South Newcastle end Maitland's run in an extra-time grand final
Souths won the 2026 Newcastle Rugby League premiership 18-16 after extra time, stopping Maitland's bid for a fifth straight title.
South Newcastle are the 2026 Newcastle Rugby League premiers. The Lions beat Maitland 18-16 after extra time in the grand final at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday 6 September, the Newcastle Herald reported.
The result ended one of the competition’s great runs. Maitland had won the four previous premierships, from 2022 to 2025, and in 2025 became the first club to win four Newcastle titles in a row, according to the NSWRL. Cessnock were their last victims, beaten 30-8 in the 2025 decider.
For Souths it was a first premiership since 2018, three years after Maitland beat them 46-10 in the 2023 grand final. On the NSWRL honour roll’s count it is the club’s 13th first grade title.
The league published its 2026 draw in December 2025. If it keeps that timing, the 2027 fixtures will be on its site around December. Every Newcastle premier since 1910 is in our grand finals table.