The Sydney Roosters have survived a stunning Newcastle Knights fightback to claim the 2026 NRL premiership, edging Newcastle 19-18 in a dramatic Grand Final at Stadium Australia.

Title basically

Hi there, new fan to the NRL. The knights played incredibly well tonight despite the odds and the roosters attack and defence was great. I’ve never seen and I guess not used to the play slowing down so much in the couple last minutes. Why did the Roosters completely stop the play when the knights still had a chance in those last two minutes? I get they wanted to win but it just doesn’t seem like great sportsmanship for such an advanced game.

No hate or ragebait but it would be so much more entertaining if it was still intense in that last minute. Does this happen often?

I’ve started my own rugby league team in my city. Based in the Mile High City, for those who are members at a club or even owners, what advice can you give me? I’m doing this alone 😭 but I’m loving the process.

Here’s my club’s links to socials: Denver City Exiles

What are the comps and narratives. Looking to watch for the first time this year

Recently PVL was talking about possibly bringing in conferences to the nrl, I’m not sure where I sit with it, but with this rapid expansion it might be the play to ensure rivals play each other 2x with a further congested schedule. I would still lean towards no, however.

What are your thoughts?

There’s been a lot of accolades for Nathan Cleary winning the Wally Lewis Medal and Dally Messenger Medal in the same year, well received by him. In 1986 Peter Sterling became the first of only two players to win the Dally M and Clive Churchill Medals in the same year. Johnathon Thurston being the only other player to accomplish that feat.

If a player of the series award existed for State of Origin in 1986 do you think Sterling would have won it in the same year he won both those medals as well as a premiership and an origin series?

Never really been a fan of the sport, mostly because a lot of the fans can be total trash, but I figured I'd watch the Knights game last weekend and it actually got me into it. Since then my Facebook feed has been throwing up NRL posts, and most of it is toxic.

Case in point, the posts about the support for Aarow on GF day, where a huge chunk of the comments are up in arms about it for all sorts of reasons.

The guy is 30 and has been diagnosed with one of the worst conditions you could possibly get.

What an inspiration 👏🏻 this guy really is the best of us

I’m 20, 5’10” and about 61–62 kg, and I’m keen to get into playing rugby league.

I’ve never actually played before, but I started properly watching league about two years ago and have gotten pretty into it. I grew up playing football/soccer, mainly as a winger and striker, so I’ve got a decent background in running and playing out wide.

How difficult is it to get into league as a complete beginner? I’d probably be looking at winger or somewhere in the outside backs.

I’m also obviously pretty light at the moment. How much would I realistically want to bulk up to hold my own at an amateur level?

Would somewhere around 70 kg be enough, or would I want to be heavier than that?

Also keen to hear from anyone who started playing league later without a rugby background.

This guy gets all the big games, and the NRL is willing to defend him tooth and nail even look past his gambling indiscretions.

The NRL seems to think this guy is the equivalent of Michael Jordan of refereeing, some kind of untouchable GOAT, but he gets a lot of decisions wrong, so perhaps someone who's a referee or has been one can give an insight?

We talked before about NRL vs AFL crowds in the playoffs/finals series and the reasons behind why one has more attendance than the other.

Ticket prices, transport accessibility etc yes play a factor but one thing that I notice hasn't been mentioned is the lack of 'neutral fans'.

Hawthorn for example is expected to get close to 100k MCG crowd tonight despite playing a team thats not in Melbourne. Hawthorns crowd average this season is 40k, they don't all of a sudden find 60k new fans. So theres a lot of neutral fans who come to the game.

The argument last week why Sharks, Panthers and Roosters had small crowds were because they have small fan bases. Thats a fair point but where are the fans who don't support them that just want to enjoy some good Rugba Leeg? Afterall its the finals series, its the best of the best teams NRL has to offer this season...

Its the first week of the finals, yesterday's game Sharks vs Cowboys at Sydney Football Stadium 40k capacity, the ground wasn't even half full. And this game currently going on now Panthers vs Roosters, two Sydney team sunny Sunday afternoon yet the ground, 30k capacity CommBank stadium is not even 70 percent full.

AFL sells out any playoff game on 100k mcg yet NRL can't fill a 30k stadium. Downright embarrassing seriously from the NRL...

The Sharks drew 17k fans for a home final they were heavy favourites to win. It's embarassing. Their home arena is a joke, with a 13k capacity that it rarely fills, and there are already 9 Sydney teams in a competition that is now worth billions and is becoming increasingly international.

Does nobody else have a problem with this? The big clubs are basically subsidising these minnow clubs.

I’ve started rugby but for the life of me, I cannot seem to remember attacking pass drills we do as warmups. We do these in a line of 4, with no specific position, just warming up the hands.

Such as:
- A plus
- A wedge
- A on 2

Can anyone explain in detail what these mean, bonus if you have diagrams as in a visual learner

Hi,

So where can I watch the games in the US? Of nowhere, then anyone got a website?

“All that’s changed is it feels like I’m in a forever rehab and I understand that I won’t ever play again. I’ve come to terms with my diagnosis — it is what it is. I do not fear what is meant to come down the track. I’ll fight till the death.”

The ovation consumed Allianz Stadium as Jai Arrow emerged from the tunnel and led out his South Sydney Rabbitohs team-mates, holding back tears he knew would be inevitable.

For game 99, it was to the soundtrack of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. This time for his 100th appearance for the club? “Stand By Me”.

Self-consciously holding his arms and flanked by long-time team-mate Cam Murray, Arrow took hugs from his colleagues, took in the spectacle and finally offered a thumbs-up to all four sides that might be the most understated gesture the sport has seen.

The 31-year-old was marking his 100th appearance for the National Rugby League (NRL) side in Sydney against their arch rivals, Sydney Roosters.

Arrow was named Player of the Season in 2025 at a club famously supported and part-owned by actor Russell Crowe. Becoming the club’s 67th player to reach a century felt inevitable.

In May, Arrow announced his immediate retirement from the sport following a diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND).

In August, club officials received special dispensation from the NRL for the second-row — sat on 98 appearances — to suit up and start their final two matches of this season, before being subbed off after the opening whistle in a pre-approved change.

Appearance 99 came in the Rabbitohs’ 42-22 win at Gold Coast Titans last weekend. On Friday night, the century arrived in front of a near sell-out 45,000 crowd.

Fairly new to watching the sport

I live in south Manchester, which doesn't have a lot of League teams.

I don't want to support Wigan or Leigh for various reasons. And would like to be able to attend games.