From golden-point heartbreak to last-second miracles, these are the top 10 greatest NRL grand finals of all time, ranked by The Sporting Base for drama, quality and lasting cultural impact.
Sunday night’s Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights grand final at Accor Stadium is already one of the biggest nights of the year. Before kick-off, it is worth looking back at the NRL grand finals that still get argued about in pubs, group chats and family living rooms decades later.
This ranking covers the modern premiership era from the late 1980s onwards, including the NSWRL and ARL deciders that fans still treat as part of the same conversation. Scores, try scorers and Clive Churchill Medal winners are drawn from Rugby League Project, NRL.com archives, ABC and other contemporary match reports. The order is TSB’s opinion.
How we ranked them
We weighed five things: drama of the contest, quality of the football, historical significance for the clubs and the competition, unforgettable Clive Churchill Medal moments, and lasting cultural impact. A one-sided thrashing can still crack the list if it changed how people remember grand final day. A drought-breaker can outrank a prettier game. Near-misses that just missed the cut are noted at the end.
10. 2021 – Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs (14–12)
Played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane because of COVID-19 border restrictions, the 2021 decider was a genuine arm-wrestle between two of the competition’s best sides. Penrith led 8–6 at half-time and held on 14–12, with Nathan Cleary awarded the Clive Churchill Medal.
The turning point came in the 67th minute when Stephen Crichton intercepted a Cody Walker pass and ran about 40 metres to score. Souths stayed in it to the death; Adam Reynolds’ late long-range field-goal attempt drifted wide. For a grand final staged away from Sydney, it still produced the tension fans expect on the biggest night of the year.
9. 2016 – Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm (14–12)
Cronulla had waited since joining the competition in 1967 for a first premiership. Against Craig Bellamy’s Storm at ANZ Stadium, the Sharks finally got it, 14–12, with Luke Lewis winning the Clive Churchill Medal.
Andrew Fifita’s late try sealed the win after a grinding contest that suited Cronulla’s resolve more than Melbourne’s polish. For Sharkies fans who had lived through decades of near-misses, it remains the club’s defining night, and for neutrals it sits among the great drought-breakers of the NRL era.
8. 2019 – Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders (14–8)
The Roosters became the first club since the Brisbane Broncos in 1992-93 to go back-to-back, grinding out a 14–8 win over Canberra at ANZ Stadium. James Tedesco scored the decisive try in the final 10 minutes, with Sam Verrills also crossing for the premiers.
What made the night unforgettable was the drama around a reversed six-again call and the rare sight of the Clive Churchill Medal going to a player on the losing side. Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton scored Canberra’s only try, drove their kicking game and still walked away with the medallion. For Roosters fans heading into another grand final in 2026, it is a recent reminder of how ugly and tense October can be.
7. 2001 – Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels (30–24)
Newcastle’s second premiership was almost as famous for the half-time scoreboard as the final one. The Knights led 24–0 at the break at Stadium Australia, then watched Parramatta storm back to 30–24 before the siren.
Andrew Johns captained the side and won the Clive Churchill Medal. Bill Peden scored two tries, with Ben Kennedy, Steve Simpson and Timana Tahu also crossing. For a Knights club now back in a grand final for the first time since that night, 2001 is the blueprint: seize the moment early, then survive the late panic.
6. 2014 – South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (30–6)
South Sydney ended a 43-year premiership drought with a 30–6 win over the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium. Greg Inglis, George Burgess, Kirisome Auva’a, Alex Johnston and Adam Reynolds scored the tries; Reynolds kicked five goals from seven.
The lasting image belongs to Sam Burgess. He fractured his cheekbone and eye socket in the opening tackle, played the full 80 minutes anyway and won the Clive Churchill Medal. The result was never truly in doubt after half-time, but the drought, the occasion and Burgess’ courage give this grand final a place among the greats.
5. 1999 – Melbourne Storm vs St George Illawarra Dragons (20–18)
In only their second season, Melbourne won a first premiership in front of a still-standing grand final crowd record of 107,999 at Stadium Australia. The Storm trailed 14–0 at half-time before clawing back to 20–18.
The decisive moment was a late penalty try to Craig Smith after Jamie Ainscough’s high tackle left the winger out cold; Matt Geyer converted from in front to put Melbourne ahead. Brett Kimmorley won the Clive Churchill Medal. For drama, a record crowd and a franchise announcing itself on the biggest stage, 1999 still ranks near the top of every serious list.
4. 2005 – Wests Tigers vs North Queensland Cowboys (30–16)
The joint-venture Tigers won their first premiership with a 30–16 defeat of the Cowboys at Telstra Stadium. Captain Scott Prince took the Clive Churchill Medal, while Brett Hodgson kicked five goals from six.
The moment that still loops on highlight reels is Benji Marshall’s flick pass. Marshall fielded a kick deep in his own half, beat several defenders and flicked the ball to Pat Richards, who finished a try covering almost the length of the field. Daniel Fitzhenry, Bryce Gibbs, Anthony Laffranchi and Todd Payten also scored for the Tigers. It was attacking football that made a new club impossible to ignore.
3. 1997 – Newcastle Knights vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (22–16)
Newcastle’s first premiership is still the Hunter’s favourite story. Manly led 16–8 at half-time at the Sydney Football Stadium before the Knights fought back to 22–16, with Robbie O’Davis scoring two tries and winning the Clive Churchill Medal.
With seconds left and the scores locked at 16-all after O’Davis’ second try, Andrew Johns shaped on the blindside and put Darren Albert into space. Albert scored the match-winner; Johns converted. In a Super League war year that split the game, the ARL grand final gave rugby league one of its cleanest fairytales, and it remains the Knights’ spiritual high-water mark ahead of Sunday’s return to Accor Stadium.
2. 1989 – Canberra Raiders vs Balmain Tigers (19–14)
Often called the greatest grand final before golden point existed, Canberra’s first premiership was a 19–14 extra-time win over Balmain at the Sydney Football Stadium in front of 40,500 fans. Bradley Clyde, still a teenager, won the Clive Churchill Medal.
Balmain led 12–2 at half-time. Benny Elias hit the crossbar with a field-goal attempt that could have iced it. In the dying moments of regular time, John Ferguson finished a last-tackle try after Laurie Daley’s overhead pass, and Mal Meninga’s conversion locked the scores at 14-all. In extra time, Steve Jackson took a Meninga pass and beat five defenders to score the premiership-winning try. It was the first title for an out-of-Sydney club in the modern era, and it still sets the bar for grand final theatre.
1. 2015 – North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos (17–16)
If there is a consensus pick for the greatest NRL grand final, this is it. North Queensland beat Brisbane 17–16 in golden point at ANZ Stadium, claiming a first premiership in the club’s 20th season. Johnathan Thurston won the Clive Churchill Medal after kicking the winning field goal in the 83rd minute.
The Broncos led 16–12 deep into the second half. With the clock almost gone, Michael Morgan drew defenders and put Kyle Feldt over in the corner to level at 16-all. Thurston’s sideline conversion after the siren hit the post. In golden point, a Broncos error handed the Cowboys field position, and Thurston coolly slotted the one-pointer. Justin O’Neill and James Tamou had scored North Queensland’s earlier tries.
NRL.com writers and a later fan poll of modern-era grand finals both put 2015 at or near the top. For pure drama, historical weight and a signature moment from the game’s greatest playmaker, nothing else quite matches it.
Near misses and Sunday’s stage
Just outside the 10: Manly’s record 40–0 thrashing of Melbourne in 2008 (Clive Churchill Medal: Brent Kite); Penrith’s drought-breaking 18–6 win over the Roosters in 2003; Penrith’s first title in 1991 against Canberra; and Melbourne’s 26–20 defeat of Penrith in the 2020 COVID-era grand final. Any of them could jump a place depending on what you value most.
That is the company the Roosters and Knights are keeping this weekend. For team news and late changes, read our Roosters vs Knights grand final team lists. For form lines, head-to-head records and player stats, visit the TSB NRL Match Centre. And for the Hunter perspective on the club chasing a third title, see our top 25 Newcastle Knights players of all time.
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