Brisbane in the NRLW decider before overcoming Newcastle in the men's Grand Final several hours later.

The club therefore walked away from Accor Stadium with both major NRL premiership trophies. For the NRLW side, it was the culmination of a perfect undefeated season. For the men's team, it was their first premiership since 2019.

For the club as a whole, it was one of the most memorable days in its history.

The end of another NRL season

From Redcliffe's astonishing 68-point State Championship performance, to the Roosters' undefeated NRLW campaign, to a one-point men's Grand Final thriller, there was no shortage of storylines on the final day of the 2026 season.

The biggest winners were undoubtedly the Sydney Roosters.

They left Accor Stadium with two premiership trophies, while James Tedesco added another individual honour and Daly Cherry-Evans walked away with a second premiership ring.

For Newcastle, the result was heartbreaking, but their run from the wooden spoon to the Grand Final will remain one of the stories of the 2026 season.

For Cherry-Evans, there could hardly have been a more fitting final chapter.