NRL Grand FInal 2019: Sydney Roosters defeat Canberra Raiders

There has been drama at the NRL Grand Final with Ricky Stuart snubbing an official after the NRL's staggering response to controversy.

The Sydney Roosters have become the first team in 26 years to win back to back NRL Grand Finals after one of the most controversial deciders in recent memory. 

The Roosters appeared on the ropes in the final 10 minutes before a hugely controversial referee backflip saw the Raiders denied possession inside the Roosters' red zone in an apparent blunder that turned the contest on its head.

With scores locked at 8-8 in the 72nd minute, the Raiders were forced to hand the ball over to the Roosters when referee Ben Cummins cancelled his initial declaration to award them six more tackles because of a Roosters player touching the ball when a bomb came down in a crowded pack. 

In the next set, the Roosters went 60m to score a sizzling try to put them ahead 14-8 with seven minutes to play. 

The try broke the Raiders' hearts and they weren't able to find a response as the Roosters held on for a famous six-point win.

It was just one of the many incredible moments of controversy, including:

• Jack Wighton being named the Clive Churchill Medal winner as the best player on the field, despite his team losing the match. He was then booed by Roosters fans
• Raiders coach Ricky Stuart refusing to speak to NRL referees boss Graham Annesley after the game
• Annesley declaring after the game that the Referees were correct to overrule the "six-again" decision because he believes no Roosters player touched the ball before the Raiders went on with their final tackle play. Annesley incredibly declared: "I believe the decision not to give six more tackles was correct and had they not corrected that decision, I would probably be standing here talking to you now about the fact that a try may have been scored in the next set off an incorrect decision"
• Cooper Cronk being sent to the sin bin for a professional foul on Josh Papalii when he tackled the Raiders forward a split second before he caught the ball; and 
• The Raiders appearing to be dudded by another decision to pull up play and hand the ball back to the Roosters early in the game after a Luke Keary kick ricocheted into a Roosters trainer.

Raiders players were shattered at full time and the Roosters were so exhausted they could barely celebrate. 

For Canberra players, however, there was only heartbreak. 

"It's but absolutely gut wrenching," Jack Wighton said.

"It's a feeling I can't explain, mate."

Wighton went on to be named the Clive Churchill Medallist as the best player on the field in the grand final.

Wighton was booed by Roosters fans as he walked up to receive the medal.

The Referees were also booed by spectators as they received their Grand Final souvenirs. Hollywood star Russell Crowe appeared to sum up the huge backlash across the game towards the whistleblowers, labelling the decision to take possession off the Raiders "horses***".

Horseshit result in the @NRL Grand Final .
Yet another Rugby League embarrassment.
Raiders ripped off.#sixagain

— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) October 6, 2019

The outrage wasn't enough to ease the Raiders' pain. 

"It is really, really painful at the moment," Raiders star Josh Hodgson said.

"It feels like a punch in the stomach, but this is the stuff that drives you to want to win even more."

Here's how the incredible controversy unfolded.