NRL Grand Final October 4: Roosters Face Knights as Entertainment Drama Unfolds

The Sydney Roosters will face the Newcastle Knights in the 2026 NRL Grand Final on Sunday, October 4, at Accor Stadium in Sydney, with kick-off at 7:30pm. The match marks Newcastle’s first grand final in 25 years after finishing last season in last place. Pre-game entertainment will feature Amy Shark and members of Australian rock bands performing a tribute to retiring Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow, after the NRL rejected English popstar Olivia Dean’s reported $1 million-plus fee.

Why the NRL turned down Olivia Dean

English popstar Olivia Dean, 27, was discussed as a potential headliner for the grand final pre-game show. Dean recently broke a 73-year UK chart record when her duet with Sam Fender “Rein Me In” spent 19 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart. However, the price tag of $1 million plus was reportedly a sticking point for the NRL. Dean is set to begin her sold-out Australian tour on Monday, playing smaller indoor arenas rather than large stadiums like Accor Stadium.

Amy Shark steps in amid past NRL criticism

The NRL, led by chief Peter V’landys, confirmed Amy Shark as the pre-game entertainment. She will lead a group of Australian artists in performing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as Jai Arrow does a lap of honour before kick-off. The booking has created controversy after comments Shark made at an AFL event in April 2025 resurfaced. At that event, Shark said the NRL had been underpaying music artists and claimed “they just screw around artists.” Shark responded on Instagram, writing “I love the game… don’t believe the noise” and sharing a video of herself celebrating the Brisbane Broncos.

Newcastle’s remarkable rise from wooden spoon to grand final

Newcastle finished last season in last place but has now reached its first grand final since 2001. The Knights won three straight sudden-death finals to reach the decider, becoming only the second team in the NRL era to reach the grand final the season after finishing last. This will be the first grand final meeting between the Roosters and Knights. The Roosters finished 4th on the premiership ladder with 16 wins from 24 matches, while the Knights achieved 14 wins and finished 7th. For the first time since 2005, both grand finalists played every round of the finals series.

Silverchair rules out reunion performance

Speculation had emerged that Newcastle rock band Silverchair might reunite for the grand final given the Knights’ historic run and the band’s strong connection to the city. All three members grew up in Newcastle and the band became one of Australia’s biggest rock acts after breaking through internationally in the 1990s. However, Silverchair has ruled out a reunion performance. The band has not performed together since going on indefinite hiatus in 2011, and the musicians said they were too rusty to perform but made clear they were supporting their hometown team from afar.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 NRL Grand Final on October 4 pits a resurgent Newcastle Knights against the Sydney Roosters, with Amy Shark headlining the pre-game show after the NRL rejected a $1 million offer from Olivia Dean. The match itself carries far greater weight than the entertainment drama.

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