Roosters Book Grand Final Tickets Amid More Bunker Drama

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The Sydney Roosters are through to the 2026 NRL Grand Final after putting the Dolphins to the sword in a 36-20 preliminary-final demolition at Suncorp Stadium.

In a match that had everything including spectacular tries, a remarkable Sam Walker comeback, controversial refereeing decisions and one outrageous performance from Mark Nawaqanitawase. The Roosters proved too good when it mattered most.

The result sends the Roosters into their first Grand Final since 2019 and ends what had been a remarkable season for the Dolphins.

While there were plenty of talking points, one man stole the show. Marky Mark was absolutely everywhere as he always is.

Nawaqanitawase entered the night having already scored five tries in his previous three matches against the Dolphins. He somehow managed to make an even bigger impact this time.

The Roosters winger was a constant threat on the right edge, producing the sort of explosive running and finishing that has made him one of the most dangerous players in the competition.

His athleticism was on full display as the Roosters repeatedly found ways to isolate the Dolphins' outside defenders.

One of the biggest moments came when Nawaqanitawase read a pass beautifully, intercepted it and raced away with the Dolphins scrambling behind him. It was the type of play that has become synonymous with his breakout season.

The Roosters had already identified the Dolphins' left-side defence as an area they could attack, and Nawaqanitawase repeatedly exposed it. The Dolphins simply couldn't contain him.

Then there was Sam Walker. Just weeks after undergoing syndesmosis surgery, the Roosters halfback returned for the biggest game of his season.

Trent Robinson had insisted Walker would only play if he was genuinely ready, saying the youngster was “100 per cent” and had done more than enough preparation to return.

It was an extraordinary turnaround, and it paid off. Walker provided the Roosters with another attacking option alongside Daly Cherry-Evans which proved too much for the Phins, scoring a late try to put a dagger in the Dolphins hearts.

The Roosters had lost both of their regular-season meetings with the Dolphins including a humiliating 48-10 defeat earlier in the season but there was no repeat tonight. Instead, Sydney produced a performance worthy of a Grand Finalist.

The result won't be remembered solely for what happened with the ball. There was plenty of frustration surrounding the officiating throughout the match, with a number of calls and non-calls leaving both sets of supporters questioning the consistency of the refereeing.

The call to award Jamayne Isaako a try in the first half, and a non-call for a clear forward pass during Robert Toia's second-half try were very poor calls. These calls come at an awkward time for the NRL.

Only days ago, the league acknowledged that referee Ashley Klein had made an incorrect decision in the Warriors' elimination-final defeat to Newcastle after controversially ruling that Tyson Frizell had not committed an escort. Klein was subsequently moved away from field-refereeing duties for the preliminary finals.

Klein was instead the senior review official for Friday night's preliminary final, while Adam Gee took charge on the field.

That context inevitably made every contentious decision tonight more noticeable.

The Roosters' victory, however, was comprehensive enough that the officiating controversy should not obscure the scale of their performance.

The Dolphins therefore entered the preliminary final having beaten the Roosters twice during the regular season.

But finals football told a completely different story. The Roosters dominated the contest from the outset, defended with enormous aggression and repeatedly punished the Dolphins whenever opportunities presented themselves.

The Dolphins had won their previous eight matches at Suncorp Stadium and were attempting to reach their first NRL Grand Final just four seasons after entering the competition.

Instead, their season ends with a 16-point defeat.

The Roosters began the finals series with questions surrounding their ability to go all the way. They have now answered them in style.

They destroyed Cronulla 46-10 in the previous week, welcomed Walker back from what looked like a season-ending injury and then travelled to Suncorp Stadium to dismantle one of the competition's most dangerous teams.

The veteran presence of Tedesco and Cherry-Evans. The return of Walker. The continued emergence of Nawaqanitawase as a genuine superstar, and the relentless defensive standards demanded by Robinson.

It has all come together at exactly the right time for the Chooks.

They will take on either the Panthers or the Knights in the Grand Final next weekend.