Episode 124: NRL grand final review - The Kiwis' winners and worries

Well, it's the outcome no one out of Eastern Sydney really wanted, but the Sydney Roosters are deserved premiers.

They dominated the grand final against the Newcastle Knights, who put up a dazzling first half effort before well and truly running out of steam in the second half after consecutive Herculean efforts through the finals.

The Kiwi players well and truly stood up.

Nafahu White backing up his Dally M prop of the year credentials for Sydney.

Francis Manuleleua scoring the opening try for Newcastle.

Calum Ponga clearly devastated at the final whistle, having put the Knights on his back and said, follow me.

And so the curtain falls on season 2026.

What a year it has been.

Michael Burgess, senior New Zealand Herald writer, were you allowed to stay up and watch

it? Just.

I had to go to bed as soon as it finished.

But, yeah, look, it was a great match in a different way.

You know, it was really compelling.

There were some amazing tries.

Forget about that.

I was thinking about that this morning.

Newcastle, we'll talk about their defence, which was unbelievable.

Defensive masterclass because they had no ball, they had no momentum, no territory.

And so whoever their defensive coach is, incredible.

But it's mainly just their resilience and their heart.

But...

They scored three amazing tries.

All three of their tries, absolutely brilliant.

Wonderful.

But yeah, it was just a shame that Newcastle didn't have anything left.