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Captain Fantastic: Tedesco stands tall as Roosters win epic decider

Captain Fantastic: Tedesco stands tall as Roosters win epic decider
Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
The Knights were brave but in the end it was the class of the Roosters prevailing 19-18 in a classic grand final that had 80,814 fans on the edge of their seats at Accor Stadium.

With Clive Churchill Medal winner James Tedesco running for a staggering 385 metres and Mark Nawaqanitawase bagging a double, the Roosters fought back from 12-0 down to go up by seven points before a late Greg Marzhew try gave the Knights hope.

In his final game in the NRL it was Daly Cherry-Evans slotting the field goal in the 70th minute that proved the difference in a contest that went to the wire.

That's a second premiership for Cherry-Evans and comes 15 years after his first with the Sea Eagles.

The Knights flew out of the blocks early in front of 80,814 fans and looked on track for a fairytale title but the weight of possession and the class of the Roosters told in the end as they collected a first title since 2019.

For Newcastle, a remarkable rise from 2025 wooden spooners all the way to the grand final eventually came up just short of the club's third premiership but they took their fans on one hell of a ride in 2026.

Source: nrl.com
FNRL

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