The Tamborine Mountain Eagles Under 18s beat Broadbeach United 2-0 in the grand final on September 11. Coach Mark Benson said the win followed several years of development for a group he has coached since the Under 13s. The Eagles had lost earlier decider matches, including an Under 16 grand final. Broadbeach had won the premiership, but the Eagles beat them in a penalty shootout in the semi-final and again in the decider. Benson said the team's win gave the players a memory that would last their lifetimes.
Sydney will host the 2027 Super Netball Grand Final for the first time since the competition began. The event is expected to attract more than 8,000 visitors and inject more than $4 million into the NSW visitor economy. The match will be played on Saturday 31 July at Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, and is proposed rather than confirmed. Netball Australia chair Liz Ellis said the event would celebrate the sport's passion across New South Wales. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state would invest more in netball, one of its biggest participation sports.
Nelson Bay Football Club's under-16 boys team has won the Newcastle inter-district grand final championship and the club's Most Distinguished Team Award. The season was marked by the sudden death of respected coach and parent Andy McKenzie, who had a 12-year connection with the club. The grand final against Cooks Hill finished 1-all after full time, before Nelson Bay scored in extra time. Goalkeeper Logan Parmigiani then made a late save to seal the win. Coach Chris Farrell said the team dedicated the victory to McKenzie.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
The Canungra Owls came within one goal of a perfect season, but lost the midweek soccer grand final 2-1 to Palm Beach. The side had topped the league to win the minor premiership trophy before reaching the decider. Palm Beach scored twice in the first half, leaving Canungra with a steep task. Jimmy Tomlinson pulled one goal back in the 65th minute. Canungra came close in the closing minutes, but full time sounded before they could force extra time.
A writer travelled to Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final without tickets and watched the match on the big screen at Federation Square. Surrounded by Fremantle supporters, the crowd was confident with four minutes left. Brisbane then scored four goals in quick succession before the final siren, sending their fans into celebration. The writer, caught up in the moment, hugged strangers and received congratulatory messages from friends and family, many of whom were not regular followers of the sport.
The Hay Magpies women's squad reached the grand final of the Albury Thunder Nines Carnival at Lavington Sportsground, despite playing with a short bench. Hay lost 26-0 to the undefeated Australasia Barbarians in the decider. Earlier, Hay had beaten the Wangaratta Knights 26-0 and the Steam Bears 32-0 in pool matches. Coaches Jessie Carter and Neil-John Nisbet have been re-appointed for the 2027 Group 20 season, as the side chases a fourth consecutive premiership.
Tom Kent's tight final over helped Ocean Grove beat Inverleigh in their opening round match at Ray Menzies Oval. Inverleigh needed 23 runs from 12 deliveries when Kent bowled it, conceding only three runs as Kai Spiby caught David Peel on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Captain Fletcher Long praised Kent's spell in windy conditions. Ocean Grove had made 7/206 batting first, with Elijah Baran scoring 45. Ben Ricardo made an unbeaten 96 to steer Collendina to victory over St Leonards.
Hunter Netball 2 won the Netball NSW Metro League Development Series championship after beating Liverpool City 48-29 in the grand final at Sydney's Netball Central. The team finished the series undefeated. Nelson Bay defender Ella Jones received the Players' Player Award from her teammates, while 16-year-old Mackenzie Bohan of Medowie earned the Hunter Rising Star Award. Coach Simone Robertson praised Jones's consistency and willingness to play any position for the team.
Junior Paulo, who led Samoa in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup after losing the NRL grand final, will co-captain the team again. The tournament, featuring 10 men's and eight women's teams, begins with Australia vs New Zealand. Four Samoan players lost their NRL grand final last Sunday and will now focus on the World Cup. Paulo aims to help them channel their disappointment into representing Samoa. The team includes star half Jarome Luai, who will be closely watched after a notable season. Some players visited Samoa, reinforcing their sense of purpose beyond personal success.
Nelson Bay FC's Over 35s team completed a remarkable 2026 season by securing both the minor premiership and major championship in Newcastle's Men's Division Three. Coached by Stuart Lowrie, the team defeated South Wallsend Wolves 2-1 in the grand final at Myers Park Broadmeadow. Key players included Trev Marshall, who scored the equaliser, and Scott Pridgeon, whose long-range goal sealed the victory. The team's defensive efforts, led by John Wainwright and Ryan Connor, ensured their triumph. Many players also contribute to the club as junior coaches and volunteers.
The Sydney Roosters won the 2026 NRL premiership with a 19-18 victory over the Newcastle Knights at Accor Stadium. James Tedesco earned the Clive Churchill Medal after a standout performance, setting a new NRL run metres record. The Knights led 12-0 at halftime but fell short despite a late try by Greg Marzhew. The Roosters' victory marked their fourth premiership since 2013, with Daly Cherry-Evans finishing his career with a second title.
The Sydney Roosters have broken a 118-year-old NRL curse by winning the premiership after conceding 50 points or more during the regular season. The team lost 50-20 to the Rabbitohs in Round 27 and were beaten 48-10 by the Dolphins earlier in the season. They defeated the Newcastle Knights 19-18 in the 2026 NRL Grand Final, with Daly Cherry-Evans scoring the winning field goal. James Tedesco won the Clive Churchill Medal.
