{"id":916773,"date":"2026-10-05T08:38:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T08:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/916773\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T08:38:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T08:38:16","slug":"nrl-grand-final-2026-knights-players-families-air-devastating-heartbreak-as-roosters-revel-in-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/916773\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL grand final 2026: Knights players\u2019 families air \u2018devastating heartbreak\u2019 as Roosters revel in victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NRL<\/a> grand final may be over but the partners and families of players on both sides of the field have kept the buzz going with touching social media tributes.<\/p>\n

Though the Newcastle Knights<\/a> lost the match by a single point, the players\u2019 families were still so proud of all they\u2019d achieved.<\/p>\n

\"Tsyon<\/p>\n

Tsyon Frizell\u2019s wife Sammy paid tribute to him after the devastating Knights loss.\u00a0Instagram\/@sammy_friz<\/p>\n

Tyson Frizell\u2019s wife Sammy shared an emotional post<\/a> alongside photos of them with their three children at the grand final on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cHard to put into words just how heartbreaking that was. It feels like everyone else gets their fairytale ending, but for some frustrating reason, it just wasn\u2019t meant to be for Tys,\u201d she began.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve witnessed firsthand just how hard it is to even make a Grand Final and now, the devastating heartbreak of losing one.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what you have won is the hearts and respect of every single Newy fan, and I don\u2019t think I could ever put into words how proud I am of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sammy added that seeing Tyson play in a grand final after suffering a serious rib injury earlier in the season proved how tough he is.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t get our photo on the field. But honestly, it doesn\u2019t mean shit to me. I\u2019m just so proud of you @tysonfrizell. Always,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

Dane Gagai\u2019s wife Kelly shared a touching Instagram Story with a photo of him hugging their eldest son Dante after the grand final, which she captioned: \u201cThe way our son looks up to you … you\u2019ve already won at everything in life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fletcher Sharpe\u2019s partner Sophia Zouein posted a simple black and white snap of the Knights team with a red heart over Sharpe in the hours after they lost.<\/p>\n

Roosters<\/a> captain James \u2018Teddy\u2019 Tedesco was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal after leading the team to a one-point victory over the Knights and wife Maria Tedesco couldn\u2019t have been more proud.<\/p>\n

She shared behind-the-scenes grand final snaps<\/a> of her husband celebrating with their daughter Rosie on Instagram with the caption, \u201cWhat a night\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

Roosters captain James Tedesco celebrated the win with his wife Maria and daughter Rosie.\u00a0Instagram\/@maria.tedesco_<\/p>\n

Another picture showed Maria, Rosie and the couple\u2019s youngest daughter Marlie all dressed up in Roosters colours at home before the match.<\/p>\n

Kaylah Collins posted a similar carousel of pictures<\/a> for her Roosters player husband Lindsay Collins, captioned \u201cThat\u2019s my team\u201d.<\/p>\n

It included snaps of them with their two daughters, Georgia and Phoebe, wearing Roosters jerseys, and a photo of Lindsay celebrating after his team\u2019s big win.<\/p>\n

\"Lindsay<\/p>\n

Lindsay Collins\u2019 wife Kaylah captioned this sweet snap \u201cThat\u2019s my team\u201d.\u00a0Instagram\/@kaylahcollins_<\/p>\n

Another Rooster, Victor Radley, was honoured with a sweet Instagram post<\/a> from his fianc\u00e9e Taylah Cratchley.<\/p>\n

She shared a series of pictures with their sons Vinnie and Cruze before kick-off, as well as behind-the-scenes snaps from inside the Roosters locker room after they snagged the premiership win. <\/p>\n

\u201cWINNERS. Couldn\u2019t be more proud of you @victor.radley,\u201d she wrote alongside it.<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Victor Radley was supported by his fiancee and their two little boys.\u00a0Instagram\/@taylah.cratchley<\/p>\n

Nat Butcher\u2019s wife Harmony shared her own tribute<\/a> captioned \u201cPremiers baby\u201d, though only their eldest son Beau appeared in the pictures she shared.<\/p>\n

Nat made sure their younger twin daughters, Belle and Billie, were still part of the action by having their names printed on his grand final boots alongside Beau and Harmony\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"Nat<\/p>\n

Nat Butcher\u2019s wife and eldest son were in the Roosters locker rooms to celebrate after their premiership win.\u00a0Instagram\/@harmony.butcher<\/p>\n

While the families of the Knights and Roosters players were honouring them on Instagram, keen-eared NRL fans were losing it over a detail many missed during the historic grand final.<\/p>\n

After Francis Manuleleua scored the first try of the match for the Knights against the Roosters, Tones and I\u2019s hit Dance Monkey was blasted across the stadium over the speakers.<\/p>\n

Many fans suspected it was a subtle dig at the Aussie singer, whom the NRL had approached to headline the pre-game entertainment before talks fell through.<\/p>\n

Instead, Amy Shark joined members of The Screaming Jets, Grinspoon, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, and Peking Duk for a musical tribute to Jai Arrow.<\/p>\n