Entering 2026, Greg Marzhew never expected to be preparing for an NRL Grand Final

In fact, the Newcastle Knights winger had already begun coming to terms with the possibility that he was playing his final season of rugby league.

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The 29-year-old had already started thinking about life beyond the game and what it would mean to walk away from the sport.

Instead, Marzhew is now preparing for the biggest match of his career on Sunday against the Sydney Roosters with a premiership on the line.

“At the beginning of this year I was so content with retiring,” he told foxsports.com.au.

“The way my body is, I want to be able to play with my kids when I’m 50. I want to be fit, but I guess it’s God’s timing.

“God’s got a different plan for me and I’ve been so stoked. I think about it every game because I’m thinking I was so content with living a normal life and being around my kids.

“But obviously God said you’ve got a grand final to get to.”

Greg Marzhew poses for a photo during a Newcastle Knights NRL media opportunity at Newcastle Permanent Centre of Excellence on September 29, 2026 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Michael Gorton/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Retirement wasn’t simply a passing thought.

Before re-signing with the Knights on a three-year deal through the end of 2029 in May, Marzhew said he was content to let his future play out.

“This is where my head was at. The club did say they wanted to re-sign me and in my head I was like ‘Oh that’s cool, but if you don’t want me I’m fine with that’,” he added.

“I didn’t push it at all. It wasn’t until the coach was telling me that he wants me to stay and he told our recruitment guy to get something sorted.”

Surprisingly, the coach who convinced Marzhew to keep playing was no stranger to changing the course of his career.

Justin Holbrook had already done it once before.

In 2021, Holbrook handed him his NRL debut at the Gold Coast Titans after a train-and-trial opportunity turned into a full-time contract.

Now, five years later, he was the individual telling him he wanted him to stay in the Hunter region.

“You ask every single player in the history of the NRL, and they will never forget who gave them their debut game,” Marzhew added.

“Justin will always hold a special part of my life and that’s how I’ve been able to provide for my family because of that trust he instilled in me and giving me that shot.”

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Reflecting on that moment, it remains one of the emotional times of the winger’s career.

“I was lost for words and I was so emotional. It was good because I got to debut with Jayden Campbell and he kind of took a lot of the spotlight off mine,” he continued.

“I like to be low-key, so a lot of that light was on him.

“I was like, ‘Okay that’s good’, but man, it was such a blessing.”

That first grade debut came after Marzhew had already endured a difficult period where his NRL aspirations seemed to be slipping away.

Before getting an opportunity with the Titans, he faced an uncertain future with a young family and no guaranteed contract.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 11: Dominic Young and Greg Marzhew of the Knights celebrate winning the NRL Elimination Final match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights at Allianz Stadium on September 11, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

THE CAREER CROSSROADS

Opening up on the journey that has taken him to competing in his maiden grand final, Marzhew reflected on the hardest period of his career.

At the end of 2019, Marzhew had helped the Wentworthville Magpies – Parramatta Eels’ reserve grade side – reach the NSW Cup alongside future NRL regulars Jaeman Salmon, Stefano Utoikamanu and Oregon Kaufusi.

Producing the best season of his career to that point, he appeared to have done enough to earn a new deal with the Eels.

Instead, he was left weighing up a lowball offer from the club while preparing to become a father for the first time.

“My partner just fell pregnant and we were happy to go back to Queensland,” Marzhew said.

“Parra wanted to give me a low-ball deal, like minimum, which was a big pay cut.

“I had a really good year and I was just kind of surprised Parra offered me what they did and I was happy to just move back (to Queensland).

“I tend to be really content with that and it doesn’t really bother me at all, but we decided to move back and never looked back.”

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 10: Greg Marzhew of the Knights looks on during the NRL trial match between Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks at Industree Group Stadium on February 10, 2023 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

It was a decision that could easily have brought his NRL dream to an end.

But it opened the door for a new opportunity he never saw coming.

“I was hit up by the Burleigh Bears and seeing if they were keen to have me, so I decided, let’s go be around family, both of our families and have our first baby,” he added.

“Then the Titans said I’ll come for a train and trial and then the train and trial turned into a contract and the contract turned into a debut and then I’m here.”

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THE MOVE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

By the time the Newcastle Knights came calling, Marzhew had already experienced the uncertainty of trying to establish yourself in the NRL.

After 25 matches for the Titans across two seasons in 2021 and 2022, he had finally broken into first grade but was still searching for stability.

However, even his arrival in Newcastle hinged on a twist of fate.

The Knights initially approached the Titans about signing Marzhew, but the move hit a roadblock because he was still under contract with them.

Then Titans dummy-half Sam Verrills broke his collarbone

Suddenly, Gold Coast needed to free up a roster spot to bring in a new hooker, Chris Randall.

LISMORE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 27: Greg Marzhew of the Titans looks on prior to the NRL Trial Match between the Gold Coast Titans and the New Zealand Warriors at Oaks Oval on February 27, 2021 in Lismore, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“Newcastle approached the Titans and asked about my situation and the Titans pushed it back,” he said.

“Then Sam Verills at the time broke his collarbone, so they needed a hooker and they got Chris Randall and I got to come here.

“It was a blessing for both of us.”

That freak incident opened the door for Marzhew to move to Newcastle, and he has never looked back.

“A fresh start was probably one of the main ones and a better opportunity to play consistent NRL,” he explained.

“The club were keen to have me here and I could see that they were keen and I think that’s ultimately what drew me.

“Meeting Parry [Peter Parr] and Adsy [Adam O’Brien] at the time, I was so happy with the decision.”