Sport
9 October, 2026
Fletcher and Knights so close
Warren's Fletcher Hunt and Newcastle went agonisingly close to winning a NRL premiership.
By Dallas Reeves
Fletcher Hunt’s dream of a National Rugby League (NRL) premiership in just his second season at the elite level fell agonisingly short, with Newcastle going down to the Sydney Roosters 19-18 in a pulsating 2026 NRL grand final.
Despite Newcastle only having 42 per cent of possession, the Roosters (2101) running for 654 more metres than Newcastle (1447) and the Knights missing 47 tackles alongside 20 ineffective tackles, both sides scored three tries each.
Sydney Roosters also dominated territory the entire match, regularly being in an attacking zone while Newcastle rarely travelled down the other end.
The Knights’ defensive scramble and desire to support each other was heralded as courageous and typical of Newcastle’s blue-collar roots, according to many commentators and media identities during and post-match.
Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook was rightfully proud of his side at the NRL press conference after the decider at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Sunday, October 4.
“We tried as hard as we could,” Holbrook said at the presser.
“Just to still be in it at the end there was an enormous effort from the boys.
“We (were) just holding on all game, as you would have seen.
“We were on the backfoot, although we got the lead (12-nil) which was great, (and) we were on the backfoot the whole game.
“We just kept hanging in there. The spirit in the playing group (was huge).
“To get beat by a point … it’s disappointing.”
Holbrook also had a subtle dig at comments coming each week through the finals series that Newcastle had “played their grand final after any finals win.
The Knights surged into the decider from seventh place, defeating South Sydney (20-10), New Zealand (12-10) and Penrith (22-14) in consecutive away semi-final successes to qualify for the decider.
“We threw everything into this week. There was so much talk, (that): ‘Last week was your grand final, the week before was your grand final’. We’re not idiots, we knew today was the grand final and we were ready to go,” he said.
“As I said for us, to be nearly able to pull off a win at the end, or gives ourselves a chance, that was so pleasing.
“So proud, but I just felt for them (Newcastle players), we were just coming off our line and facing baseball bats (tough Roosters’ defence).
“If you can win anything on heart and effort, then we definitely won that. That’s the hardest game of footy I’ve ever coached.
“But again, you don’t win off being proud, you win off being the better side, and we weren’t the better side and we didn’t win.”
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga, who was inspirational for his side, was also full of pride despite the disappointment of defeat.
“I’m extremely proud of the season we have put together,” at the press conference, recorded by www.nrl.com
“Multiple times a lot of people counted us out.
“But internally, we knew what we had didn’t have.
“We got excited about our footy, excited about the people we represent and I think we represented those people proudly.
“There is so much too look forward too.”
He also pointed to what achievement and progress Newcastle had made after finishing as wooden spooners in 2025.
“I think if someone said a year ago we’d be in a grand final … I thought have said: ‘You’re kidding.’”
Hunt’s name, number 18 jersey and junior club the Warren Bulldogs were displayed on the Channel Nine coverage for millions to see.
Like the entire finals series, Hunt was an unused interchange player, meaning he didn’t get game time.
The outside back played a pivotal role in the Knights qualifying for the finals though, scoring a highly-impressive 13 tries in his 18 NRL appearances across 2026.