Source :- THE AGE NEWS
The NRL is celebrating the 2026 class of champions – the players hanging up the boots this season.
Former Knights prop Daniel Saifiti, who was medically retired from the Dolphins this year, gets a huge cheer from the large Newcastle contingent in the stands.
Broncos halfback and former South Sydney star Adam Reynolds gets another notable cheer from the crowd.
A giant Jai Arrow truck arrived at Accor Stadium as part of tonight’s tribute to the former NRL star.
The truck honours Arrow’s career and raises awareness of the devastating illness that brought his time on the football field to an end. Its owner, NJ Ashton, has decorated the truck with a barcode to support MND causes, complete with an “ARROW” license plate.
Newcastle legend Andrew Johns was given the option of skipping commentary duties on Sunday night so he could enjoy the club’s first grand final in 25 years.
“Nine gave me the option, but Cam Smith will be near me, and I told him if I need to go and have a breakdown, he’ll be there,” Johns said in the hours before Sunday’s grand final.
“It’s my job, and I want to do my job. But I am nervous. I don’t think I’ve been this nervous since I made my debut as a player. I think it’s because I’ve got no control [over the result].”
When Johns left for Accor Stadium on Sunday morning, he was ambushed by a handful of Roosters’ supporters, who blocked the road and gave the eighth Immortal a friendly serve.
Chief Sports Reporters Tom Decent caught up with Knights fans – and one bloke dressed up as a Rooster – after arriving in Homebush via the train from Broadmeadow Station.
“I don’t know what the scenes are going to be like in Newcastle [if the Knights win], but we’re just going to try and find somewhere, and just party, mate,” says one Knights die-hard.
“It’s going to be bedlam.”
While tens of thousands of Knights fan have headed south, venues in Newcastle are still doing a roaring trade as anticipation builds to fever pitch.
“It’s been massive this week, we’ve been waiting 25 years for this mate,” said Andrew Slattery, a Knights fan on the buzzing Beaumont Street in Hamilton.
“I was there for the ’97 win. I was little then, and it’s been a long wait. Tonight’s the night!”
Slattery predicted a 20-16 win for the Novocastrians.
Not a huge surprise but Harrison Graham will play his usual role as a bench hooker, likely entering the game midway through the first half, while Thomas Cant has been promoted to the starting side to play the dummy-half role. Teenage hooker Diesel Hagan remains an option on the six-man bench but is unlikely to be used.
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Tyson Frizell 19. Thomas Cant 10. Cody Hopwood 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Francis Manuleleua 13. Mathew Croker
Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham 15. Lachlan Crouch 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Fletcher Hunt 21. Diesel Hagan
No changes to the Roosters’ game-day squad, with Connor Watson already ruled out earlier in the week due to concussion.
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Salesi Foketi 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley.
Interchange: 15. Angus Crichton 16. Nat Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Hugo Savala 19. Cody Ramsey 20. Benaiah Ioelu
Twelve months after they lost the grand final to the Broncos in agonising fashion, the undefeated Roosters have flipped the script, toppling the same opponents 30-6 to amplify concerns over the competitive balance of the competition.
Predictions of another close contest in a rematch of last year’s grand final fell flat, as the Roosters embarrassed last year’s premiers by equalling the biggest ever NRL grand final winning margin.
The NRLW has faced questions over the distribution of talent and the pace at which it has expanded, with critics arguing the Roosters and Broncos are too far ahead of the rest of the league. Sunday’s grand final suggested the league still doesn’t have it quite right.
The Broncos boast seven Origin players, including three-time Dally M Medal winner Tamika Upton, but were still no match for the star-studded Roosters.
Ali Brigginshaw has joined the list of NRLW retirees after this season, along with the Roosters’ Corban Baxter.
The 36-year-old was the first player signed by the Brisbane Broncos in the inaugural season of the league, captained the team to four premierships and was the first NRLW player to reach 50 games.
“I was trying to keep it together out there,” she told Nine after the match. “It was a tough game. The Roosters played to perfection and they’ve had a great year and I’m just really proud of the girls.”
“I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. I know it sucks losing, but we’re really proud of this group and the year we’ve had.”
Her assessment of the match was simple: “They had most of the ball the first half, and you can’t win football games without the footy.”
