Nawaqanitawase scores twice as Roosters beat Knights to win NRL Premiership
Mark Nawaqanitawase scored two tries as the Sydney Roosters defeated the Newcastle Knights to win the National Rugby League Premiership Grand Final at Stadium Australia on Sunday, in front of a crowd of 80,814. The Roosters claimed their 16th title and their first since 2019.
Nawaqanitawase is a dual-code international who has 11 caps for Australia in rugby union and three in rugby league and played 11 times for the Wallabies between 2022 and 2023. He spent four years with Super Rugby's Waratahs before switching to rugby league in 2024 to join the Roosters, and he became the first union-to-league switcher to feature for the Kangaroos since Scott Gourley in 1991 when he played in last year's Ashes series.
Newcastle opened strongly with early tries from Francis Manuleleua and Kalyn Ponga that put them 12-0 ahead, as the Knights chased a first title since 2001 and aimed to become the first club since 1934 to win the Premiership after finishing bottom the previous season. The Roosters responded before half-time when Nawaqanitawase cut the deficit with a kick-and-chase score five minutes before the break.
In the second half Billy Smith forced his way over in the 47th minute for a converted try that levelled the scores at 12-12, and Sam Walker then put the Roosters in front for the first time with a penalty seven minutes later. Nawaqanitawase finished a move in the right corner before the hour to extend the Roosters' lead to 18-12.
Daly Cherry-Evans, 37, playing his last NRL game before his switch to Super League side Hull FC for the 2027 season, slotted a drop-goal to push the margin to seven points. Newcastle's Greg Marzhew crossed with four minutes remaining to make it a one-point game, but the Roosters held on to secure the victory.
Match statistics were recorded as: Tries — Nawaqanitawase 2, Smith; Goals — Walker 3; Drop goal — Cherry-Evans; Knights tries — Manuleleua, Ponga, Marzhew; Goals — Smith 3. "Credit to the Knights, they fought for 80 minutes there," said 26-year-old Nawaqanitawase. "This is going to last me a lifetime. It's sad to go, but I love everyone here, I love all the boys, and let's celebrate this win, far out."
He is stepping away from rugby league and could represent Australia at the rugby union World Cup next year; Sunday's victory was the ideal sign-off as his two-year contract comes to an end and this was his last game before moving to play union in Japan.